Ok, so this is not entirely my idea, as I was inspired by this thread http://www.operationsports.com/forum...nity-wiki.html by LorenzoDC. I know there is already a thread discussing everyone's favorite freelance offense's but I think that this can be used more as a spot purely for information, rather than conversation about the freelance offenses. 2K has done an incredible job with the variety and depth of the freelance offense, and not all people have time to experiment with every freelance offense, so this thread can help people narrow down which freelance they would like to run.
THANK YOU EVERYONE!! THIS THREAD WOULD NOT BE GREAT WITHOUT ALL OF YOUR INPUT!!
Here's How to Set Up Your Freelance Offense In-Game
This will be a thread with specific information about each freelance, such as favorite branches, strengths and weaknesses, etc.
I would ask/suggest that we structure comments like this:
Freelance Offense:
Preferred Action (Motion Cuts, Freelance, Space the Floor):
Freelance Focus:
Freelance Strengths:
Freelance Weaknesses:
Best Personnel Fit:
Favorite Actions/Branches:
I have decided to make the OP into a "Master Post" of sorts. I will quote all breakdowns and post them on the OP in order to make finding information easier. Every analysis posted will be added in a spoiler, labeled with the freelance offense and the name of the poster. Thank you to all who post breakdowns and share your knowledge!
Freelance Offense: Corner
Analysis By: 32MJ32
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by 32MJ32
I like it. An excuse to wax lyrical about my favourite offense:
Freelance Offense
Corner
Preferred Action (Motion Cuts, Freelance, Space the Floor)
Motion Cuts
Freelance Focus
I leave the POE on "Neutral." However, if you're asking what the focus is of the offense is, I'd summarise it as:
- Moving the ball without dribbling
- Creating shots - from many areas of the floor - without a heavy reliance on screen and roll
- Using all 5 players as "playmakers," rather than just the point guard
- Reading and reacting to the way the defense is playing
Freelance Strengths
- Starting positions are smartly spaced - wing, elbow, corner, elbow, corner. If there's a mismatch, you can go right to a spot and work it before the D can switch
- Off-ball screening and movement
- "Read and react" cutting - if a guy is overplayed, he will go back door
- Multiple options from the initial entry pass all the way through to the bottom of the shotclock
- Most actions aim to create an open 3 or layup - exactly what "modern" NBA offense is geared towards
Freelance Weaknesses
- If you're unable to "spring" a cutter for an open shot, you can eat a lot of shotclock passing it around and going nowhere
- On the base action that is run most regularly, multiple players can pile up at the 3 point line directly above the basket.
- There's little room for off the bounce flair. If you like to ISO or run a lot of P and R, look elsewhere
Best Personnel Fit
5: You want an Al Horford/Tim Duncan/Gasol (either)/Towns type. Ability to pass it, hit midrange shots and go into a post move if the right match up is available. A "Brick Wall" badge is a nice to have, given all the screening these guys do.
4: As per above, as the 4 and 5 are effectively interchangeable. Julius Randle is a nice fit when he grows up. Given the amount of catches they'll be getting at the elbow, going small with Melo or KD or Jabari can be money, too.
3: This guy needs to be a good or great shooter while stationary and on the move. 3's mostly but midrange also helpful. There's no room for a Tony Allen or MKG here. Good Offensive Awareness to make sharp cuts, too. Obviously, if you can get Durant, he's the best guy available - let's be honest, he would flourish in any system.
The plus side is that you don't need to worry about ballhandling and shot creation. Kawhi, Danny Green, Khris Middleton or DeMarre Carroll types. If you're open, shoot it and make it. If you're not, pass it.
2: Much like the 4 and 5, the 2 and 3 are the same - they swap roles depending on which side of the floor you choose to run the actions on. I've had Brad Beal in this spot and it's borderline unfair - he's just terrific.
1: This is interesting. Despite my repeated claims above that ballhandling is not a major part of this system, I've run Rose here and it was really something. In the base set, the 1 often comes out of the corner and takes a hand off from the 4/5 at the elbow with a head of steam. Rose, with his insane quickness, could really get some separation as he came around the bend. Then he was able to lower his shoulder and get to the basket.
In truth, you want a knockdown shooter - moving around off-ball screens - more than anything. Great playmaking is not a must have, nor is the ability to work off the dribble. Kyle Lowry - in a good year - comes to mind. Brandon Knight.
Given the playmaking is spread around, you can get by with a makeshift PG, too, much like Phil Jackson like to use in the Triangle. Find yourself a 2 - with range - who can guard 1's and you're good to go. Oladipo. Shumpert. Avery Bradley.
Favorite Actions/Branches
The base set. You trigger this by dribbling or passing to a wing. On that side, the corner and wing will be filled by the 1, 2 or 3. The elbow will be filled by the 4 or 5.
On the weakside, the 1, 2 or 3 not involved in the strong side starts in the corner and the other big is on the elbow.
