10 Sets if you NEED a 3

by Bryan Weber | Sep 2, 2026

The difference between a good season and a bad season is usually winning close basketball games. When you have the last shot, and you need a 3, there has to be a bag of tricks that you can go into as a coach.

We assembled 10 GREAT "Need a 3" sets that you can add to your playbook.

May be the best “need a 3” BLOB we have ever seen 🤯

(Via @PickAndPopNet 🎥)

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— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) August 14, 2025

End of game set, need a 3

(Via @HalfCourtHoops 🎥)

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— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) December 15, 2024

Need a play to get an open 3?

Check out this breakdown from @bball_brainiac1

Any time you can take advantage of the other team cheating a set, it generally leads to an open look - The rescreen following the initial stagger is a great example 🔥 🔥

pic.twitter.com/6BdBebxNOo
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) September 28, 2025

Young players should rep as many shots with this speed and footwork as possible

Once you are on a scouting report as a shooter, step in 3’s become VERY rare

Coaches need to run actions to get shooters shots they can make

(Via @quinnclintonnz 🎥)

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— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) November 5, 2023

Beautiful set for a need a 3 SOB at the buzzer

Add it to your playbook 📚

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— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) February 8, 2025

Need a 3?

Add this “Stagger Wheel” set run by the mastermind Bucky McMillan to your playbook

Easy to execute, hard to guard

(Via @CoachHackGO 🎥) pic.twitter.com/GCgeLqisTr
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) June 8, 2026

Brad Stevens was so different with the clipboard

This BOB is special if you need a 3 (especially short clock) pic.twitter.com/SLNZ1GUf1C
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) November 9, 2022

Nasty action here to get an open 3

Dribble at, Double Stagger

YIKES

(Via @TripleDoubleXO 🎥)

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— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) September 14, 2025

Horns Stagger/Gate

Nasty, nasty work

(Via @tonywmiller 🎥)

pic.twitter.com/p7o64X2wzw
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) April 23, 2025

This is filthy work

77 action into a stagger/ flare

If teams decide to switch look to slip the screens

Nasty

(Via @Coach_PatCasey 🎥)

pic.twitter.com/pJaGacKXqv
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) July 23, 2025