Nellie Ball is a kind of offensive strategy developed by Don Nelson; his nickname was ‘Nellie’. It relies on smaller and more athletic players and three-point shooting.
It is considered an unconventional strategy that allows teams to put in a lot of points by allowing players to shoot several three-point shots and by increasing possessions by quickly moving the ball and running.
It is known for being a fast-paced offensive strategy and for the fact that it doesn’t need a true center player. The Nellie Ball is also known for featuring a large volume of three-point attempts.
Critics of the Nellie Ball strategy focus on the fact that this is mostly offensive play and little focus is placed on defense.