Inbounds Plays—BLOB and SLOB

What it is

• BLOB plays are executed from the baseline when the ball goes out of bounds near your own basket or the opponent's basket.

How it works

• The inbound passer stands on the baseline with the ball.
• BLOB plays are critical because they create structured scoring opportunities in a dead-ball situation.
• Unlike live action, you can set up specific alignments and execute predetermined actions.
• BLOB plays typically begin with a formation: line, box, or stack.
• The formation determines where players are positioned at the start of the play.

Reads and counters

• The inbounder reads the screener's defender: if it sinks to the rim, hit the screener popping out; if it chases the pop, the cutter is open at the rim.
• On a box BLOB, read which first-cutter's defender helps, then throw to the screen action breaking the opposite way.
• If the defense plays man, attack with screens to free a target; if it sits in a zone, flatten the alignment and look for the seam behind the back line.
• On a SLOB, read the top defender: if he jumps the first cut, the screener slips behind him; if he stays, the cutter curls open to the rim.
• The inbounder uses the five-second count as a read clock, faking the first option to provoke help before delivering to the real action.

Teaching cues

• Screen the screener
• Hit him on the slip
• Read the count, sell the fake
• Step in and bury it
• Find the open man at the rim

Bilingual terms

Related concepts