Baseline Drive: A Dribble-Drive & Pass for Quick Scoring Opportunities
Goal
The Baseline Drive Drill focuses on building effective team shooting and ball movement. By practicing baseline drives, clean reversals, and the "one more pass," players can learn to move the ball quickly to open shooters, creating wide-open shots on the perimeter. This drill aims to build chemistry, improve ball handling, and develop the ability to make smart passes under pressure.
Setup
Players Needed: 5 players (1 at each position on the court).
Equipment Needed: Basketballs, cones (optional for marking spots).
Court Setup: Set up three lines of players (1 at each wing and 1 in the middle), positioned behind half-court.
Step-by-Step Execution
Starting Position: Begin with three lines of players—Player 1 (middle line), Player 2 (left wing), and Player 3 (right wing). Player 1 starts behind half-court with the ball.
First Pass: Player 1 pitches the ball to Player 2 (who is on the left wing).
Dribble Drive: Player 2 attacks the basket by driving baseline.
Pass to the Corner: After driving the baseline, Player 2 passes the ball to Player 3, who has drifted to the coffin corner (near the baseline).
One More Pass: Player 1 runs to the wing to receive the "one more" pass from Player 3.
Catch and Shoot: Player 1 catches the ball and takes a 3-point shot from the wing.
Additional Pass: Player 4 (standing in the opposite line) passes the ball to Player 3 for another 3-point attempt.
Repetition: Repeat the cycle for a set amount of time or until each player has received enough reps. After each possession, rotate players so everyone gets a turn in all roles.
Coaching Tips
Shot Fake: Encourage Player 3 (in the coffin corner) to use a shot fake before passing to Player 1. This will help create better passing angles and keep the defense on their heels.
Puncture the Lane: Player 2 should focus on getting into the lane, creating a driving lane before passing to Player 3. The goal is to collapse the defense, freeing up the "one more" pass to the shooter.
Good Spacing: Make sure the players are spaced properly. When Player 2 attacks the basket, the opposite wing (Player 3) should drift out to the corner for the open 3-point shot.
Player Rotation: After each possession, rotate the players in each line. The player from the wing line should move to the passer line, and the passer should sprint to the guard line. The guard will then go to the wing line.
Closeouts: The goal of the drill is to work on forcing long closeouts. By executing the "one more" pass, players can get the defense scrambling and create open shots on the perimeter.
Full Breakdown
The Baseline Drive Drill is an essential exercise for developing quick ball movement, creating space, and teaching players the importance of a strong, decisive attack on the basket. The concept behind this drill is rooted in creating driving lanes that draw the defense in, followed by quick passing to an open shooter on the perimeter. It’s a great drill to run during practice to help players understand spacing, timing, and decision-making in a team context.
This drill is especially important for teaching the "one more pass" concept, where players move the ball quickly to shift the defense and create wide-open shot opportunities. By having the players attack and pass in quick succession, the team will develop better chemistry and the ability to read the defense in real-time. This fast-paced movement also emphasizes the need for quick decision-making, which is essential in fast-break or transition situations.
One of the key elements of this drill is the "one more pass" from the baseline shooter to the trailing player on the wing. This pass forces the defense to close out quickly, which opens up shooting opportunities. By practicing this concept repeatedly, players will become better at making split-second decisions to either take the shot themselves or pass to an open teammate.
This drill also teaches players to drive aggressively and look for opportunities to pass or shoot. A good baseline drive isn’t just about getting to the basket but creating a situation where the defense is forced to make a quick decision. The use of the "one more" pass encourages players to play unselfishly while still looking for their own shot when the defense collapses.
Conclusion
Incorporating the Baseline Drive Drill into your practice routine will help your team build the skills needed to create high-percentage shots off the ball movement. It teaches the value of creating space, reading the defense, and executing precise passes. When practiced consistently, this drill will lead to improved offensive flow and higher basketball IQ, especially when attacking the basket and shifting the defense to generate open shots.
