Coach Tony Miller’s top sets from the start of the 2023-24 NBA season featuring the New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks.
It’s been an entertaining start to the 2023-24 NBA season. Even as a college coach, I like watching the NBA for basic actions if not full sets that we can implement in our program’s offense. With NBA players being as talented as they are, coaches only need to put them in simple positions to set them up for scoring success. You may also find, like I do, that these concepts will work for your team.
Let’s jump right in with a few of my favorite sets so far this season. For more XsOs delivered directly to your inbox, subscribe to my newsletter at Aquicktimeout.substack.com.
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New York Knicks – Zoom Slip SLOB
Everyone is running zoom action these days. As a result, defenses are sometimes quick to try to jump what they think is coming next. The Knicks took advantage of this in their opener against the Celtics by slipping Julius Randle to the rim. He didn’t finish the layup, but he did earn a trip to the free throw line.
Denver Nuggets – Murray/Jokic 2-Man Actions
The Nuggets have the luxury of putting two superstars in pretty simple actions and then just letting them exploit the defense’s choices. A simple action the use out of their SLOBs and BLOBs is a basic pin down screen by Nikola Jokic for Jamal Murray.
Box Pin Away SLOB
4 Low Pin Away BLOB
Similar action out of a BLOB. Murray comes off the screen and can shoot it, drive to score, or dump it off to Jokic.
Dallas Mavericks – 5 Out Double Ball Screen
The Mavs use a variety of actions to get Luka Doncic in a ball screen. From 5 Out transition, they’ll stagger for the corner player. Instead of coming off those screens to shoot, the player will sprint to a ball screen that’s immediately followed by another ball screen by the 5. At that point, they can roll the 5 and pull the 3 behind the play for a potential throw back. Or, Luka can just bully his way to the basket for a bucket.
Try these sets out with your team and let me know how they work for you!
Dr. Tony Miller is the men’s assistant basketball coach at Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC. In addition, he serves as the director of BJU’s sport management degree program.
October 12, 2023: The Chicago Bulls’ Alex Caruso, right, defends against the New York Knicks’ Julius Randle at the United Center on Dec. 14, 2022, in Chicago. (Credit Image: © Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune via ZUMA Press Wire)
