offense
Spurs Motion Strong
In the documented Strong play, the ball handler passes to a teammate arriving behind the play and screens on the original ball side. A pass to the opposite side and a second screen help the corner player get open.
How it runs
Reverse the ball while a receiver uses two screens
1. Pass back and become the first screener
1 passes to following teammate 5, then moves down to set the first screen for corner player 2.
Notation
- Offense
- Defense
- Coach
- Neutral
- Ball
- Cone
- Cut
- Dribble
- Pass
- Screen
- Hand-off
- Shot
- Def. slide
A representative Strong entry with a turn toward the basket after the second screen. Historical variations differ; the original drawing illustrates the reviewed relationships. Defenders are omitted; captions state the chosen read. Spacing is illustrative.
Original CoachAssist teaching illustration, not a complete playbook. Arrows show the action from the displayed starting positions. Read each caption before advancing.
Reads and decisions
- Curl against aggressive pursuit; flow into a ball screen or a post entry if that advantage is better.
What to emphasize
- CoachAssist starting progression: practice the pass to the opposite side and the timing of two screens along the cutter's route. Then add a defender who either follows the cutter or blocks the passing lane.
How to teach it
Choose current readiness, not gender or an assumed ceiling. Simplify whenever players need it.
New to basketball
- One idea to notice: Time the pass to the opposite side with screening on the starting side.
- Use a manageable ball, short passing distances and a comfortable shooting range. Rehearse only one movement at a time; screening begins without contact.
- Let players explain or point to the open space. Stop for a short demonstration, then let them try again without a score or speed quota.
Level progressions are original coaching adaptations, not claims that a cited coach uses this exact sequence.
Tradeoffs, counters & terminology
- Historical filmed variants are not universal rules for every Spurs season.
Documented coaches & teams
Gregg Popovich · San Antonio Spurs
Historical public examples document this motion family; entries and personnel changed across seasons.
Matching drills · steps and diagrams
Teaching level changes the lesson above, not these drills automatically. Check each drill’s players, equipment, skill and coaching adaptations before running it.
Staggered Screen Shooting Drill
Court diagram · view the drill first
Supporting fundamental: Practices two connected screens and choosing to turn closely around a screen or move away for a pass after Strong’s pass to the opposite side; it does not contain the Strong entry or all five roles.
A shooter reads two separate off-ball screens in sequence.
4–12 players · 6–12 minutes · basketballs
Purpose
A shooter reads two separate off-ball screens in sequence.
Set it up
Four players: shooter, two screeners and passer, one ball. Start without a defender; a guided defender following the shooter needs a fifth player. Separate the screening positions and clear the landing area. Spare balls and waiting players stay outside the active routes.
Run the drill
- 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.
- Both screeners establish stationary positions with enough separation for two distinct reads.
- The shooter sets up the route, waits for each screen and uses the appropriate curl, straight or outward cut.
- The passer delivers only to an open, balanced receiving window.
- After the cutter clears, screeners open to separate possible outlets; reset before changing side or role.
- 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
- One ball and one side are active; screeners never close space by leaning or moving into a defender.
- Read the chosen defender cue rather than expecting contact or a guaranteed shot.
- 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.
Pin Down Four Reads
Court diagram · view the drill first
Supporting fundamental: Develops the cutter’s response to a defender following, taking a route between cutter and screener, or denying the route above the screen. It teaches a narrow screening decision, not Motion Strong itself.
A screen for a low cutter offers a curved cut, a straight cut, an outward cut or a cut behind the defender, depending on the guided defense.
4–12 players · 8–15 minutes · basketballs
Purpose
A screen for a low cutter offers a curved cut, a straight cut, an outward cut or a cut behind the defender, depending on the guided defense.
Set it up
Four players: passer, screener, cutter and guided cutter defender; a coach indicates the coverage. Use one ball and rehearse one cut at a time. Spare balls and waiting players stay outside the active routes.
Run the drill
- 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.
- The defender shows the agreed cue; the screener becomes stationary before the cutter leaves.
- When the defender follows behind, consider curving around the screen; if the route opens, consider the straight cut.
- If the defender leaves space or stands above the cutter to block the route toward the screen, consider moving outward or cutting behind the defender only when that space is clear.
- Pass to an available target for a controlled shot or reset. Rotate all four roles.
- 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
- These are possible reads, not guaranteed scoring outcomes.
- The diagram’s four paths are alternatives. A sound read still counts as learning when a shot misses.
- 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.
Sources & evidence notes
The system description and source links are reviewed references. Level progressions and evaluation ideas are original CoachAssist teaching adaptations, not tested prescriptions or a named coach’s complete playbook. Supporting drills develop ingredients; they do not automatically install the whole system.
Evidence status: established. Sources support the specific claims described here, not every possible version of the system.
- Learning the Spurs playbook: scoring with off-ball screens
Jeje Gomez · Pounding The Rock · 2014-03-18
Public written coaching reference; undated unless specified. No linked paid video reviewed.
- Learning the Spurs playbook: Post-ups and Pick & Rolls
Jeje Gomez · Pounding The Rock · 2014-04-10
Public written coaching reference; undated unless specified. No linked paid video reviewed.
- How the Spurs' offense became the buzzsaw it is today
Jeje Gomez · Pounding The Rock · 2014-04-07
Historical analysis with attributed Popovich pregame statements; not an exhaustive team playbook.