“Motion Weak”
Term: Motion Weak
Definition: a play from the San Antonio Spurs’ motion offense that involves the point guard making a thru cut to the weak side and a cross/pin-down screen-the-screener action
See Also: Motion Strong and Loop (two other plays from the Spurs’ motion offense that begin with the same alignment)
How It Works: Motion Weak has many variations, but the diagram above is its core. In a 4-out alignment with the center on the strongside box (just like Motion Strong/Loop), the point guard passes to the shooting guard or small forward on the strongside wing and makes a thru cut to the weakside wing. The SG/SF passes to the trailing big (usually the power forward) at the top of the key, who swings the ball back the point guard on the far side. Meanwhile, the player who began the possession on the weakside wing cuts toward the hoop to set a cross screen for the rim runner (usually the center), and then receives a down screen from the trailer.
That’s only the starting point, however. Motion Weak also has designed counters, built-in reads/automatics, and room for improvisation based on the players’ chemistry and strengths/weaknesses. The combination of both preplanned actions and improvisation helped the Spurs maintain a top offense even as Tim Duncan approached 40-years-old, and it helped create “The Beautiful Game” of the 2014 team:
Strong, Weak, and Loop: The Spurs’ Motion Offense:
The Spurs’ motion offense uses 4-out spacing, with one big at the strongside box and the other (trailer) at the top of the key, with three interchangeable perimeter players:
In Motion Strong, the ball swings to the far side, but the point guard remains on the strong side (hence the name). The rim runner flashes to the strong side, and then the point guard and the trailer set a staggered pin-down for the guard in the corner:
In Loop, the guard/wing in the strongside corner makes a zipper cut, receiving the ball in the slot. The point guard then runs off a triple screen to the weak side. tThe guard/wing who set one of those screens (3 in the diagram below) cuts in the opposite direction, à la Floppy:
