🏀 How Well Do You Know How to Move Without the Basketball Quiz 🏀

Ready to elevate your basketball IQ and become a master of the hardwood by becoming self aware of how well you move without the basketball? One of the most underappreciated yet critical skills in basketball is knowing how to move without the basketball. Sure, dribbling and shooting are flashy, but off-ball movements like cutting, spacing, and setting screens can be game-changers. Understanding these advanced basketball tactics not only helps you stand out but also makes you an invaluable asset to any team.

This expert-level quiz covers everything from V-cuts to flare screens, backdoor cuts to down screens, and much more. Designed for ambitious high school and college basketball players, our 20 multiple-choice questions will test your knowledge and strategic understanding of playing without the ball in your hands.

Whether you’re a shooting guard looking to get open for a three-pointer, a center aiming to set the perfect screen, or a small forward striving to master the art of the backdoor cut, this quiz is your roadmap to becoming an off-ball movement savant. So why wait? Hone your skills, increase your basketball IQ, and get one step closer to basketball greatness.

👇 Take the quiz now and find out how well you really know how to move without the basketball! 👇

1. What is the first thing you should do after passing the ball?
   • A) Stand still
   • B) Run to the basket
   • C) Cut or screen
   • D) Ask for the ball back
2. What is a V-cut?
   • A) A type of defensive stance
   • B) A shooting technique
   • C) An offensive movement
   • D) A dribbling trick
3. What should you do if a teammate is driving towards the basket?
   • A) Stand still
   • B) Space the floor
   • C) Run towards them
   • D) Call for a timeout
4. How can you set an effective screen away from the ball?
   • A) By leaning into the defender
   • B) By moving as the player runs into the screen
   • C) By setting your feet and keeping your hands to yourself
   • D) By shouting before you set the screen
5. Why is timing important when moving without the ball?
   • A) To confuse the defender
   • B) To ensure the popcorn is ready by halftime
   • C) To sync with the shot clock
   • D) To be in the right place when your teammate is ready to pass
6. What is the purpose of a “curl cut”?
   • A) To trick the defender into thinking you’re setting a screen
   • B) To quickly change direction and lose your defender
   • C) To make a circular movement around a teammate
   • D) To loop back to your original position
7. Which of the following is NOT a way to get open off the ball?
   • A) L-cut
   • B) Backdoor cut
   • C) Crossover dribble
   • D) Down screen
8. What does “reading the defense” mean in the context of moving without the ball?
   • A) Predicting the next defensive play
   • B) Understanding where the defensive players are positioned
   • C) Figuring out the defender’s favorite book
   • D) None of the above
9. When is it most beneficial to set a back screen?
   • A) When the defense is playing man-to-man
   • B) When the defense is playing zone
   • C) When your team is on defense
   • D) When you’re taking a free throw
10. What should you do immediately after setting a screen?

• A) Roll or pop
• B) Stay put
• C) Run to the bench
• D) Celebrate

11. What is a flare screen used for?

• A) To set a screen for a player cutting to the basket
• B) To set a screen for a player moving towards the perimeter
• C) To distract the referee
• D) To block a shot

12. What should you do if your defender is sagging off you?

• A) Drive to the basket
• B) Cut towards the ball
• C) Spot up for a shot
• D) Leave the court

13. What should you do if you can’t get open?

• A) Give up and stand still
• B) Keep moving and set a screen for a teammate
• C) Ask for a substitution
• D) Dribble the ball anyway

14. When should you use a backdoor cut?

• A) When you’re closely guarded and your defender is overplaying you
• B) When you’re open for a 3-pointer
• C) When your teammate is driving towards the basket
• D) When you’re posting up

15. What does it mean to “slip” a screen?

• A) To fake setting a screen and then roll to the basket
• B) To fall while setting a screen
• C) To slide your feet while setting a screen
• D) To set a screen and then slip away without rolling or popping

16. How should you set up your defender before cutting?

• A) Push them
• B) Change speeds and direction
• C) Shout your intentions
• D) Wait for them to move first

17. What kind of cut should you use when your defender goes under the screen?

• A) Backdoor cut
• B) V-cut
• C) Fade cut
• D) Straight cut

18. What should you do when setting a “down screen”?

• A) Set the screen and then cut to the basket
• B) Set the screen and then pop out to the three-point line
• C) Set the screen and then roll to the basket
• D) Set the screen and then set another screen

19. When should you initiate a “give-and-go” play?

• A) When you’re closely guarded
• B) When you have an open lane to the basket
• C) When you’re far away from the basket
• D) When you’re setting a screen

20. What should you do if the defense switches on a screen you’ve set?

• A) Immediately set another screen
• B) Roll to the basket
• C) Pop out for a shot
• D) Complain to the referee

