Floppy Action: Getting Shooters Open Consistently
Game Situation
When and Why to Use Floppy Action
Floppy action is best employed in half-court offense, particularly when your team needs to generate clean catch-and-shoot opportunities for your best shooters. It shines in several key game moments:
Early in the shot clock: To establish rhythm and get your shooter going with an open look.
After timeouts or stoppages: To reset the offense with a clear and flexible action that forces the defense to communicate and move quickly.
Late shot clock scenarios: To create a quick, uncontested look without telegraphing the play.
Situations requiring spacing and ball movement: When defenses are aggressive in switching and hedging, floppy provides the shooter freedom to read and react, maximizing open looks.
This play also serves well in high-pressure moments because it doesn’t rely on a rigid pattern but rather on smart reads from the shooter, making it difficult for defenses to anticipate. Coaches use floppy when they want to empower their shooters while keeping defenses uncomfortable and reactive.
Setup
Player Positions and Formation
The formation for floppy action is simple but effective:
Shooter: Starts under the basket, often near the weak-side lane line or low block. This positioning allows the shooter to get momentum and read the screens.
Two Screeners: Typically your big men or versatile forwards. One is stationed on the low block or elbow on the left side of the paint; the other mirrors on the right side. These screeners are the foundation of the action, setting solid screens for the shooter.
Ball Handler: Positioned at the top of the key or on the perimeter. This player needs to maintain good spacing and be ready to pass instantly once the shooter comes off a screen.
Other Perimeter Players: Positioned in corners or wings, spaced well to stretch the defense and prevent defensive congestion.
This setup creates good spacing, keeps defenders honest, and allows for multiple passing angles once the shooter comes off the screens.
Execution
Key Actions and Decisions
Shooter’s Choice: The shooter’s role is to read the defense and decide whether to run off the:
Single screen on one side (the “one-side” option).
Double screen on the other side (the “two-side” option).
This decision is the heart of floppy’s flexibility. If the defender is overplaying one side, the shooter runs to the other. If the defender cheats under, the shooter curls or fades accordingly.
Screeners’ Responsibilities:
Set strong, legal screens angled to funnel the shooter into an open space.
Anticipate the shooter’s route and adjust the screen accordingly.
Communicate if switches or slips are likely to happen.
After the screen, be ready to roll toward the basket, pop out for a shot, or slip the screen depending on defensive pressure.
Ball Handler’s Role:
Maintain eye contact with the shooter.
Pass quickly and accurately on the catch for a rhythm shot.
Be aware of defensive help, potential mismatches, or slips to exploit after the initial pass.
Secondary Actions:
After the initial screen action, the offense can flow into:Pick and roll/pop with the screener nearest to the ball handler.
Backdoor cuts if defenders overplay the passing lanes.
Dribble handoffs or isolation plays if mismatches occur.
These options keep the defense constantly moving and guessing.
Coaching Points
Critical Teaching Elements Under Pressure
For Shooters:
Read the defender’s hips and anticipate their path instead of watching the ball or defender’s hands.
Use a change of pace, including hesitations and bursts, to create separation off the screen.
Come off tight to the screen with your body and feet set for a quick shot. Avoid giving the defender any lane to squeeze through.
Be prepared mentally and physically to shoot immediately upon receiving the ball.
For Screeners:
Set firm and legal screens with feet shoulder-width apart to avoid fouls and maximize contact.
Angle your screen to guide the shooter to the open spot.
Stay alert and communicate if a switch is coming or if the defense is hedging aggressively.
Be ready to roll hard to the basket or pop out for a jumper depending on your skill set and defensive coverage.
For Ball Handlers:
Keep your head up and eyes on the shooter’s movements.
Pass decisively, hitting the catch zone to prevent the shooter from having to adjust.
Recognize defensive rotations and be ready to swing the ball or attack mismatches.
Adjustments
How to Tweak Floppy Based on Opponent or Score
Against Switch-Heavy Defenses:
Use the ghost floppy variation where screeners fake the screen and slip to other spots for easy scoring opportunities. This keeps defenders off balance and exploits their switches.If Defenders Hedge Hard on Screens:
Immediately flow into pick and roll or dribble handoffs to punish aggressive hedges and open driving lanes.Late-Game Situations:
Increase the use of staggered screens on both sides to add deception and give shooters more time to read the defense.If Opponents Overplay Shooters:
Encourage shooters to curl or fade off screens depending on defender positioning, or use floppy exit pick and roll to keep defenses honest.When Trailing and Needing Quick Shots:
Favor the single screen side to speed up the shooter’s release and create quicker scoring opportunities.
Why Floppy Action Works and How to Master It
Floppy action remains a timeless offensive tool because it combines simplicity with strategic flexibility, which is critical in modern basketball’s pace-and-space era. Its design forces defenders into making difficult choices in real time, often leading to defensive breakdowns that result in open shots.
The Strategic Value of Floppy
Unlike rigid offensive sets that tell defenders exactly where the ball is going, floppy action is a read-and-react system. The shooter’s ability to choose either the single or double screen forces the defense to hedge, switch, or fight through multiple screens. This creates confusion and often leads to late closeouts or mismatches that the offense can exploit.
Floppy’s reliance on motion and decision-making also means it is effective against aggressive defenses that rely on switching or hedging because it keeps them moving and guessing.
Flow and Secondary Options
Floppy action is rarely just a one-trick play. If the shooter’s shot isn’t available, the offense naturally flows into multiple secondary actions like pick-and-roll/pop, backdoor cuts, dribble handoffs, or post-ups. This makes floppy a versatile foundation for many offenses, ideal for teams that thrive on movement, spacing, and quick decisions.
Variations to Fit Your Team
The beauty of floppy action is how easily it can be tailored:
Iverson into Floppy: Starts with double screens at the top of the key before running the shooter under the basket.
Staggered Floppy: Uses staggered screens on both sides for more time and confusion.
Ghost Floppy: A deception-based version with fake screens and slips, excellent against switch-heavy defenses.
Floppy Exit Pick and Roll: After the shooter catches the ball, the nearest screener immediately sets a ball screen, exploiting defensive rotations.
Teaching and Drills
Maximizing floppy action means drilling:
Shooters on reading defenders’ hips and using precise footwork.
Screeners on solid, legal screen setting and reading defensive reactions.
Ball handlers on timing, anticipation, and accurate passing.
Teams Known for Floppy Excellence
Golden State Warriors: Steph Curry and Klay Thompson’s off-ball movement frequently utilizes floppy sets.
Miami Heat: Duncan Robinson’s catch-and-shoot efficiency is enhanced by floppy.
Boston Celtics (Ray Allen era): The blueprint for off-ball screen effectiveness.
EuroLeague Teams: Often integrate floppy into their sophisticated motion offenses for spacing and precision.
