The basketball offense by the numbers is a simple but effective offense that can be used against either a man-to-man defense or zone defense. It is easy for players of all ages to remember and can be used by young teams as the primary offense or by older competitive teams as a special play to complement the primary offense. The best part about this offense is that it can be very simple for use by a young team and become progressively more advanced for older teams.
Fundamental Principal
The initial alignment is that of a 1-2-2 or 1-3-1 offense (in this post, I will exclusively use the 1-2-2 alignment but it is easily expanded to a 1-3-1 or 4-high offense). Every player on the offense is assigned a number. The point guard is #1, the two wings are #2 and #3, the two post players are #4 and #5.
Let me describe the simple version first and then farther below I will show some more advanced options for older teams.
Simple Single Two Digit Number Version
Basketball Offense: Play 21
The easiest version of this offense is for a single two digit number to be called where the first number is the person going to do the screening and the second number is the person they are screening for. For example, 21. The offensive player #2 (O2) sets a screen on the offensive player #1 (O1) defensive player (D1). After the screen is set, O1 dribbles off the screen and drives to the basket or takes a short jump shot. Alternative on the ball screen plays are 31, 41, and 51. As the players become familiar with the basic on-the-ball screen play, this can be enhanced into a standard pick-n-roll.
There are additional variations that utilize a pass to the open shooter. For example, 35 where O3 screens down on O5's defender and O1 passes the ball to O5 for a quick turn around jump shot. Alternative screen-and-pass plays are 24, 32, and 23.
Basketball Offense: Play 35 The single two digit number version can be used as a primary offense by 6 thru 9 year old teams. Older teams can use this as a special play called by the coach from the bench where the coach wants a particular player to get the ball and does not want to call a time-out to setup the play.
Enhanced Two Digit Two Number Version
An enhancement to include a second number and screen increases the offensive movement that creates additional problems for the defense. This version can be used as the primary offense for 10 year and under (10U) teams. For any team over 10 years of age, this should be used only as a special play to complement a motion or zone offense because the opposing players will adapt, learn, and anticipate the offensive play and positioning after it is run multiple times.
Basketball Offense: Play 31 54
In the two digit two number offense, the team has two screens occurring at the same time to create additional driving and passing opportunities. For example, 31 54. In this play O3 screens for O1 and O5 screens for O4. As O1 comes off the screen set by O3, he can either drive for the lay up, shoot a short jump short or pass to O4 moving into the middle of the key. The other variations are 21 45, 24 35, 23 45, and 32 54.
Three Digit Two Number Version
Basketball Offense: Play 213 45
Another level of complexity can be added using the three digit two number offense. For example, 213 45. In this play, O2 first screens for O1, after O1 drives around the screen then O2 continue on to screen for O3 who pops out to the top of the key for a potential shot. As before, O4 also screens for O5 who travels first into the key and when he does not get the pass clears out to the far wing. Additional variations are: 312 54, 51 342, 542 31, ...
There are too many variations of the three digit two number offense to mention them all, but you can start to see that the three digit version is starting to resemble a U10 pre-set non-continuous moving offense.
Try this offense in your scrimmage or game and leave me a comment on how it turned out.
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