Best Examples of Offensive Positioning Strategies in Basketball

Real examples of offensive positioning strategies in basketball

Let’s start with what coaches and players really care about: how this looks on the floor. When people ask for examples of offensive positioning strategies in basketball, they’re usually asking, “Where should everyone stand and move so we get good shots?”

Below are some of the best examples you’ll actually see in high school, college, and the NBA, along with how you can adapt them for your own level.

1. Four-Out, One-In: Modern spacing with a post target

One of the most common examples of offensive positioning strategies in basketball is the 4-out, 1-in offense. You see versions of this at almost every level because it balances spacing and inside presence.

In a basic setup, four players spread around the perimeter while one player works inside:

• A point guard at the top of the key
• Two wings, one on each side
• A corner shooter on one side
• A post player (your “1-in”) near the low block or dunker’s spot

This creates driving lanes for guards and clear post-up space for your big. The positioning rule is simple: if someone drives, others lift, drift, or slide to open windows. For example, when the point guard attacks the right side, the right wing might slide to the corner, the corner player might lift slightly, and the post might duck in on the weak-side block.

Why it works:

• Defenders have to choose: help on the drive or stay home on shooters.
• The post player has room to seal and receive passes without traffic.
• It’s easy to teach because the spacing landmarks (top, wings, corners, low block) are clear.

If you’re coaching youth or high school, this is one of the best examples to start with because it teaches spacing habits players can use for life.

2. Five-Out Positioning: Everyone is a threat, everywhere

Another popular example of offensive positioning is the 5-out offense, which exploded in the NBA over the past decade and trickled down to college and high school.

Here, all five players start on the perimeter:

• One at the top
• Two on the wings
• Two in the corners

Nobody is permanently in the post. Instead, players cut into the paint and out of it, using drive-and-kick, backdoor cuts, and quick ball movement.

This is one of the best examples of offensive positioning strategies in basketball for teams that:

• Have multiple ball handlers
• Don’t have a dominant low-post big
• Want to play fast and attack open space

A classic five-out action: the top player passes to the wing and immediately cuts through the lane to the opposite corner. The other players “fill” the empty spots behind the ball. The defense has to communicate constantly or they’ll give up layups and open threes.

You’ll see versions of this in modern motion offenses and positionless systems. USA Basketball has some good breakdowns of spacing and youth-friendly five-out concepts that echo this approach: https://www.usab.com/youth/development/skills

3. Triangle-style spacing: Creating passing angles

Even though the classic triangle offense isn’t used as much today, the positioning concepts behind it are still powerful.

A simple example of offensive positioning inspired by the triangle:

• On the strong side, you form a triangle with a post player on the block, a wing in the corner, and a guard on the wing.
• On the weak side, the other two players stay spaced high and wide (often at the top and opposite wing).

The idea is to always have multiple passing angles to the ball. If the ball is on the wing, that player can:

• Feed the post
• Hit the corner shooter
• Reverse to the top

This positioning punishes teams that over-help in the lane. Once the ball goes into the post, the corner and wing can cut, screen, or spot up depending on how the defense reacts.

You don’t need to run the full triangle playbook to steal this concept. Just remember: ball, post, and corner forming a triangle on one side, with the other side spaced and ready to attack closeouts.

4. Pick-and-Roll Spacing: Where the other three players go

Most players understand the ball handler and screener in a pick-and-roll. But the real examples of offensive positioning strategies in basketball show up in what the other three players do.

A clean pick-and-roll setup often looks like this:

• Ball handler at the top with a screen coming from the big
• One shooter spaced in each corner
• One shooter or cutter on the weak-side wing

When the screen is set and the ball handler turns the corner, the floor is spread so that the defense has to pick its poison:

• Help from the corner? Kick-out three.
• Stay home on shooters? Layup or floater.
• Switch? Throw to the rolling big sealing a smaller defender.

Watch almost any NBA game and you’ll see this positioning over and over. The spacing rules are simple but powerful: corners occupied, weak side ready, paint open for the roller.

Organizations like the NBA and NCAA often publish analytics and coaching clinics showing how spacing boosts pick-and-roll efficiency. For a broader performance perspective, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) also highlights how repeated movement patterns and spacing impact player load and injury risk: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

5. High-Low Post Positioning: Big-to-big connection

If you’re lucky enough to have two decent post players, the high-low offense is a classic example of offensive positioning that never goes out of style.

The basic idea:

• One big sets up at the high post (free-throw line area)
• The other big seals on the low block
• Guards and wings space out on the perimeter

The high-post player becomes a passing hub. When the ball goes to the high post, the low-post player seals their defender and shows a target hand for a quick high-low pass. Perimeter players stay wide and ready to shoot, which keeps help defenders out of the paint.

This is one of the best examples of offensive positioning strategies in basketball for teams with size, because it naturally creates:

• Deep catches near the rim
• Foul opportunities
• Inside-out threes when help collapses

It also teaches young players how to read angles and use their bodies to create passing lanes, not just rely on athleticism.

6. Corner and Dunker’s Spot: Modern “invisible” positions

If you watch the NBA or WNBA closely, you’ll notice two spots that come up constantly in modern offenses: the corners and the dunker’s spot.

The dunker’s spot is a small area just outside the lane, a few feet off the baseline, usually on the weak side. A big or strong finisher will park there when another player drives from the opposite side.

This is a subtle but powerful example of offensive positioning:

• The dunker’s spot player is close enough for drop-off passes and lobs.
• They’re far enough away that their defender has to decide whether to help or stay attached.

Meanwhile, corner shooters stretch the floor horizontally. NBA tracking data over recent seasons shows that corner threes are among the most efficient shots in the game, which is why you see so many offenses built around drive, kick to corner, or dump to dunker’s spot.

