Toughest Pass in Basketball - Continued

In the last entry I discussed the benefits of making a quick extra pass following the penetration and getting more quality shots and movement. One of the other places we encourage the pass-pass is in our transition break out to offense. This allows us to not only get down the floor quickly but handle pressure effectively.

I should probably preface this discussion by saying we run a break out looking to get the ball from the outlet to up a sideline to get an rim attack either with a rim runner or take on. I find that regardless of your actual speed ball movement and players sprinting makes you look faster then you might actually be. Using anticipation, skills and teammwork can (in many ways) make up for a lack raw athleticism.

So lets get back to looking at the idea of the pass-pass or "extra pass" in transition. (We prefer the term pass - pass because of immediacy.)

Anytime any player catches they should immediately (if not before) have decided whether they are shooting this catch. In places like the backcourt this is generally not the case. IN this situation and any other where we don't shoot it our next read should be to look to attack with a pass. If nothing is there then we are attacking on the bounce scanning (left-right-centre) counting bodies, recognizing where our offensive players should be/are and drawing defense to pass to one of them or scoring.

In transition this all starts with the rebound. Without getting too much into rebounding philosophy or footwork, we love when our rebounders can land in quarter back position. This means everyone else can know peel sideline get above the foul line extended while pushing our teammates who arrive first surther up the sideline. Now the rebounder should be able to throw a shoulder pass (or take an attack dribble or two past the d to make a power push pass) to someone open on a sideline.

We are know almost always in a pass pass situation. Defense is transitioning back. Poor transition defense is sprinting with their back to you trying to all protect the rim. Quality defense is taking away the rim runner while trying to contain the ball and set up everyone else defensively. As the ball carrier (our rule is if you have the ball you are the PG)  you should have. A give and go up the middle, a sideline flip, a lateral pressure release or a short/long diagonal. This second pass is what makes transition work.

Regardless of where is goes it does two things: a) gets us on top of defense faster ie. at or over half in under 4 seconds attacking. b) makes it more difficult for them to defend in transition as they can't match up with ball to stop it if they can't get to where its going/ find the "pg".

Now we are over half and attacking. Either the diagonal has read open rim and caught to run. Or the strongside is attacking with a take on supported by the weakside runner and the middle runner. Again with pass-pass or give and go options.

Pass- pass is life in movement passed basketball. Now I just need to get my kids to be able to do it regularly and with quality.

Toughest Pass in Basketball.

One of my focuses this past summer (and hopefully now moving forward) was increasing our ball movement. I've tried to establish in my players the idea of not just quality passes (see Passing as a relationship. ) but passes and movement that are hard to guard. In my mind the toughest pass in basketball to defend is the: 2nd pass.

Following up action with action not only keeps defense occupied but requires them to anticipate, chase and overplay in ways that makes reads easier. In this case the action we focused on was the 2nd pass or what we refer to as pass-pass. This isn't a new or revolutionary concept but one that players often don't understand as a concept. If you look at something as simple as the give and go it is basically a pass followed up by an immediate second pass. The extra movement of the ball and need for extra defensive reaction to the ball is what makes it tough.

We focused in two particular areas this summer but it can be applied to many aspects of the game. In the next few entries, I'll give some examples that worked for us:

PASS-PASS out of Penetration


When we make a penetrating play (ie. dribble attack or penetrating pass) like most teams we have reactionary movement. Regardless of what this movement is for your team the real key is what happens on the kick out. Without getting into our penetration movement (I'll get to that in another blog) once we've attacked, come to two feet and realize that we need to pass out support should already moving/moved into place. This then should result in a kick out.

Where most teams struggle at this point is they want to kick and fire. The issue being that a player choosing to pass out of penetration has done so because they are in trouble. They've been stopped, doubled, are in amongst the trees etc. They are also facing a 3 second call in the paint. Their priority is to get the ball out of trouble and back into the offense. This pressure doesn't always lead to an ideal pass to catch and shoot.

Now you've got a rushed/ questionable pass out to someone who wants to catch and shoot. This generally results in a bobble, extra step, or maybe even a pass to a non shooter. Regardless it is generally not a clean catch and shoot scenario. Combine this with the fact that defense is pre-occupied with the ball has worked to stop it and will now chase it out hard to recover. You don't often get a clean unchallenged catch and shoot on these kick outs vs a good defensive team.

When we add in a belt pass or relay pass (catch on one shoulder and without stopping the balls momentum swing it through at out the other side) suddenly you will find yourself getting cleaner looks for multiple reasons:
- The primary objective of this pass is to move the ball to a shooter not to escape defense.
- The defense has collapsed and is sprinting out. They cannot change direction mid sprint without stopping first giving the recipient more time before they are closed out.
- The pass-pass leads to another pass-pass opportunity getting us into ball reversal and longer and longer closeouts.
- The emphasis on pass-pass allows you to avoid re-attacking back into defense and a catch drive.
- Shooting off an unguarded relay pass to an unguarded shooter resembles shots more like what most kids have practiced since they were small.
- It allows non-shooters or players out of the their range to find a better option without feeling they are killing the offense.

