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For a majority of coaches, we watch NBA and NCAA teams constantly for relaxation and inspiration for new plays ideas and concepts.  Some coaches have also started to watch the Euroleague as well as play concepts have come across the ocean from the continent (think Spain action for example).  

Let me add a new league for you to add to your watch list: The ACB.

The ACB or Liga ACB is the professional basketball league in Spain with 19 teams such as FC Barcelona and Real Madrid competing.  There are additional teams that play in the league with top players and coaches such as Valencia, Saski Baskonia, and Joventut for example. NBA stars such as Luka Doncic and Ricky Rubio got their start playing in the ACB. 

So let's share some innovative plays and actions from ACB teams in the past and the present.

Play 1:  Bilbao Flare Action

Flare screens are always effective for good shooters or to create a driving opportunity on a poor closeout.  Bilbao Basket in 2006 ran this action, which could also be used as a Blocker-Mover type entry.  In this set, 1 uses the ball screen by 5 to change sides of the floor as 3 clears to the opposite corner.  5 will then set a wide pin down for 2 as 4 loops up to the opposite elbow.  On the pass to 2, 4 will set the flare screen for 1.  4 can also slip the screen if the defense switches and takes advantage of the size mismatch.

Here is a clip of the play.  

Click Here for Video

Play 2:  Barcelona Veer Action

Head Coach Sarunas Jasikevicius has FC Barcelona atop of the Euroleague this season.  Here is a set utilizing a veer screen action for a good shooter.

Play 3: Valencia Baseline Out of Bounds

The Argentina Cross Action (which we have written about in previous emails) is a popular action in both transition and half court plays in the ACB.  Here is how Valencia got into the action in the past from a baseline out of bounds situation.  5 will pop out to receive the inbound pass as 4 screens for 3.  1 looks to pass into 5, who now reverses to 4.  1 will use 5’s screen to sprint to the top and get a handoff from 4.  3 and 2 exchange.  With the ball in 1’s hands, 2 will set a cross screen for 5, then come off the down screen from 4.

Play 4:  Saski Baskonia Horns Invert

Saski Baskonia, also known as TDS Baskonia, utilized this action during the 2016 season in which they made it to the Euroleague Final 4.  It’s an effective action for a post player who can also drive.  5 steps out and receives the pass from 1.  1 will cut to the ball side corner as 2 cuts into the middle of the lane off 4’s screen.  This action usually results in a Gut or Spanoulis action (named after Vassilis Spanoulis, a Greek professional basketball player) with 2 getting a handoff from 5 at the top of the key and playing the 2 man game.  Instead, 2 now sets a screen for 5, who drives down the lane.

Here is a clip of Lokomotiv, a Russian professional club playing in the VTB running the same action.

Click to Watch

If you are looking for more creative plays and actions, study up with some of these resources available below. 

185 Sets from the Top 8 Teams by Ander Isuskiza is a breakdown of plays from the Copa del Rey de Baloncesto (Kings Tournament of Basketball) in the ACB.  Coach Isuskiza has also created play breakdowns for Valencia Basket, Bilbao Basket and Barcelona

Real Madrid Playbook by Luka Bassin is a complete video playbook of sets and actions from the 2017-2018 season with Luka Doncic and Facundo Campazzo as members of the team.

SSG for Ball Screen Offense by Tony Miller is a new course designed to help you teach the fundamental skills of playing off ball screens.

Brooklyn Nets Playbook by B Hoops is a compilation of plays from current coach Steve Nash.

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