Answer Key

1. Answer: C) Cut or screen
   Explanation: After passing the ball, you should either cut to give your teammate an option for a return pass or set a screen to free up another teammate.
   Next Step: Practice quick decision-making after passing.
2. Answer: C) An offensive movement
   Explanation: A V-cut is an offensive move to shake your defender and get open for a pass.
   Next Step: Work on your footwork and timing for effective V-cuts.
3. Answer: B) Space the floor
   Explanation: Spacing the floor creates better driving and passing lanes, making it harder for the defense to help.
   Next Step: Practice recognizing driving opportunities and moving accordingly.
4. Answer: C) By setting your feet and keeping your hands to yourself
   Explanation: To set an effective screen, you need to stand still with feet set and hands to yourself to avoid a foul.
   Next Step: Practice setting solid screens in game-like scenarios.
5. Answer: D) To be in the right place when your teammate is ready to pass
   Explanation: Timing is crucial for being in the right spot to receive a pass and make a play.
   Next Step: Work on syncing your movements with your teammates’.
6. Answer: B) To quickly change direction and lose your defender
   Explanation: A curl cut allows you to quickly change direction, often around a screen, to lose your defender.
   Next Step: Practice curl cuts around screens at game speed.
7. Answer: C) Crossover dribble
   Explanation: A crossover dribble is a ball-handling move, not an off-ball movement to get open.
   Next Step: Focus on off-ball movements like cuts and screens to get open.
8. Answer: B) Understanding where the defensive players are positioned
   Explanation: Reading the defense involves understanding their positioning to exploit weaknesses.
   Next Step: Practice reading defensive setups during games and scrimmages.
9. Answer: A) When the defense is playing man-to-man
   Explanation: Back screens are most effective against man-to-man defenses where each defender is focused on a particular player.
   Next Step: Work on setting and using back screens effectively.
10. Answer: A) Roll or pop
    Explanation: After setting a screen, you should either roll to the basket or pop out for a potential shot.
    Next Step: Practice both pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop scenarios.
11. Answer: B) To set a screen for a player moving towards the perimeter
    Explanation: A flare screen is typically used to help a player get an open shot from the perimeter. Next Step: Practice setting and using flare screens in your offensive sets.
12. Answer: C) Spot up for a shot
    Explanation: If your defender is sagging off, it usually means you have room to shoot. Next Step: Work on your long-range shooting to make defenders pay for sagging off.
13. Answer: B) Keep moving and set a screen for a teammate
    Explanation: If you can’t get open, setting a screen for a teammate is a productive next step. Next Step: Focus on quick, purposeful movements, even when you’re not the primary option.
14. Answer: A) When you’re closely guarded and your defender is overplaying you
    Explanation: A backdoor cut is effective when the defender is playing too aggressively. Next Step: Work on timing and quick first steps to maximize the effectiveness of backdoor cuts.
15. Answer: A) To fake setting a screen and then roll to the basket
    Explanation: Slipping a screen means you pretend to set a screen but cut to the basket before actually setting it. Next Step: Practice the timing and execution of slipping screens.
16. Answer: B) Change speeds and direction
    Explanation: Changing speeds and directions makes it difficult for the defender to anticipate your cut. Next Step: Work on your agility and change-of-pace moves.
17. Answer: C) Fade cut
    Explanation: If a defender goes under the screen, a fade cut to the perimeter often creates space for an open shot. Next Step: Work on quick shooting off of fade cuts.
18. Answer: A) Set the screen and then cut to the basket
    Explanation: A down screen is typically followed by a cut to the basket, often resulting in an open layup or dunk. Next Step: Practice down screens and cuts in a live-game setting.
19. Answer: B) When you have an open lane to the basket
    Explanation: A give-and-go is most effective when you see a clear path to the basket. Next Step: Improve your court vision to better recognize these opportunities.
20. Answer: B) Roll to the basket
    Explanation: When the defense switches, rolling to the basket often creates a mismatch or an open shot. Next Step: Work on recognizing defensive switches and reacting quickly.

Here’s a scoring key that categorizes the performance based on the number of correct answers and provides next steps for players to improve:

Scoring Key

16-20 Correct Answers: Expert Level

• Next Steps: You’ve got an excellent understanding of off-ball movement in basketball. To continue your growth, focus on mastering other aspects of the game, like defense and ball-handling, and aim to teach others these off-ball concepts. Consider playing at a higher level of competition to continue refining your skills.

11-15 Correct Answers: Advanced Level

• Next Steps: You’re well on your way to becoming an expert in moving without the basketball. Review the questions you got wrong and work specifically on those aspects. Start analyzing professional games to observe how top players excel in off-ball movements.

6-10 Correct Answers: Intermediate Level

• Next Steps: You have a good base but there’s room for improvement. Spend more time studying game film and consider working with a coach to identify the areas you need to work on. Spend extra time in practice focused solely on off-ball movement.

1-5 Correct Answers: Beginner Level

• Next Steps: Don’t be discouraged; everyone starts somewhere. Begin by learning the fundamentals of off-ball movement, like cutting, screening, and spacing. Work on these basics in practice and study game film to see these concepts in action.

0 Correct Answers: Novice Level

• Next Steps: You’re new to the concept of moving without the basketball, and that’s okay! Start with the basics: learn what a screen is, what a cut is, and how to space the floor. Work closely with a coach or mentor to speed up your learning process.

This scoring key offers a general evaluation and directional guidance for players at different skill levels. Feel free to adjust it to better suit your needs.