Inbounds: Box, Cross 2

By: Lee Rose

Originally Published in: Winning Basketball Fundamentals

Provided by: Human Kinetics

Sometimes the simplest plays are the most effective ones. The box set can be highly successful and easily disguised. Players need to learn three calls: cross, diagonal, and up. Each call indicates a screening angle. The players can then line up at any of the four spots and execute the play. For instance, in the cross action, the hot spot, or the shooting spot, is the elbow opposite the player inbounding the ball. The call "Cross 2" means that the play is designated for O2 coming off a cross screen. "Cross 3" indicates that O3 is on the hot spot, and so on. If the call is "Diagonal 4," O4 lines up diagonally to the player inbounding, and the player who lines up in front of the player passing the ball inbounds sets the screen. The offensive team should pick on a weak defender and get a layup or a foul by attacking the basket.

Focus

Alignment, screens, cutting angles, and passes.

Procedure

Play begins in the front-court, baseline. Players are in a box set. Follow these steps:

• O1 takes the ball out of bounds and calls, "Cross 2." O5 fakes inside as if he is going to get the pass and moves to the corner, pretending to be the primary target.
• O3 calls out, "Back screen" and moves toward the defender guarding O2. O2 jab-steps to the sideline, setting up a cross screen by O4 on O2's defender.
• O2 uses the screen and cuts down the middle, looking for a lob or layup (figure 9.17). O4 holds the screen on X2, opens to the ball, and goes to the basket as the second option. O1 fakes to O5 and looks for the O2 and O4 options. O3 relocates high as the safety.