
The open post offense, also known as the 5 out offense, spread offense, or backdoor offense, is a strategy in basketball that involves spreading out five players across the court, with one player on top, one player on each wing, and one player in each corner. This offensive strategy aims to exploit the opposing team's size, create mismatches, and utilize the strengths of players who prefer to play along the perimeter. It is particularly effective for undersized teams or those with good penetrators and outside shooters. The open post offense emphasizes continuous cutting and screening patterns, allowing for extended possession time and improved scoring opportunities. While it offers tactical advantages, the open post offense also presents challenges, such as the need for precise ball movement and adhering to fundamental offensive principles to maximize its effectiveness.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of players | 5 |
| Player positions | One player on top, one player on each wing, and one player in each corner |
| Player movement | Both wing players cut through. The corner players fill the wing |
| Player skills | Good penetrators and outside shooters |
| Use cases | Undersized teams, delay game, youth teams |
| Ease of teaching | Easy to teach |
| Ball movement | A dribble should always have a purpose |
| Passing | Chest passes are more difficult to handle at close range. Bounce passes are better |
| Spacing | No offensive players in the post and the offense is spread out |
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What You'll Learn

Open post offense
The open post offense, also known as the 5 out offense, spread offense, or backdoor offense, is a strategy that can be used at every level of basketball. It is particularly useful for youth teams, undersized teams, and teams that lack post players but have good, quick guards.
The open post offense starts with five players spread on the court: one player on top, one player on each wing, and one player in each corner. To initiate movement, both wing players cut through, and the corner players fill the wing. The players are encouraged to interchange frequently to get to their offensive strengths, with post players getting inside and shooters popping outside.
There are a few basic rules for the open post offense:
- Pass and move: screen or cut.
- Fill the open spot.
- If overplayed, go backdoor.
- Do not cut until the passer is looking at you.
- Take two steps in the opposite direction before cutting to fill the spot.
When dribbled at, players should read the defense and attack. Coaches can also set their own rules that they feel comfortable with and will help their team succeed. For example, when being denied (overplayed), players should back-cut, and when the defender sags off (underplay), they should pop out to spread the defense.
The open post offense is easy to teach and can be taught quickly. It is also great for creating scoring opportunities, as it opens up the lane for players to attack the basket. If the defense collapses on the penetration, outside shooters can locate open spots along the perimeter for drive and kick situations.
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Attacking the basket
Understanding the Court and Your Defender
Before receiving the ball, it is crucial to have an awareness of the court layout and your defender's position. Ask yourself: Is the paint crowded or empty? Are you being double-teamed? By keeping your eyes up, you can subconsciously process this information and make better decisions. If the defender is playing off you, take the shot. Additionally, if you are guarded by someone faster or more skilled, exploit their weaknesses. Attack in the direction of their top foot, forcing them to open up their body and adjust their position.
Ball Handling and Footwork
Effective ball handling involves moving with the ball as efficiently as you would without it. Work on your sprinting technique with and without the ball to improve your speed and agility. While advanced dribbling moves are not necessary, basic footwork is essential. Practice the size-up dribble, which involves throwing off your opponent's rhythm, and the Euro step, where you bump into your defender and quickly change direction.
Initiating Contact
When driving to the basket, adopt the SECSY approach. This involves initiating and maintaining contact with the defender. The 'S' stands for 'Shoulder through the hip', where you create a collision with the defender's hip, allowing you to move past them. The 'E' stands for 'Explosive step', where you take a powerful second step after setting up your first step toe-to-toe with the defender.
Shooting Techniques
Develop a variety of shooting techniques to keep defenders guessing. The pump fake, or shot fake, is a fundamental move where you feign a jump shot to lift the defender or throw them off-balance. The up and under is a two-part move involving a shot fake (the up) and a step-through (the under). The pull-up jumper is another effective technique where you pull up to shoot while dribbling, giving the defender less time to react.
Offensive Strategies
Utilize offensive strategies such as the open post offense, which spreads out players to create mismatches and open lanes to the basket. If you have good penetrators and outside shooters, this strategy can be highly effective. Additionally, practice attacking the defense at any time and switching gears quickly, keeping your opponents on their toes.
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Screening concepts
Screening is a fundamental skill in basketball, and a key concept in offensive play. A screen occurs when an offensive player attempts to block or delay a defender, creating space and separation for another offensive player to get open for scoring or playmaking opportunities.