If you’re coaching, you can make this simple: when a teammate drives baseline, one player fills the opposite corner, and one hovers in that dunker’s spot for easy finishes.

7. Weak-Side Cutting and “Lift” Actions

Some of the best examples of offensive positioning strategies in basketball are the ones that don’t touch the ball. Weak-side movement is a great example.

Picture this: the ball is on the right wing, and a pick-and-roll is coming. On the left side, you have a shooter in the corner and another player on the left wing.

As the pick-and-roll happens:

• The corner shooter might lift up toward the wing.
• The wing might cut backdoor into the paint.

This simple exchange forces defenders to communicate and can open up:

• A backdoor layup
• A skip pass to a shooter
• An empty corner for the pick-and-roll

These small positioning adjustments are what separate static offenses from dynamic ones. They don’t require complicated playbooks, just a shared understanding: if the ball goes here, I move there.

8. Examples of offensive positioning in transition

Transition offense is another area where people look for examples of offensive positioning strategies in basketball. Good teams don’t just sprint randomly; they fill lanes with purpose.

A simple transition positioning rule set:

• One ball handler pushes the middle of the floor.
• Two wings sprint wide to the sidelines, one on each side.
• One player runs hard to the rim.
• The trailing player spots up at the top of the key.

This creates a five-out or four-out look on the fly. The rim runner forces the defense to protect the basket, which opens up kick-out threes and driving lanes. The wide wings stretch the defense horizontally, making it harder to pack the paint.

College and pro strength and conditioning programs also emphasize how repeated sprint patterns in transition affect fatigue and injury risk. Resources from the CDC and related organizations often discuss conditioning, hydration, and recovery as part of safe sports participation: https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/children/index.htm

2024–2025 trends influencing offensive positioning

Offensive positioning isn’t frozen in time. The 2024–2025 game keeps pushing it forward in a few clear ways:

• Positionless lineups: More teams play with five players who can handle, pass, and shoot, which makes five-out and spread pick-and-roll positioning even more common.
• More shooting bigs: Stretch bigs pull rim protectors away from the basket, opening driving lanes and changing where bigs stand on offense.
• Analytics-driven spacing: Teams at every level study shot charts and understand that corner threes, shots at the rim, and free throws are high-value. That’s why you see so much emphasis on corners, dunker’s spot, and clean pick-and-roll spacing.
• Player health and load management: Smart positioning can reduce unnecessary collisions and help manage fatigue. Medical and sports science research (for example, work cataloged through NIH and sports medicine programs) continues to shape how coaches design practices and offensive schemes to keep players healthier over long seasons.

These trends don’t change the core examples of offensive positioning strategies in basketball, but they do tweak how often we see certain setups and which positions are expected to space the floor.

How to teach these positioning strategies to your team

Knowing examples is one thing. Getting your team to actually use them is another. Here’s a simple teaching approach you can adapt at any level:

Start by picking just one or two of the best examples that fit your personnel. For instance:

• A guard-heavy team might focus on five-out and spread pick-and-roll spacing.
• A size-heavy team might lean into four-out, one-in and high-low positioning.

Then, instead of running full plays, teach spots and rules:

• Show players the landmarks: top, wings, corners, blocks, dunker’s spot, high post.
• Use small-sided games (3-on-3, 4-on-4) where they only score if they maintain spacing.
• Pause scrimmages to literally walk players into better positions.

Reinforce the idea that good positioning makes the game feel easier. Players often notice they’re less tired, get better looks, and draw more fouls when the floor is spaced correctly.

For general guidance on youth development, skill progression, and safe training loads, USA Basketball’s youth development resources and educational sites like Harvard’s health and education pages (https://www.health.harvard.edu) offer helpful context on teaching and learning frameworks, even if they’re not drawing up your playbook for you.

FAQ: examples of offensive positioning strategies in basketball

Q: What are some simple examples of offensive positioning strategies in basketball for beginners?
For beginners, start with a basic four-out, one-in setup (four players around the three-point line, one inside) and a simple five-out alignment (all five players on the perimeter with cuts to the basket). Add clear rules like “always keep two players wide in the corners” and “when someone drives, others slide to open space.” These examples teach spacing without overwhelming players.

Q: What is an example of offensive positioning that works without a true big man?
Five-out motion is the best example of offensive positioning for teams without a traditional big. Everyone starts outside the three-point line, and players attack off the dribble, cut backdoor, and fill open spots. You can still post up smaller players on mismatches, but you’re not relying on a classic low-post center.

Q: What are real examples of offensive positioning strategies in basketball used in the NBA?
Modern NBA teams lean heavily on spread pick-and-roll with shooters in both corners, a roller diving to the rim, and a ball handler attacking the middle. You’ll also see constant use of the dunker’s spot on the weak side, five-out lineups where even centers shoot threes, and high-low actions when teams play two bigs together.

Q: How do I choose which offensive positioning strategy is right for my team?
Start with your roster. If you have multiple guards and shooters, examples like five-out and four-out, one-in will probably fit. If you have strong post players, high-low and triangle-style spacing can highlight them. Try one primary structure and stick with it long enough for players to develop feel before layering in more complex actions.

Q: Are there examples of offensive positioning strategies that help reduce turnovers?
Yes. Clear spacing rules—like always filling the corners, keeping one player in the high post as an outlet, and avoiding two players standing in the same spot—naturally cut down on traffic and bad passes. High-low positioning with a reliable high-post passer is another example of offensive positioning that provides a safe release valve when guards are pressured.

Offensive positioning doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with these examples of offensive positioning strategies in basketball, pick the ones that fit your players, and hammer the habits every practice. Over time, you’ll notice something simple but powerful: your team will look smarter, even if you haven’t added a single new play.