5 Winning End of Game Plays

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When you’re in a situation where the final 10 seconds could literally decide the fate of your season, it’s time to go to a proven play. Whether it’s simply needing to inbound the ball, break a full court press, or get a late 3, I’ve found 5 game winning end of game plays that you need to have ready. They are:

Curl Slip– An EOG play that uses movement and spacing to get a center slipping to the basket for a quick 2.
Backcourt Overload– A simple way to break a 1-2-1-1 full court press by overloading the defense with passing options.
Handoff Flare– Another awesome Brad Stevens play for a 3 that takes the simple concept of drive and kick to another level.
Safety– This fail safe play will guarantee that you’ll be able to inbound the ball vs tight pressure.
Flex Curl– Coach Kevin McHale used this play to get the Rockets a crucial 3 vs the Clippers

Each play has got game video and animation attached so keep reading to find out more.

Get these 5 plays as a PDF Start preparing these plays in practice so they’re ready when you need them. Download the PDF here .

Curl Slip

Situation

This special SLOB play has many options depending on how the defense plays it, making it great fit for more advanced teams. In this case, the Blazers got the slip on the screen for the layup.

Personnel

Your center, 5, stands at the elbow.
Two guards, 1 and 3, stack behind him.
A shooter, 2, starts at the opposite low post.

Play Diagram

How it Works

2 cuts across to the strong side corner. Meanwhile, 1 and 5 set a double staggered screen for 3, who cuts to the top.
1 then immediately curls around 5 to the basket. If he’s open, 4 should look to throw him a lob pass.
5 steps up to the top to set a flare screen for 3, who cuts to the wing. 4 can either hit him for the 3, or pass to 5, who slips and cuts straight to the basket.
If nothing’s open, 4 should pass the ball to 1, who cuts back up top.

Coaching Points

Make sure 5 sets the screen with one foot outside of the 3 point line, you want the defense to have to step up high to leave the paint open for the cut.
4 throws an overhead lobbed pass in front of the cutting 5. This is a tough pass, so make sure to practice it before running the play in games.

Backcourt Overload

Situation

Use this EOG press breaker vs the 1-2-1-1 full court press. Unlike many plays, all 5 players start in the back court, with the aim of using the extra man to overload the defense with passing.

Personnel

Your center, 5, inbounds the ball.
Your point guard, 1, and forward, 4, stand at the elbows.
Your wings, 2 and 3, stand high and wide above the wings.

Play Diagram

How it Works

2 sprints to the corner to get the pass, anticipating the trap.
Everyone shifts ball side, and 2 looks to get the ball to 1 along the sideline. 1 catches and immediately passes to 4, who dribbles up court.
4 and 3 continue running down the middle and far lanes, as the ball is passed along for a layup.

Coaching Points

As 2 will immediately be trapped it’s important he knows where his options are. They are 4 at the free throw line and 1 along the sideline. Ideally 2 is a tall guard so he can pass over the trap.
The key to beating the 1-2-1-1 press is spacing. It’s important that 1 and 4 are along the side line and at the free throw line so the defense can’t guard both outlet options.

Handoff Flare

Situation

This EOG SLOB is another Brad Stevens masterpiece, using a simple concept- drive and kick, but adding a DHO and flare screen to have the defense always one step behind the play.

Personnel

Your center, 5, stands at the near elbow. Your best shooting forward, 4, stands at the opposite elbow.
Your best shooter, 3, inbounds the ball.
Your point guard, 1, starts at the near low post.

Play Diagram

How it Works

5 sets a down screen for 1, who cuts to the wing to get the ball.
3 and 1 dribble hand off, and 3 drives to the free throw line, using 5’s screen.
1 comes off a screen set by 5, and trails 3, who reverse pivots and passes the ball back and flares to the wing. 5 rolls hard to the basket.
1 drives, aiming to draw 3’s defender into helping, for the kick out 3. Otherwise, he should attack the basket and score.

Coaching Points

5’s goal is to put a body on 1 and 3’s defenders, making it harder for them to catch up to the ball. After screening, he needs to roll hard to the rim to give his teammates space.
Although Isaiah Thomas uses a behind the back bounce pass, a more basic jump stop and reverse pivot for a chest pass would work just as well.

Safety

Situation

This EOG inbounds play was key to Yale upsetting Baylor. Up 1 with seconds to go, they just had to get the ball in play and play the foul game. Use this play when you need to do the same.

Personnel

Your bigs, 4 and 5, stand outside the near elbow.
Your quickest player/point guard, 1, stands in line with the bigs near the inbounder.
Your shooting guard, 2, stands at the slot.

Play Diagram

How it Works

4 and 5 face down court and pretend to be setting a back screen for 2. Meanwhile, 1 runs behind their backs.
1 curls around 5 and cuts straight to the back court. 2 runs to the corner.
The inbounder looks to lob the ball into the back court for 1 to chase down.

Coaching Points

4 and 5’s goal is to be spread apart as wide as possible so 1’s defender must chase 1 around them, but not so wide as so the defender can just go through them.

Flex Curl

Situation

Flex action works just as well out of a SLOB. Coach Kevin McHale used this simple play to get a shooter an open 3 from the top in clutch time.

Personnel

Your center, 5, stands at the free throw line in line with the basket.
Your two best shooters, 1 and 2, stand at the far corner and far wing.
Another forward stands at the near low post.

Play Diagram

How it Works

4 and 2 initiate the flex action by setting a simultaneous cross and down screen for 1.
1 has the option to cut to the near corner or top. In this play, 1 cuts to the top.
After 1 cuts, 2 uses 4’s cross screen to cut to the near corner. 4 cuts to the far corner.
As 1 comes up from screen, 5 sets a screen at the elbow, freeing up 1 for a catch and shoot at the wing.

Coaching Points

Another wrinkle out of the play is for 1 to cut to the corner and for 4 to use the down screen set by 2 and 5 to come to the top.
The play works because Deandre Jordan is reluctant to step up to help challenge the 3- because of the spacing if he steps up the lane is completely clear for a lob