Al Baker

Woodstock (IL) High School Contributor since 07/29/13 Follow

About Al Baker

Al Baker has been coaching high school basketball for 11 years in Wisconsin and Illinois. He is currently beginning his 6th year as the head boys' coach at Woodstock (IL) High School, where he runs the school's credit-recovery program. He has a BA in English from Ripon College and is pursuing his master's degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University.

Al's Playbank (8 Total) More

Maverick Flare

Al Baker 10/03/2013

This is a play from the Dallas Mavericks' playbook. Obviously they've got a 4 that can shoot it, but personnel can be adjusted based on who you want getting the basketball. In any case, the action pulls the bigs away from the basket and clears out the weak side of the floor, giving your 4 the option to shoot or drive to the rim. See More

Favorite

Utah Jazz 1-4 High Double Back Screen

Al Baker 09/16/2013

This is our entry into the little-big back screen that the Utah Jazz used with John Stockton and Karl Malone back in the day. You may be able to get the ball to the 2 on the first basket cut, but more often than not the x5 defender will be sagging on the back screen, leaving 5 open to catch on the wing. If your 5 isn't a shooter, you may want to change up personnel to avoid allowing that defender to play off the ball and take away the entry to 4. See More

Favorite

Hi-Lo Triple Stagger Pop

Al Baker 09/05/2013

The Spurs ran a set similar to this for Manu Ginobili in the 2013 NBA Finals. 3, 4, and 5 need to get out of the paint to set their screens if the first entry has any chance of being open, and 2 needs to bring his defender low enough that 3's defender has to pay attention to him--that will open up the best scoring opportunity that the action offers, which is 3 at the top of the key. See More

Favorite

Miami Box Lob

Al Baker 08/28/2013

The Miami Heat ran this play in the 2012 playoffs to get a lob for Dwyane Wade. The lob action has also been successful for us, but once teams have the play scouted, we've been able to take advantage by inbounding to the screener and setting up a handoff or a down screen option. It is critical that 3 sells the initial zipper cut, as most teams will deny this pass and this will force the defender into a position where he's easier to screen coming back to the basket. See More

Favorite

Miami Box Lob

Al Baker 08/28/2013

This is based on a lob play the Miami Heat run for Dwyane Wade. We added onto it when teams started taking away the lob late in the season. The secondary actions are excellent in late-game situations. It's critical that you teach 3 to cut hard off the initial screen, as most teams will deny the inbound to him and set up the back screen nicely. See More

Favorite

1-4 High Ball Screen Drag

Al Baker 08/19/2013

This is a tricky play to defend--especially when teams are fighting over screens--because of the back-to-back stagger screens. If your 5 can shoot it, you may also look to him shaping up after 1 cuts off his screen, since his man may be sagging to help with the cutter. See More

Favorite

Hi-Lo Post Iso

Al Baker 07/29/2013

This is adapted from a play Gregg Marshall runs at Wichita State. This action will get your 4 a couple different opportunities to catch in the paint. It's important to emphasize the reverse pivot from the post player (4) to seal his defender under the rim. Timing is critical to avoid a 3-second violation. See More

Favorite