The best way to kick off multiple options is to throw it from the strong side wing into the strong side elbow/high post. If you want to use this system, get familiar with this, first and foremost.
My personal favourite is to run multiple sets where the 1/2/3 in the strong side corner comes to the top for a hand off. Eventually, the AI starts to overplay and you can hit him on a back cut with a pass from the big at the elbow. I get 8-12 easy points every game.
NBA 2k16 Freelance Offenses: Flex The Flex offense has been around the game for quite some time now. In NBA 2k16, they finally gave us a freelance version of Flex! This is a great play to use when you have a balanced team, you want to make your opponents work on defense, or you want to slow the game down and get easy looks!
Before we get into the offenses main options, lets discuss how to initiate the offense.
1) Hit left on the D-pad while on offense
2)Hit R1/RB to go to offenses
3)Choose Flex
4)Choose Patient for offensive Tempo on you POE's.
5)Make sure you have full play art on.
Now you are ready to go! POE's do not really matter besides the patience tempo, so I'd recommend leaving everything else alone.
To initiate the offense:
1) You can bring the ball with anyone! It does not have to bring the PG. Simply dribble the ball to the left or right at the top of the key and the action should begin.
2) The other guard will either come up for the initial pass or the opposite player on the key will screen the corner man.
Options:
1) Look for the initial baseline cutter (should be your SF) for the easy bucket.
2) Hold the ball if not there and the opposite elbow should downscreen to continue the offense.
3)If no shot or drive on the down screen....rinse and repeat until you get an open look or mismatch.
4) If nothing else is working, call for a quick post up, isolation, or pick and roll!
That is the Flex offense in a nutshell. It is really simple after you practice for a game or two! Remember if playing online, take advantage and counteract your opponent's defensive gameplan. If they want to overplay and are giving you fastbreaks...then take it! If you want to slow the game down to frustrate your opponent...that is an option as well!
Enjoy!
Freelance Offense: Flow
Analysis By: Hot Kidd
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hot Kidd
This freelance is seriously beautiful.
Freelance Offense: Flow offense
Preferred Action (Motion Cuts, Freelance, Space the Floor):Definitely motion cuts. Dont bother with the other 2
Freelance Focus:
The 2 bigs get used as screeners. This designed to get PGs and wings either 3s off screens or back cuts.
It also gets your wings catching the ball on the move.
Freelance Strengths:
Rarely does the play end. There is always another action coming if you dont get a shot.
It utilises the games strong catch and shoot animations.
It opens 3 and key.
No iso ball required.
Freelance Weaknesses:
Sometimes, the games floaty passes can cause interceptions.
All the screen, can create wonky and exaggerated 'getting around the screen' animations.
Best Personnel Fit:
Strong screeners.
Catch and shoot guys.
Dudes who can shoot off the move.
Favorite Actions/Branches:
* Forum being stupid. Will embed links later*
There are 2 trigger positions. The first is at the top of the key. You'll see 2 wings coming off screens set by bigs. Wes looks for the shot, Parsons the back cut.
If you can't get a good look of this initial stuff, dont worry.
Off trigger point 1, Williams is looking for the 3 but covered. He takes the ball, dribble hand off back to Parsons who gets a screen from Dirk. Lane opens up, buckets.
This one is one my faves. I start off from the wing trigger point. No back screen, off ball screen shut down as well. Dribble hand off, draw the D, open corner 3.
As you play around, Im sure you'll find other actions. On the top of key trigger, if you dont pass the wing sets an on ball screen for you and you have the option of passing to 2 wings flaring out for 3s.
Of course lots of this stuff also leads into 2 man manual pick and roll game, and manual dribble pitch situations.
Here is some in game stuff. Dynamic shots. Dynamic reactions. Watch the last one. Parsons' defender gets caught up so he flares out for the 3.
Preferred Action (Motion Cuts, Freelance, Space the Floor): Motion Cuts (Also works very well with Space the Floor)
Freelance Focus: The Motion 4-out 1-in freelance focuses on freeing up shooters. It provides open shots by running players off screens constantly.
Freelance Strengths: It is relatively simple. It is pretty easy to run and is not overly complicated. Shooters are always running around screens looking for an open shot. Because it has four players circling the perimeter and one big inside, the spacing is very good as well. It also smoothly flows from one action to another.
Freelance Weaknesses: It is relatively simple. This can be good at times, and bad. Opponents can sometimes recognize the actions as they happen, and defend the play very well. Very weak rebounding without an elite rebounding center.
Best Personnel Fit: It is necessary to have good perimeter shooting and a strong rebounding center. Without shooting, this freelance is essentially useless. It also requires a playmaking guard who can penetrate off the dribble and kick out to open shooters. With good shooting and a playmaking guard, the Motion 4-out 1-in becomes deadly. Attacking the paint with the guard (With the Pick and Roll or Iso) provides a double edged sword for the defense to walk on, help in the paint and leave a shooter wide open, or stay on your man and give up the easy bucket.
