Motion offense

A motion offense is a category of offensive scheme used in basketball. Motion offenses use player movement, often as a strategy to exploit quickness of the offensive team or to neutralize a size advantage of the defense.

Motion offenses are different from continuity offenses in that they follow no fixed repeating pattern. Instead a motion offense is free-flowing and unrestricted, following a set of rules. Some examples of basic rules that are commonly used are:

• Pass and screen away: Players pass to one side of the court and seek to screen for players on the opposite side of the court. The hope is to create spacing and driving lanes to basket.
• Back screen: Players in the key seek to screen players on the wing and open them up for basket cuts.
• Flare screen: Player without the ball on the perimeter seeks to set a screen (usually near the elbow area of the lane) for another player without the ball at the top of the key area.

History

The origin of the motion offense has been disputed. Though credit is often given to Hank Iba, the former head coach of the Oklahoma State Cowboys men's basketball team, there are many^[who?] who believe that motion offense was developed earlier by coaches of the New York Renaissance, an all-African American team who played during the 1920s and 30s. In fact, the Rens were the first team—black or white—to win the World Championship Professional Basketball Tournament, held in 1939, and they used a motion offense.

Hank Iba's version

Iba's teams were methodical, ball-controlling units who featured weaving patterns and low-scoring games. Hank Iba's usage of the motion offense, coupled with an aggressive defense, was especially prevalent when he directed the Cowboys to NCAA championships in 1945 and 1946, becoming the first college team to win back-to-back titles. He was also voted coach of the year in both 1945 and 1946. His championship teams were led by Bob Kurland, the game's first ever seven-foot player. During Iba's 36-year tenure as Oklahoma State head coach (1934–1970), his motion offense also led the Cowboys to 14 Missouri Valley Conference titles, a Big Eight Conference title, and 655 victories with the Cowboys. He also coached the U.S. Men's Basketball Team to gold medals in the 1964 and 1968 Summer Olympics. Overall, with coaching stints at Northwest Missouri State University and the University of Colorado included, Iba won a total of 767 college basketball games. He is also the only coach in history to win two Olympic gold medals.

Bob Knight's version

Another prominent head coach who has been influential in the development of the motion offense is Bob Knight. Knight has used the motion offense to great success for over 40 years as the head coach of the United States Military Academy, Indiana University, and Texas Tech University, recording 902 total victories during his illustrious coaching career. His motion offense emphasizes post players setting screens and perimeter players passing the ball until a teammate becomes open for an uncontested lay-up or jump shot. Players are also required to be unselfish and disciplined, and must be effective in setting and using screens to get open.

Knight's use of the motion offense was most evident during his 29-year stint as head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team (1971-2000). He amassed 661 victories as coach of the Hoosiers, and captured 3 NCAA championships, a National Invitational Tournament (NIT) title, and 11 Big Ten Conference championships. He was voted National Coach of the Year 4 times, and was the Big Ten coach of the year 6 times. Knight also coached the U.S. Men's Basketball Team to the Olympic gold medal in 1984. His Olympic squad included many notable players such as Steve Alford, Chris Mullin, Patrick Ewing, and Michael Jordan.

Modern usage

Today, the motion offense is used by a vast majority of high school, college, and professional basketball teams. Many basketball teams have continued to use the offense to great success on all levels of the game.

See also

• continuity offense

External links

• http://www.perfectpractice.net/63/motion-offense-core-teaching-concepts.html Motion Offense Coaching Concepts
• http://www.basketball.org/skills/passing-game/ Motion offense, also known as Passing Game is taught by former NBA coach and player.
• http://www.coachawinningteam.com/basketball_plays_motion_offense - Animation, Rules and Diagrams of Motion Offense
• http://www.hoopsu.com/category/basketball-playbook/motion-offense
• http://www.coachesclipboard.net/MotionOffense.html
• http://static.espn.go.com/ncb/2003/0225/1514311.html
• http://www.rochestercitynewspaper.com/archives/2005/3/Pride+dunks+prejudice