There are two main types of screens: on-ball and off-ball. An on-ball screen, also known as a pick or ball screen, is set on a defender that is directly guarding the ball. Common types of on-ball screens include the flat ball screen, the side screen, the step-up screen, and the drag screen. An off-ball screen is set by a screener on a defender that is not directly guarding the ball. Common types of off-ball screens include the back screen, cross screen, down screen, and stagger screen.
When setting a screen, players should position their feet about shoulder-width apart, with their back straightened and knees slightly bent to form a good base. Their hands should be kept across their chest or lap, with elbows within their own cylinder (also known as the vertical plane).
It's important to note that in basketball, the offensive player setting the pick must remain stationary at the moment of contact with the defender, allowing the defensive player a "reasonable opportunity" to avoid the screen. If the screener moves to make contact, it is an offensive foul.
Mastering screening concepts can take time and patience, but it is a valuable skill for any basketball player to learn, as it creates opportunities for high-percentage shots and makes it more challenging for the defense to limit the offense's effectiveness.
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Coaching strategies
Coaching is a highly visible part of basketball, and a great offense requires a great coach. Coaches must have a clear vision and philosophy that fits their players and their goals.
When it comes to offensive strategies, coaches have a variety of options to choose from, and the right choice depends on their players' strengths and weaknesses. For instance, if a team has great shooters, a coach might opt for an offense that utilizes the high post and short corner areas, which are difficult for zones to guard and allow for inside and outside opportunities. Alternatively, if a team has strong post players, a 3-Out Motion offense may be a good choice, as it involves post players crossing screens for one another and can lead to free throw attempts.
It's important for coaches to be adaptable and creative, adjusting their strategies to suit their players. For example, renowned coach Dean Smith is known for his passing game offense, but he also developed the point guard concept to adapt the system to player Phil Ford.
Coaches should also consider the level of their players. Youth teams, for instance, benefit from offenses that allow players to practice fundamental skills like handling the ball, cutting, passing, screening, and shooting. The 5-Out Motion offense is recommended for youth teams as it avoids labeling players with specific positions.
Additionally, coaches should be mindful of their players' mental edge. Maintaining aggression and confidence, regardless of the score, is crucial. Even when a team is leading by a significant margin, coaches should continue to coach as if they are behind, pressing more or running offenses that keep players active.
Finally, while coaches may be drawn to innovative and complex plays, it's important to remember that the right offensive player can be more crucial than the right offensive play. Evaluating whether a play suits the skills and roles of individual players is essential for creating a successful offense.
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Offensive fouls
To understand offensive fouls better, it is important to visualize an imaginary cylinder surrounding each player. This cylinder extends from the floor to as high as the player can jump or reach with their arms, and its diameter is limited by the player's body. If an offensive player extends any body part beyond this cylinder and makes contact with a defender, it is considered an offensive foul.
Additionally, offensive fouls can occur when a player sets an illegal screen. A screener must stay within their vertical plane, and if they move into a defender's space and initiate contact, it is an offensive foul. Similarly, if an offensive player uses their hands to push off the front or back of a defender, or illegally pushes away a defender's hand to prevent shot-blocking, it is also an offensive foul.
While the rules are clear, there is some nuance to the interpretation. For example, when posting up, an offensive player can push their back towards the hoop against the defender, using their power and size to inch closer to the basket. This is a strategy used by greats like Shaq, Duncan, and Barkley. However, it is a fine line, and some players may take advantage by being overly physical, which can be challenging for referees to call consistently.
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Frequently asked questions
A no-post offense, also known as an open post offense, is a strategy in basketball where there are no offensive players in the post and the offense is spread out. It is often used by undersized teams to exploit the opposing team's size and create mismatches on the offensive end.
In a no-post offense, the five players on the court are spread out, with one player on top, one player on each wing, and one player in each corner. The wing players cut through to initiate movement, and the corner players fill the wing. This continuous pattern of cutting and screening while keeping the floor spread enables teams to extend the time spent on each offensive possession.
The no-post offense is easy to teach and can be learned quickly. It is particularly effective for teams with good penetrators and outside shooters, as it opens up the lane for attacks on the basket. It is also useful for undersized teams as it allows them to exploit the opposing team's bigger and slower players. Additionally, it can be used as a delay game by extending the time spent on each offensive possession.
To execute a no-post offense effectively, it is important to introduce cutting concepts before screening concepts. This will help players master the offense and make better decisions about when to cut or screen away. Additionally, when dribbling, players should have a purpose, such as bypassing a defender, getting to the basket, or setting up a better angle for a pass. Chest passes should be avoided at close range, as they are more difficult to handle than bounce passes.










