Favorite Actions/Branches:
Space The Floor: With the action set to Space the Floor, this freelance provides excellent spacing, no matter where the ball is. Players will move as the ball moves to keep spacing, and if the ball is entered into the post, the perimeter players back away and let the big go to work. Use space the floor if you like to create your own offense attacking off the dribble.
Motion Cuts: There are two positions where the freelance offense can be initiated, on the wing, or at the top of the three-point arc. Most of the actions try to free up shooters for an open shot, and the actions flow nicely into one another.
The base action begins on the wings, and features shooters running off screens from the corner to the wing. This action provides an open shot or driving angle to attack the defense. With no dribbles, this will continue for the entire possession.
From the top of the key, there are three branches that you can choose.
Option A- Hit the cutter coming off the down screen for an easy layup. More often than not, the defense covers the cutter and denies the pass, but this is an instant score if available. If the cutter is not open, the center will drift out to receive a pass on the wing.
Option B- Pass up top. The shooter will catch the ball up top. If guarded, the center will set a screen for the player in the corner to come off. If no open shot, the team will flow back into the base action.
Option C- Pass to the corner. A shooter will come off another screen from the top to the wing to receive a pass. Then a shooter will run from the opposite corner will run around to the top of the arc and swing the ball the same direction. Then he will set a screen for the first shooter and the ball is reversed around the arc,
If the final option does not provide an open shot, the team will flow back into the base action from the wing, running players of screens from the corner to the wing.
Sam has done a 4 Out Motion freelance overview vid. I've used it and it's a nice offense, though I haven't gotten around to doing a vid yet:
Freelance Offense: Pace
Analysis By: cardinalbird7
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by cardinalbird7
Pace
Pace & Space offensive scheme has been showcased the past few years with the Miami Heat. Erik Spoelstra implemented the offense so that Wade and LeBron can constantly be attacking the rim without having to run set plays for just one or the other. Chris Bosh was also a vital asset for this offensive scheme, and it allowed him to play a bigger role in the Miami Heat’s offense. This is a Pick and Roll/Attack the Basket style of offense that uses 4 players on the perimeter, so if you have multiple athletes on the floor plus a good stretch/athletic 4 and want to keep the defense honest then I recommend giving this offense a try. This offense does include off ball movement, fade screens, and off ball screens too.
In NBA 2k16, Milwaukee has a very athletic team, especially if you choose to put Antetokounmpo at the 4 and stretch . They also do not have a true point guard/superstar to rely on to create action in the halfcourt to attack the defense, so with the pace offense you can utilize multiple athletes in your backcourt, while attacking the basket in sync as a unit.
To enable the Pace & Space offense, make sure that you have selected Pace and Freelance movement as your offensive strategy. You then can set your points of emphasis for how you want to primarily run this offense. I’d recommend pick and roll offense, attack the basket, or to play through a certain player.
To initiate the offense you can either use the 2k smart play button (Up on D-pad) which will pick a quick action based off your points of emphasis and positioning. You can also make a pass to one of the wings and give it a 1 second count (also make sure you have play diagram on) for the offense to be initiated. From there you will have limitless options based on your personnel, POE, and teams’ positioning on the court. There is no way set way to initiate a specific action, but it will keep the defense honest as there are multiple options for each pass.
Be sure to keep a few of these pointers in mind when you are running the Pace & Space Freelance Offense or any Freelance offense for that matter:
1. This is primarily a 4-1 offense. You have to make sure your PF can either shoot or be able to create off the dribble. There are ton of PF’s who can shoot the deep ball, but you can also use this offense with a player like Josh Smith who has athleticism and decent handles for a big. This is what Chris Bosh a perfect for this scheme.
2. Exploit mismatches within the offense. If you see that your opponent switched on you during a Pick and Roll then do not be afraid to post up the smaller player or isolate the quicker guard on a big. Use your heads out there and do not be strictly tied to the play art diagram.
3. Pay attention the shot clock. If time is 10 seconds or below then either manually call your own play like a quick isolation, off ball screen, or pick and roll. You can also use the 2K smart play button and it should initiate a quick action based on your positioning and personnel.
4. Use the Points of Emphasis based on your personnel and situations! For example, if you sub in your back up PG who does not nearly have the athleticism or finishing ability as your starter then do not try and attack the basket with him. Change your POE’s from Pick and Roll/Attack the Basket to Play through one of your best players on the court or Get Shooters Open. Know your players’ limitations as well as their strengths.
5. Have some back up plays to add to your repertoire. I like to add my own pick and roll plays for my PG and 3 pt/mid range plays for my wings. Freelance offenses are designed to be your primary options and should start to come instinctively to you, but make sure you have a few of your own sets you like to run based on the situations and to mix it up a bit.
6. Use common sense when playing online. If your opponent wants to full court press and take charges at the half court then blow by them and take advantage of free lanes. Do not over complicate things. Once your opponents adjust and decide to play back more on defense then you can run your halfcourt sets! It is a game adjustments, but at the same time make sure to keep it simple, stupid!
