Brad Stevens: public offensive principles

Purpose

Four-on-four connects a ball-screen pair to two perimeter outlets.

Set it up

Eight players: top/wing handler, screener, two corner receivers and four defenders, with one ball. Agree which corner receiver moves up toward the wing and which stays available in the corner before starting. Spare balls and waiting players stay outside the active routes.

Run the drill

1. Agree on a short timed interval and begin at walkthrough pace. Use one active ball and one group in the playing area; add controlled opposition only when players understand the routes and can stop safely.
2. Start the possession with the selected ball screen, set legally before use.
3. In this version the corner player on the ball’s side moves up toward the wing, while the opposite corner player stays available for a pass; keep the screener’s route to the basket clear.
4. The handler reads the available finish, a pass to the screener cutting toward the basket and passes to the perimeter. Receivers remain ready to catch or move to an open window.
5. An optional extra-pass phase can isolate ball movement; later remove that constraint and compare the decisions.
6. End the repetition on a controlled finish, dead ball or coach stop. Clear the ball and landing area before restarting; rotate roles and rest within the planned interval, without extending it to reach a target.

Scoring

Optional: within a short coach-chosen timed interval, count sound decisions, controlled catches or completed defensive possessions. Stop at the planned time or sooner; no required makes, winning streak or exercise penalty. Rotate roles and allow rest regardless of the score.

Coach the details

• The two outlets, not three extra attackers, complete this four-player offense.
• These corner-movement rules describe this drill variant. Do not force a covered corner pass or insist every possession produces a three.
• Use comfortable passing and shooting distances and an appropriate ball. Progress by demonstrated control, not speed: keep eyes on the play, leave stopping/landing space, and stop if a route or loose ball creates a collision risk.
• Screens begin without contact. Establish a balanced, stationary position with the time and space required by the competition rules; keep arms in and do not lean, hold, shove or step into an approaching defender. Decline the action when legal clearance is unavailable.

Variations & provenance

• Original CoachAssist display adaptation: these edited steps, workload limits and optional scoring are coaching adaptations, not a claim that the cited author prescribed this exact version.
• The teaching-level selector does not automatically adapt these drills for age or ability. A coach must choose suitable roles, equipment, contact, space and progressions; simplify or defer anything the group is not ready to perform.

Purpose

A driver reads the help defender, passes out to the perimeter and practices an optional extra-pass rule.

Set it up

Four players: driver, two perimeter receivers and one guided helper, one ball. Name one rebounder for the first phase and keep the other routes clear. Spare balls and waiting players stay outside the active routes.

Run the drill

1. Agree on a short timed interval and begin at walkthrough pace. Use one active ball and one group in the playing area; add controlled opposition only when players understand the routes and can stop safely.
2. The driver approaches an open gap under control while the helper shows the agreed response.
3. Read the help and pass to the available perimeter receiver; stop or reset rather than entering a blocked lane.
4. For the extra-pass phase, that receiver passes to the next open receiver for a balanced shot. Do not force a covered extra pass.
5. The designated rebounder collects the ball after everyone has landed; rotate the driving and receiving roles.
6. End the repetition on a controlled finish, dead ball or coach stop. Clear the ball and landing area before restarting; rotate roles and rest within the planned interval, without extending it to reach a target.

Scoring

Optional: within a short coach-chosen timed interval, count sound decisions, controlled catches or completed defensive possessions. Stop at the planned time or sooner; no required makes, winning streak or exercise penalty. Rotate roles and allow rest regardless of the score.

Coach the details

• Passing need not wait for an arbitrary paint landmark when help has already committed.
• An extra pass is a teaching constraint, not proof that a defender cannot recover.
• Use comfortable passing and shooting distances and an appropriate ball. Progress by demonstrated control, not speed: keep eyes on the play, leave stopping/landing space, and stop if a route or loose ball creates a collision risk.

Variations & provenance

• Original CoachAssist display adaptation: these edited steps, workload limits and optional scoring are coaching adaptations, not a claim that the cited author prescribed this exact version.
• The teaching-level selector does not automatically adapt these drills for age or ability. A coach must choose suitable roles, equipment, contact, space and progressions; simplify or defer anything the group is not ready to perform.