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All posts by Andrew MorganWhat does ISO mean in basketball? ISO is a strategic play that involves one player taking control of the ball as their teammates back off. This draws defenders away, thus opening up space for the player leading the ISO. It usually sees them going one-on-one with a defender.
Learn more about how to pull off a successful ISO play, the players best suited to lead an ISO and the NBA players who have been great ISO players.
What is an ISO in Basketball
ISO is an abbreviation of isolation. In basketball isolation is a strategy used for offensive play. It involves one player going head-to-head with the defensive team, usually a single defender.
The player involved in the ISO play will be isolated from the other offensive players on their team. This is because this tactic requires them to be out of passing range. The isolated player’s teammates do this so they can draw the rest of the defensive players away from the ISO player. This tactic is sometimes used strategically but can also be used out of desperation.
Isolation basketball plays were initially a crowd-pleasing technique for street basketball games but are now found in the NBA.
Key Factors In Isolation Play
There are a few things that a team needs to consider before attempting isolation plays.
The Right Offensive Player
The best choice for an ISO player is likely to be the best player on the team. Most importantly though, they need to be the best all-rounder. The best ISO players need to have good ball-handling skills, strong shooting skills, and a wide passing range.
Therefore, the best examples of ISO players are the standout players on the team such as Luka Dončić and James Harden.
Mismatch Options
It is best to use an ISO play when there is a mismatch between the offensive and defensive players. A good example might be when the ISO player is significantly taller or faster than the defenders.
Court Position
ISO plays should be employed when the offensive player is in a prime position for shooting. The strategy involves the ISO player’s teammates drawing the other defensive players away so they will have little to no passing options. This means a good shooting position is crucial.
Team Signals
Teams must ensure they have clear signals that are understandable but not obvious enough for the other team to decode. This will allow the offensive team to organize and action the play with little opposition.
The Purpose and Best Time To Call Isolation Play
An ISO play is effective for getting a shot up quickly. As a result, they are often employed in the final possessions of a game. When the score difference is single digits, both the attackers and defenders tend to behave more aggressively. Therefore players are less inclined to go for offensive rebounds. ISO plays offer the chance to score without relinquishing a second defensive rebound.
An ISO play can be effective against teams running faster pace plays than you. If the ISO player can quickly get into position after a defensive rebound, the team has a better chance of making a decent shot.
Sometimes though, an ISO play is employed as a last-ditch effort to score and there is no shame in that. Leaving the star player to play hero-ball isn’t irrational when there is no real alternative. It is definitely preferable to a shot-clock violation.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of ISO Play
One of the main advantages of ISO plays is they get the ball quickly into the hands of a reliable scoring player. If executed correctly, the player should also be in a prime shooting position.
This is also beneficial for the wider team. This is because it involves identifying a weak defender as well as exploiting mismatches across other areas of the court.
When the shot-clock is reaching the dying seconds, an ISO play can be relied on to get a shot away.
It can also force defenders to double up and subsequently leave a teammate open. If the defensive team feels threatened and tries to quash the ISO by putting two defenders up against the ISO player, another player will become free to receive the ball.
It is important not to rely on ISO plays. Constantly returning to the ISO play will become predictable, and therefore defenders will be more prepared.
If the defensive team is playing zonally, then an ISO play is more difficult to pull off. This is because the retreating attackers will not pull the defenders out of position because they will stick to their zone.
A coach who uses ISO plays too often also risks the disillusionment of the rest of the team.
Essential Traits of an Effective ISO Player
Effective ISO players are good all-rounders and are usually the best player on a team. There are some key areas that an ISO player must be particularly adept in.
1. Good Decision Making
The ISO player is at the forefront of the play and so needs to make the right decisions during the ISO. If the defender tries to force them onto their weaker side, can they deal with it? If they are doubled up on, can they find the pass? It is all in their hands and so making the right decisions is crucial.
2. 1-on-1 Drills
ISO plays are all about beating the defender and making the shot. Practising one-on-one drills rehearses the same skills required for pulling off ISO plays effectively. Making the drills more elaborate and forcing the ISO player to practice different skills will be beneficial too. Being good at a one on one matchup is key to successful ISO plays so practice here is key.
3. Footwork Drills
It is no secret that beating a defender is not in how you bounce the ball but in how you move your feet. Whether the play requires pivots, jabs, or run-throughs, the player leading an ISO must have the nimble feet of a ballerina.
4. Ball-Handling Drills
Ball-handling drills give players the chance to practice dribbling, which can be an effective tool to use in an ISO. Ultimately, the offensive player must be a good ball handler above all else, so again practice is vital.
The Best ISO Ball Players In The NBA
The player at the center of an ISO is usually the best player on the team.
ISO plays are a modern phenomenon in the NBA. They became prominent during the 2000s with the likes of Kobe Bryant and have even come to define that era of basketball. Since then, we have seen some incredible examples of ISO basketball players. Here are some of the top ones:
- James Harden – The Los Angeles Clippers veteran shooting guard and point guard is one of the best examples of an ISO player. In fact, he has been the league’s best ISO player for seven consecutive seasons. Beyond being an incredibly skillful player who seems to be able to pull off any move on the court, he is also 6′ 5″. He has great ball-handling skills and is known for his stepback three-pointers. Harden also has more 50-point triple-doubles than anyone else in the history of the sport.
- Kyrie Irving – One of the best ball handlers in the history of the NBA, Irving is a prime example of an ISO player. Irving has the highest points per possession in ISO plays for players with a minimum of two ISO plays since the 2015-16 season. His 1.28 PPP (Points Per Possession) stat from the 2022-23 season is the best since 2015-16. He is a great shooter who scores the most points for his team, the Dallas Mavericks.
- LeBron James – The highest-scoring NBA player in history is naturally a great candidate for ISO plays. He is versatile, incredibly athletic, and often controls the offensive moves at all of the teams he has played for.
- Kawhi Leonard – In the ongoing 2023-24 season, Kawhi Leonard is the most efficient ISO player. He has managed a PPP in ISOs of 1.22. Only Irving’s record from the previous season is better for players with at least 2 ISO plays per game in the eight seasons since the NBA began officially recording ISO stats. He is 6′ 7″ with an incredible reach that has earned him the nickname The Claw. Leonard is arguably the greatest scoring defensive player in NBA history.
- Luka Dončić – Fox Sports reporter Nick Wright has said he has the chance to become the greatest offensive player ever. The Mavericks clearly believe in his ability as he has been given more ISO possessions than any other player in the NBA this season. He is another tall and versatile player with a great reach.
- Kevin Durant – Durant’s reputation as an ISO player has become a little bit mythical. He has been called the King of Isolation and an unguardable ISO player. However, in the 2023-24 season so far, he has recorded a PPP of 0.95 from 4.6 ISO possessions per game. This puts him in line with Anthony Edwards, who has 0.95 from 4.5 possessions per game, and Colin Sexton, who has an ISO possession per game rate of 1.9 with the same PPP rate as Durant. Sexton plays for Utah Jazz, who are four places below Durant’s Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference rankings.
Conclusion
ISO plays are a strategic move used in basketball. An ISO play involves putting the most skillful and highest scorer on the team at the center of the action as they lead the play. Meanwhile, their teammates back off, drawing defenders away and opening up space.
You can prepare players for ISO play by practicing 1-on-1, footwork, and ball-handling drills.
James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and Kevin Durant are all top ISO players. However, the whole team does play their part.
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