Freelance Offense: Pace
Analysis By: LorenzoDC
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by LorenzoDC
Great job on those vids, Cardinalbird. Before you posted your pace vid I also had one in production that I just finished tonight. Hope you don't mind me dumping it here in this thread. I link to your video in the description of mine. I feel like the more the merrier and the better for 2k gaming, and anyway, I'm not trying to build a Youtube channel, I just have fun doing these and it makes me learn the offenses.
NBA 2k16 Offensive Tutorials: Princeton Chin
The Princeton Chin essentially means Princeton High. There is also Princeton Low, which I will have a video and article for at a later time.
Princeton Chin is best utilized with 4 perimeter players who can shoot deep and/or cut inside and finish. Your 5 man has to be able to hit mid range and faceup from the top of the key or hit post shots at the free throw line. There are not many players in the NBA who can do this, thus making Dallas and Dirk Nowitzki a prime candidate to run this offense.
Either motion or freelance cuts will work about the same, however do not use spacing the floor. POE's are not that important either. You may want to try "Patient Offense", but the other options do not really matter as the Princeton Chin is pretty much a set offense from Point A to Z with a few branches in there as well.
The offense starts with 4 perimeter players and 1 high post player and that is your base set. Then there are three options to initiate the offense.
Hold the ball at the top and you'll see 2 branches:
1)Option 1 - Swing the ball to the opposite wing (This creates the most action)
A)This initiates a series of backdoors including the opposite guard at the top ; if you do not hit him and hold the ball this branches into 2 more options.
1)Pass to corner and the man who passed it will cut thru and then the other strongside perimeter player will go off a backscreen from Dirk. If nothing is there, hold the ball and Dirk will screen the opposite side for either a shot or a Pick and Fade with Dirk.
2)Pass to Dirk and the strong side guard at the top of the key will go back door. Then there will be a strong side down screen for either a handoff/pass or Dirk can hold the ball. There will be another down screen on weak side as well.
2)Option 2 - Feed the high post (This should be your priority if you just want to do work with your post player)
A)All 4 perimeter players will cut and initate their own floppy acttion
B)Hit someone coming off a screen or go to work with your big!
3)Option 3 - Once you bring the ball, instead of holding the ball swing the ball to the opposite wing to initiate. (This is the hardest one to initiate and may only work on reversals or resets)
A)Dirk will flash and then strongside backscreens for a backdoor and weakside downscreens for a 3 point shot. Simple and quick.
This offense takes a little time to learn, but it is not that complicated. It is more important to know how to run the offense in a game and to understand what each branch does. You want to utilize your strengths so if you feel like your Big can excel at post fadeaways then go to that right away. If your big is a great passer (AKA Chris Webber) then go into option 1. If you want a quick shot then go into option 3.
BTW let me know what I can better in the video guys? You want to see more scrimmage? More online? More offline games? You want to see me failing with the offense or just the goodies? You like the annotations or no?
Preferred Action (Motion Cuts, Freelance, Space the Floor): Motion cuts gives the most predictable action with neutral offensive focus. You can also alternate into Freelance action if you want to make the offense a little less predictable, especially if you want to couple that with Play Through your star player, such as Jordan or Carmelo.
Freelance Focus: The classic triangle was the prelude to motion offenses where the emphasis fell on movement to find the defense out of position for opportunistic baskets. Unlike Spurs and other more modern motion offenses, there is not constant motion, as some actions will only trigger with pauses by the ball handler, giving the ball handler time to work on his own, especially in the post. The philosophy emphasizes spacing and angles to generate, first off, shots from the post, then cuts to the basket, and lastly jumpers. While you can get looks for 3's in the offense, that is not the offense's primary focus.
Freelance Strengths: When it's operating well, it's really beautiful basketball. The triangle gives the defense a hard time deciding where to focus, because the ball will move and the actions in the offense are designed to take advantage of what the defense is giving you. While critics of the offense say it doesn't work without at least two scoring stars, what offense does work well without guys like that? Relative to pick and roll type offenses, the triangle does give more opportunities to get opportunistic baskets with guys who are not stud scorers, but who are getting to the basket in the right place at the right time while the defense focuses on primary scorers. The offense can operate and adapt to pressure with back door cuts to the hoop with pressure, and this year's version of it in 2K has more classic triangle pressure release actions built in to it.
Freelance Weaknesses: As mentioned before, the triangle will not maximize your personnel if you have two or three plus plus three point shooters in your lineup, especially a stretch 4. Also, the positioning in the offense can start to clog up the middle, so when your perimeter shooters are not really responding by drifting to the arc, in 2k, you can start to bog down a little and cough up some turnovers as the defense starts bumping and jumping your passing lanes. Scott OG's defense gets used to your passing lanes after a little while and when that happens in 2k you either have to 1) be much more patient to allow your players to make dynamic reads and opportunistic cuts in response to pressure or 2) switch out to another offense that spaces the floor better but still suits your personnel, such as 4 out or Pace if you have a good stretch 4 or 3-2 extended or 3-2 fist or something you like with a space the floor action setting.
