Initial actions & counter moves

All three offensive alignments can be utilized to run with counter moves.

DIAGRAM 4: First dribble-handoff. This shows the basic movement of the first handoff with the first dribbler (2) dribbling toward one of the wing spots (to the right side in this diagram example), then dribble-screening and making the handoff to the wing-cutter (3).

DIAGRAM 5: Second dribble-handoff. When the first wing-cutter (2) becomes the new dribbler, he or she dribbles toward the opposite wing area (toward 3 in this example) to make the second handoff.

DIAGRAM 6: Counter move. To keep the defense from anticipating the movements of the weave offense, run a counter out of any of the three alignments during any of the three handoffs.

If the dribbler (1) doesn’t hit the overplayed backdoor cutter (2), he or she retains the dribble, reverses it, utilizes the ball-side block player’s (5) ball screen at the top of the key, and continues to the opposite wing to look for the handoff on the other side. He or she may also pass to 5, who is centered up at the top of the key. If this happens, 5 should then restart the weave.

DIAGRAM: 7: Counter move (continued). The backdoor cutter (2) that doesn’t receive the pass should take the original ball-side block player’s spot on the low-post block, while that player (5) ends up at his or her original wing spot. This is an excellent way to get the two post players involved in the dribbling-handoff action if desired.

"W4"

Use this play when you have a talented O4, who can play inside or outside. We get O4 the ball at the top with a handoff screen from O1. Start with O4 on the left wing (like in a 4-out set). O3 first screens for O4 and as O4 comes to the top (diagram A). O1 dribbles at O4 for the weave-screen hand-off (diagram B).

O4 comes around the screen for a shot, or takes it to the hoop (diagram C). If there is not enough spacing inside, we might move O5 out to the short corner. Options are a pass inside to O5 (if the X5 defender slides over to stop O4), or a kick-out pass to O2 (if the X2 defender sags inside).

"W2" & "W3"

Call the play whatever you want - "W2" (meaning the weave-screen is going to O2). Call "W3" for the play to go to O3 instead. With "W2" the point guard dribbles over to O2, makes the handoff to O2 (diagram A), while screening off his/her X2 defender. O2 comes around the screen, takes the hand-off and could pop out for the 3-point shot - this screen usually results in enough spacing for an open shot. Optionally, if the X1 defender plays up tight to deny the outside shot, O2 attacks the defender with a dribble move into the paint for a pull-up jumper.

After running W2 or W3 a few times, the opponent starts looking for it, and X2 will come over the screen and jam the hand-off, while X1 "jump-switches" the screen. The counter for this is the "Back" option (diagram C). With the back option, O2 fakes toward the ball, lets the defender come along and then suddenly back-cuts for the bounce pass and lay-up. Notice that we move O4 to the weakside high post to clear O2's path to the basket. If the X5 defender slides over, O2 could pass to O5.

Weave man-to-man offense a versatile threat

The weave man-to-man offense seems to have been resurrected over the last several years. This offense can be used as a basic man-to-man offense to get into a motion offense passing game, a continuity offense, delay game or last-second-shot offense.

There are numerous sets where this offense can be initiated with various options after a handoff takes place. The number of handoffs that take place before one of the many options is run should be predetermined by the coaching staff and communicated to the players.

Our team uses two handoffs before initiating specific options to attack the defense. We feel that two handoffs are enough to lull the defense into thinking that this is a passive offense that won’t attack their defense in any manner.