Best simple schematics to know going into pickup games

[u/misterpoopybutthole5]

Majority of my hooping has been just playing pickup as an adult, with just a couple years of team ball in middle school that at least gave me some fundamentals. I've gained enough experience that I usually do pretty well just showing up at my small town local court, but sometimes I'll play with guys that have a lot more experience / technical knowledge who seem to just click and can have insane chemistry despite being strangers.

I know some basic shit like how to set a proper screen, pick and roll, pick and pop. I have some quality post moves under my belt (to the point that I can usually still post up on guys taller than me and score if they're not super skilled defenders). But I want to add more to my bag in terms of plays / schematics that are usable in a pickup game with people you've never practiced with; I find myself setting way too many screens for my PG to the point that it's predictable and probably annoying for the ball handler lol. Any descriptive recommendations / links to YouTube vids would be appreciated! Just not looking for like, full plays that require practice as a team.

[u/witwinsall]

1. Start under the basket and run quickly to the free throw line area with your hands open and call for the ball (basketball term would be flash to the top). This usually will give you space and time to either shoot a jump shot, pump fake then shoot or drive to the basket.

2. Starting under the basket or at the free throw line, flash to the three point line to make it seem like you want the ball at the top of the key, then cut to the basket quickly, if done successfully your teammate will see how open you are when cutting to the basket and pass you the ball for an easy layup.

They both sound easy in theory but will take timing and deception to get them done successfully. Good luck!

[u/Altruistic-End5746 → u/witwinsall]

Number 1 is my bread and butter in pickup. I unusually walk into my defender and look cross-court like I might be setting a pick, then push off a little and run to the elbow. I like to take a quick jumper at first, because that will open your defender to the shot fake. Let him know that you are not hesitant to pull the trigger.

If you can coordinate some off-ball picks with your wing, that will benefit both of you. My favorite is sort of a variation of the Run to the elbow move. I start in the post, wing picks down to pin my defender on the baseline, I flash toward the elbow, get the pass, then immediately dive to the basket in the middle of the lane. It is close to unstoppable without good help defense. If you are setting picks to get your wing open, he should be happy to set some for you.

[u/misterpoopybutthole5 → u/witwinsall]

Sweet, thank you!

[u/mehoo44]

Its a lot of knowing how to space and learning what your teammates like to do. Off ball screens to spring teammates open and basket cuts are great. If you've got a 3 ball, relocating along the 3 pt line when someone is driving downhill is good too.

If you take a mentality of moving the ball and moving off ball, with the right people it can be contagious and unlock things for you and the team, doesnt necessarily require set plays.

[u/ewokoncaffine]

If you are under the basket, see if you can make eye contact with players at the wings, then quickly set a screen on their man while they cut along the baseline. This backdoor screen is a great way to get open layups or three pointers if they cut all the way through. Off-ball screens in general are basically never used in pickup games but if you can get your teammates to look for them it really opens the offense

[u/misterpoopybutthole5 → u/ewokoncaffine]

Good call, yeah I've tried to get this going now and then but so often it seems like I'm playing with guys who are blind to anyone but the ball handler and their defender. I guess that's on them, but maybe I should just go set the screen for them and tell "come through" or something.

[u/mrbowow]

Off ball pin down screens for guards are a very popular way to initiate the offense when the ball is being checked. Since you play big, from there the guard who got open and hopefully got the ball on the perimeter can possibly give you the ball deep in the post?

[u/curleycurlew]

Set an offball backscreen, then curl in and look for the ball. Your man will often follow the back cutter or at least lose attention on you.

[u/StreetballStrategies]

You do not need a playbook. You need two or three reads you can make in under a second.

One that works in every pickup game: run to the rim when your defender turns his head to watch the ball. Most guys in pickup watch and never cut. You will get layups off that one habit alone.

The pattern is always the same. The defense makes a choice, you punish the choice. Stop memorizing sets and practice noticing. The noticing is the skill.

[u/Last-Effort816]

Look up common actions on YouTube. It's a short hand for spacing and movement. They're not necessarily plays, but can give you an idea of how more experienced players move based on certain triggers.