Best Personnel Fit: In this offense all of your players can occupy any position on the floor to fill the offense's spacing requirements, so you want 4's and 5's who have decent hands and can pass the ball reasonably well. The offense helps to maximize the talents of mid range shooters, passers, cutters who can close at the rim and anyone with a good first step of acceleration. I wouldn't call it a pure athlete's offense as it is primarily a half court offensive philosophy that wants to use patience and the clock to get open shots, but it will reward high offensive IQ players who can read and react to defensive coverage, and that sudden burst quick step to generate surprise separation really helps.
Favorite Actions/Branches: There are a ton of branches and actions and sub branches in this year's triangle freelance, as Czar rebuilt the damn thing from scratch after last year's first effort. I don't really have pure favorite actions, though I will show some snippets that demonstrate some classic triangle actions below. The best thing I can recommend for people who want to succeed with it is to just get into scrimmage mode and start passing the ball with full play art activated. You will see all kinds of branches, actions and options once you initiate the offense with a class pass from the top to the wing. Keep doing that over an over, without even taking shots, just to get a feel for where the ball moves and how your teammates respond to ball movement and pauses in ball movement.
Initiating the Offense & Classic Floor Positioning
Spoiler
For info on the classic spacing and positions of the triangle, see this page. Here's a quick video showing classic triangle offense spacing in NBA 2k16 and how to initiate the offense in freelance with a pass to the wing. The classic start of the offense begins with this pass to the wing on the side of the court occupied by the low post player.
Also, in NBA 2k16, the triangle freelance will often prompt you to look first to hit the man in the low post right from the top of the key or as the ball handler crosses half court in the middle of the floor. This pass will not usually be open or safe but if it is there, triangle principles would say to make it for a high percentage low post shot.
If you choose not to make the pass the offense will begin as usual with a pass from the top of the key to the wing to set up the classic triangle options and motions.
First option: Feed the Post
Spoiler
In the classic start of the triangle, after feeding the ball to the wing, the first look is to the man in the high post. That player has the option to shoot or post up to score. At the same time, as shown in this clip, the passer will cut to the basket on one side of the man in the post and the man in the corner will cut up the baseline to the basket. The man in the post has the option to pass to either of these cutters for the layup. If he chooses none of the above, the weak side post player will curl around a pick set by the player who initially passed the ball to get open for a shot or a cut to the basket. That's the action shown in this clip.
Second Option: Swing to Top (Reversal)
Spoiler
The second main option for the triangle offense at the start of the offense is to reverse the ball back to the top of the key. This clip shows that in NBA 2K16. The player at the top of the wing can shoot the three or, as shown in this clip, pass the ball to the high post, continuing the reversal. The high post player can either shoot, make a move to the basket or pass back out to the cutting player who just passed him the ball, either to the corner for a 3 or cutting to the basket. That's the action shown in this clip.
Here's another possibility out of the reverse, determined by the weak side personnel and positioning. If a guard is positioned as the weak side wing, the AI may have him fill the wing position high, as in this clip. That will lead to this cut to the basket from the guard at the opposite side high wing.
Finally, here's a nice example of some dynamic decision making on offense following trangle principles off the pass reverse to the guard away from the post players. In this clip on after the reverse pass to the guard high on the wing, you can see the offensive players reacting to clogging and bumping to fill open spaces and create new options.
At :04 the ball is reversed, and then the palyer at the top of the key sets a curl screen at the foul line for the post player on the side opposite the ball. At the same time you can see the other high guard on the side away from the ball begin to fill space at the top of the key just vacated. He drifts back to the wing side as he sees the curl screen action down below and so vacates to create space for that action.
But at :06 the post player coming off the curl screen is bumped and the window for that action is lost. So he drifts toward the top of the key to swing around the ball side high for a handoff or pass to him cutting to the basket from the outside.
Third Option: Pass to the Weak Side Wing at the High Post and the Famous "Blind Pig"
Spoiler
One of the more famous play names in basketball, the "blind pig" becomes an option out of the third primary branch of the classic triangle, the pass to the weak side wing player at the high post foul line from the beginning of the offense.
In this clip, you can see that, as that pass is made, the player at the top of the key cuts to the basket for a quick pass from the ball handler at the foul line, looking for a layup. That's the "blind pig." It's a classic triangle play to combat the defense playing tight in an attempt to clog the triangle's passing lanes, following triangle pressure release principles.
In this clip, that pass is not really open so it isn't made. In 2k16, if the pass is not made, then the strong side guard at the wing will cut to the weak side foul line for a handoff and maybe an open shot or path to the basket. You can see that action in this clip.
Fourth Option: Feed the Corner
Spoiler
The fourth option when initiating the triangle offense from classic spacing is to get the ball to the corner, usually filled by the guard at the top of the key who will cut to that position after making the initial pass to the wing.
At that point, the guard can choose to shoot an open 3 if available or pass to the strong side wing cutting to the basket off a screen set by the low post player. If that's not open, the low post player will then come over to set a corner screen for the guard to try to make a move to the basket. The corner ball handler also has the option to pass the ball back up high to the wing or make a move to the basket to draw in the defense and then pass to either of two players positioned at the top of the key and the weak side wing.
You can see in this clip the corner ball handler is not open but makes a dribble move off the corner screen. The defense is playing tight and physical, and so the player at the top of the key makes an initial move to cut to the basket for a pass from the corner ball handler moving around the corner screen, but then stops as he is impeded by the defense. The weak side wing then provides the pressure release option for the pass back out to the wing where the offense can start again as players fill their triangle positions.
Some Other Fun Options
Spoiler
This clip shows two fun sets within the triangle freelance offense that demonstrate triangle principles and give the ball handler decisions to make based on a read of the defense.
The first is created at the :08 mark with a pass from the guard at the top of the key to the high post player who forms the triangle on the side with the wing and corner players.
Once he receives the ball, the high post weak side player will cut to the basket. The top of the key guard sets a screen for the wing player who cuts around the top to receive a pass at or above the foul line. The Guard who sets that screen will then fade to receive a pass for a three point shot. These are the three decision options open to the high post player who receives the ball.
The next set of options is created at the :15 mark with the pass from the foul line to the wing who forms the side triangle with the other post player and the corner man. Here, the triangle reforms and the guard can either pass to the weak side high post, reverse the ball to the guard on the other side, or pass the ball to the space being filled at the strong side wing. In this clip, the pass is to the high post, which initiates the pressure release action of the weak side guard cutting to the basket for an open shot at the rim.
2k16 shipped with default 3 Out freelance offense for the following teams: Nets, Nuggets, Clippers, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Magic and Raptors. On top of that, the game uses it as a base offense for sometimes for the Pistons, Pacers and Kings, depending on the personnel on the floor.
I did a video for the basic 3 out offense. The video gives a quick introduction to the offense, and shows:
- Spacing: where to expect your players to be on the floor
- Most common actions and plays built into the offense
- Quick tips on how and when to use the offense
I run through the descriptions kind of fast, but you can always pause and play the clips again to see what I'm talking about if you miss anything. Sorry, I'm trying to keep the video length down while still showing what to expect from this offense and how to use it.
This video does NOT go into variations of the 3 out offense, such as 3 out extended, 3 out fist, 3 out motion or 3 out extended motion. I will put videos together on those in the future. I do believe that anyone who has a team that uses 3 out in its base form, shown in this video, should also know how to change it up and use the other 3 out offenses to respond effectively to what human and CPU defenses will do you on defense. So stay tuned for my breakdowns of those other offenses.
Freelance Offense: 3-Out 2-In
Preferred Action (Motion Cuts, Freelance, Space the Floor): Motion Cuts, but since the base 3 Out offense is ind of built for iso actions in the post, you can also try Freelance if you have a star low post matchup you want to take advantage of to get more emphasis on him.
Freelance Focus: Low post Iso action first, then some perimeter shooters coming off high screens for shots at the elbow or near the top of the key, and third the occasional cut and high Pick and roll.
Freelance Strengths: Gives the user/player room to create down low and gets your post threats in good positions on the floor while allowing your shooters opportunities to catch and shoot from kickouts and some reverses across the top.
Freelance Weaknesses: Can get static because there are not many actions or branches - mostly one play action with no sub actions if the first look/pass is not there. There are some actions that come up when you move the ball and pass around a bit, and not all of them show on the floor with blue play art. I've seen some on ball picks like that, for example, or maybe the playart flashes so fast I didn't see it. If you want more motion to get your teammates active in creating open looks and pass opportunities, this one may frustrate you. You need to initiate and create and use this offense as a backdrop.
Best Personnel Fit: Not stretch 4's that's for sure. Better with back to the basket bigs who can shoot and get offensive rebounds, a point who can pass and distribute well (not as much a pick and driving guy), and a 2 and a 3 who can hit the 3.
Favorite Actions/Branches: None in particular. Not a lot of depth or complexity here, but it gets players in good places on the floor if your personnel fit the system.
Preferred Action (Motion Cuts, Freelance, Space the Floor): Motion Cuts
Freelance Focus: Creating space for shooters for teams without a stretch 4, using mostly down screens on the perimeter near the corner or at the elbow, while also making room for 4's and 5's to get the ball in the post and work down low.
Freelance Strengths: Good for teams without dominant low post players and no stretch 4 but who do have decent shooters in positions 1 2 and 3 where at least one of those guys is a legitimate 3 point threat. Preferably two of them. Opens up the floor relative to the basic 3-2 so that you can run some more high PnR if you want without playing bumper cars in the paint with defenders and your own guys. A solid counterpoint option to the basic 3-2 when the defense starts to body up a lot and cause turnovers around the key.
Freelance Weaknesses: Not a lot of depth to the action branches, and once you get the ball into the post the actions pretty much die. That's maybe a strengths if you want to create and don'ltt want guys running around and cutting so you can iso and create. Can get predictable as there are not a ton of actions built in. It's a backdrop type of offensive set, bot a full on offense like a swing motion offense or the triangle
Best Personnel Fit: As I said above, teams without a stretch 4 shooter, with or without a strong post up 4 or 5. If you don't have a strong post up 4 or 5 but do have a couple of guys 1 2 or 3 who can catch and shoot the 3, that's a great fit. Also creates space if you have a guard with the pick n roll maestro badge and any good (big or small) screen outlet badge players, for roll or fade.
Favorite Actions/Branches: None really, but there's a little curl cut coming off a down screen near the foul line that is sort of the signature unique action of this set relative to the basic 3-2, and it gives you options and can be pretty effective, even if it's very simple. You can see it in the video I posted.
NBA 2k16 Freelance Offenses: 7 Seconds
7 Seconds is an offense designed to score fast and to create quick actions along with good spacing to set up shooters.
It is a 4 out offense and a hybrid between 4 out motion and the Pace offense. It offers a good balance of offball action and PnR actions.
In order to initiate the offense
1) Hit R1/RB on offense and choose 7 seconds for halfcourt freelance on the 4th page.
2) Choose either Freelance or Motion for your cuts. Do not choose Space the Floor!
POE's:
1) You can run the offense through a particular player, choose pick and roll, or get shooters open. It is all preference.
2)Shoot at will - This is very important if you want to initiate the fastbreak offense
3) All other POE's are optional
How to initiate the offense:
1)Bring the ball up in less than 4 seconds. If you see the arrow then you initiated it. You can then either pass it to the opposite wing or hold the ball for a pick and roll with great spacing!
2)If you cannot get the ball up fast enough then simply pass the ball to the opposite side of your center. This will initiate multiple actions and will be based off your POE's, whether or not you use freelance or motion, and the players you have on the floor. Here are some options
A) Opposite wing will screen away for a shot.
B) You can initiate a hand off with the opposite wing or dribble to top of the key for another screen for your corner guard
C) Reversal which leads to multiple other actions including a double pindown for a big, off ball screen leading to a PnR right afterwards, or a high post/hand off isolation action.
D)Big will ocassionally come up for a PnR at any time depending on your POE's, spacing, and personnel.
3)Start your offense in the corner. Push the ball up court and either dribble to the corner or pass to the corner and this can initiate the corner actions which include:
A) Away screen to big then a Corner PnR
B) Double down screen for opposite post
C) Down screen to PnR with a guard
D) Down screen to a shot with a guard
Go to scrimmage and make sure to watch the video to get a better understanding of the freelance offense! It is also recommended to have a few money plays to run to keep your opponent confused!
I like it. An excuse to wax lyrical about my favourite offense:
Freelance Offense
Corner
Preferred Action (Motion Cuts, Freelance, Space the Floor)
Motion Cuts
Freelance Focus
I leave the POE on "Neutral." However, if you're asking what the focus is of the offense is, I'd summarise it as:
- Moving the ball without dribbling
- Creating shots - from many areas of the floor - without a heavy reliance on screen and roll
- Using all 5 players as "playmakers," rather than just the point guard
- Reading and reacting to the way the defense is playing
Freelance Strengths
- Starting positions are smartly spaced - wing, elbow, corner, elbow, corner. If there's a mismatch, you can go right to a spot and work it before the D can switch
- Off-ball screening and movement
- "Read and react" cutting - if a guy is overplayed, he will go back door
- Multiple options from the initial entry pass all the way through to the bottom of the shotclock
- Most actions aim to create an open 3 or layup - exactly what "modern" NBA offense is geared towards
Freelance Weaknesses
- If you're unable to "spring" a cutter for an open shot, you can eat a lot of shotclock passing it around and going nowhere
- On the base action that is run most regularly, multiple players can pile up at the 3 point line directly above the basket.
- There's little room for off the bounce flair. If you like to ISO or run a lot of P and R, look elsewhere
Best Personnel Fit
5: You want an Al Horford/Tim Duncan/Gasol (either)/Towns type. Ability to pass it, hit midrange shots and go into a post move if the right match up is available. A "Brick Wall" badge is a nice to have, given all the screening these guys do.
4: As per above, as the 4 and 5 are effectively interchangeable. Julius Randle is a nice fit when he grows up. Given the amount of catches they'll be getting at the elbow, going small with Melo or KD or Jabari can be money, too.
3: This guy needs to be a good or great shooter while stationary and on the move. 3's mostly but midrange also helpful. There's no room for a Tony Allen or MKG here. Good Offensive Awareness to make sharp cuts, too. Obviously, if you can get Durant, he's the best guy available - let's be honest, he would flourish in any system.
The plus side is that you don't need to worry about ballhandling and shot creation. Kawhi, Danny Green, Khris Middleton or DeMarre Carroll types. If you're open, shoot it and make it. If you're not, pass it.
2: Much like the 4 and 5, the 2 and 3 are the same - they swap roles depending on which side of the floor you choose to run the actions on. I've had Brad Beal in this spot and it's borderline unfair - he's just terrific.
1: This is interesting. Despite my repeated claims above that ballhandling is not a major part of this system, I've run Rose here and it was really something. In the base set, the 1 often comes out of the corner and takes a hand off from the 4/5 at the elbow with a head of steam. Rose, with his insane quickness, could really get some separation as he came around the bend. Then he was able to lower his shoulder and get to the basket.
In truth, you want a knockdown shooter - moving around off-ball screens - more than anything. Great playmaking is not a must have, nor is the ability to work off the dribble. Kyle Lowry - in a good year - comes to mind. Brandon Knight.
Given the playmaking is spread around, you can get by with a makeshift PG, too, much like Phil Jackson like to use in the Triangle. Find yourself a 2 - with range - who can guard 1's and you're good to go. Oladipo. Shumpert. Avery Bradley.
Favorite Actions/Branches
The base set. You trigger this by dribbling or passing to a wing. On that side, the corner and wing will be filled by the 1, 2 or 3. The elbow will be filled by the 4 or 5.
On the weakside, the 1, 2 or 3 not involved in the strong side starts in the corner and the other big is on the elbow.
The best way to kick off multiple options is to throw it from the strong side wing into the strong side elbow/high post. If you want to use this system, get familiar with this, first and foremost.
My personal favourite is to run multiple sets where the 1/2/3 in the strong side corner comes to the top for a hand off. Eventually, the AI starts to overplay and you can hit him on a back cut with a pass from the big at the elbow. I get 8-12 easy points every game.
Preferred Action (Motion Cuts, Freelance, Space the Floor): Motion Cuts (Also works very well with Space the Floor)
Freelance Focus: The Motion 4-out 1-in freelance focuses on freeing up shooters. It provides open shots by running players off screens constantly.
Freelance Strengths: It is relatively simple. It is pretty easy to run and is not overly complicated. Shooters are always running around screens looking for an open shot. Because it has four players circling the perimeter and one big inside, the spacing is very good as well. It also smoothly flows from one action to another.
Freelance Weaknesses: It is relatively simple. This can be good at times, and bad. Opponents can sometimes recognize the actions as they happen, and defend the play very well. Very weak rebounding without an elite rebounding center.
Best Personnel Fit: It is necessary to have good perimeter shooting and a strong rebounding center. Without shooting, this freelance is essentially useless. It also requires a playmaking guard who can penetrate off the dribble and kick out to open shooters. With good shooting and a playmaking guard, the Motion 4-out 1-in becomes deadly. Attacking the paint with the guard (With the Pick and Roll or Iso) provides a double edged sword for the defense to walk on, help in the paint and leave a shooter wide open, or stay on your man and give up the easy bucket.
Favorite Actions/Branches:
Space The Floor: With the action set to Space the Floor, this freelance provides excellent spacing, no matter where the ball is. Players will move as the ball moves to keep spacing, and if the ball is entered into the post, the perimeter players back away and let the big go to work. Use space the floor if you like to create your own offense attacking off the dribble.
Motion Cuts: There are two positions where the freelance offense can be initiated, on the wing, or at the top of the three-point arc. Most of the actions try to free up shooters for an open shot, and the actions flow nicely into one another.
The base action begins on the wings, and features shooters running off screens from the corner to the wing. This action provides an open shot or driving angle to attack the defense. With no dribbles, this will continue for the entire possession.
From the top of the key, there are three branches that you can choose.
Option A- Hit the cutter coming off the down screen for an easy layup. More often than not, the defense covers the cutter and denies the pass, but this is an instant score if available. If the cutter is not open, the center will drift out to receive a pass on the wing.
Option B- Pass up top. The shooter will catch the ball up top. If guarded, the center will set a screen for the player in the corner to come off. If no open shot, the team will flow back into the base action.
Option C- Pass to the corner. A shooter will come off another screen from the top to the wing to receive a pass. Then a shooter will run from the opposite corner will run around to the top of the arc and swing the ball the same direction. Then he will set a screen for the first shooter and the ball is reversed around the arc,
If the final option does not provide an open shot, the team will flow back into the base action from the wing, running players of screens from the corner to the wing.
Quote From one of EA Sports Game Changers
( None of us have the power to control when EA Sports will implement/fix/address things in their games after we suggest them)
So this may be a dumb question, but how do you set these free lance offenses? Or is it something the game just "freelances" as you dribble into certain positions?
Re: NBA 2K16 Freelance Info: OS Community "Wiki"
Quote:
Originally Posted by rawlinsnate
So this may be a dumb question, but how do you set these free lance offenses? Or is it something the game just "freelances" as you dribble into certain positions?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Here's a video that will explain it for you. I hope this helps.
10-25-2015, 05:53 PM