This is one of many applications the 2nd pass can be used to help. In my next entry we'll look at the extra pass in transition!

Back again.

After a busy basketball season and summer, I've fallen behind on my blogging. I will be back now with some thoughts and ideas I've had.

Passing as a relationship.

This is the next installment of posting activites and readings I give the girls this season. The one is snipet from the LLABB (a great blog for those who do not know) followed by questions asking you to think about passing in terms of a relationship.

According to renowned Italian and EuroLeague coach, Renato Pasquali, passing is a relationship formed with others. When you do not pass to an open teammate, you are send them a message: "I did not trust you with our team's advantage."



Here's a look at the different types of passes and what message they send:


• NO PASS = No relationship. I don't trust you to do the right thing with the ball.


• FORCED PASS = A forced relationship. It is never completed or never whole.


• "DIRTY" PASS = A pass made after holding onto the ball for a long time. It's an afterthought that says, "I've exhausted all other options and my time with the ball. Here... take what's left."


• "CLEAN" PASS = A pass made on time and on target. This pass builds a relationship of trust. It says: "I'm thinking about you and what's needed for the team (in this moment)."


It's important to develop an understanding in players that when you do make a pass to a teammate, a sense of trust develops.”

(LLABB.blogspot.com)

Think about passing in terms of a relationship:

- If the person you are supposed to meet is not on time or does not ever show up? What does that say about the relationship? What about if they show up but how they are dressed, or when they arrive doesn’t allow you to do what you had planned?

- If the person you are in a relationship with only gives you a chance or lets you spend time with them when it is convenient/easy/they’ve got nothing else to do – How does that make you feel? How are they showing they feel?

- IF the person you are in a relationship with doesn’t trust you: follows you around, only lets you do certain things, will not trust you certain places or certain times – How does that effect your relationship?

- What if the person you are trying to be friends with does things that hurt you, hurts them or does things in a way that holds either of you back? Do you bring it up? When does it have to change?

- If the person in the relationship is always willing to look to you, give you a chance, believes and trusts you to do the right thing – What is the relationship like then?

- If your teammate tells you to “F%^& off, I’m better than you!” How does that make you feel? How about if they say “Your good. I trust you! Here take this and help the team.”?

How to shrink your circle of respect, while strenghtening your circle of influence!

This is the next installment of readings for the girls!

7 Step to shrinking & strengthening the circle.







#1 – Create behaviours, expectations, and relationships that mark members of the circle as clearly different.






#2 – People within the circle must promote and work to make the each other stronger so the circle can be drawn together and made stronger






#3 – Those inside the circle and those from outside the circle are not allowed to pull the circle apart.






#4 – Members must recognize that momentary sacrifices of a few make us all better now and in the future






#5 – Everyone’s personal goals must be superceeded by the needs of the group. No one is allowed in the circles whose attitudes and goals do not improve us.






#6 – Members of the circle must be accountable and refuse to let other members down.






#7 – Outside influences are just that: OUTSIDE. They are for people not in the circle.




Law of the Chain: A chain is only as STRONG as ITS weakest link!!

5 Keys to being relentless

Over the next few weeks and monthes I will be updating the blog. These updates will be focused on readings and activities I give the girls to work with. The first one is below:

 

5 Keys to being able to be “Relentless”

#1 – A strict code of acting and behaving under stress. This includes:        

- A disciplined way of responding to stress

- A precise way of moving and responding to every situation

   - Quick and decisive response to commands – no hesitation is tolerated.

#2 – No visible sign allowed of weakness or negative emotion of any kind in response to stress. The expression of negative emotion is not permitted. No matter how you feel – this is the way you act, this is what we do!

#3 – Regular exposure to high levels of mental, emotional, and physical training stress to accelerate the toughening process. Practice should be tougher than games. People don’t step up in big games, people not used to that pressure and intensity simply fall behind.

#4 – Precise control over cycles of sleep, eating, drinking, and rest. Organization of your universe to every degree possible.

#5 – A rigorous physical fitness program. This focuses on aerobic, anaerobic, and strength training. You must be ready to take it too another level when others are dropping out.

G.A.M.E.

* Warning persons reading this post should be informed that I'm a dork. Acronyms and silly word games amuse me thus when I design basketball items, these tend to bleed in.

What are we going to run on offense this year? G.A.M.E.

Get A Mismatch Early - Offense

What is it? It is a concept based offense (you can call it motion, read and react, freelance, etc) with a priority on getting us the best chance to score.

How? We will use concepts for breaking out, reading penetration, passing and cutting, and using screens. The purpose behind all of which will be to get someone a mismatch that we can win to score. We will use speed, skill and team play to accomplish this.

When? When do we have a mismatch? Anytime somone has a 1 on 0 or a shooter/scorer has enough of a step that a catch and go will result in an 1 on 0. Mismatches also occur: when a player with the ability to finish inside has position and the advantage, a shooter is closed out on late or with hands down, a defensive breakdown allows us to beat our player off pentration.

Why? I like to keep things simple. Concept based offense allows for the most learning possible, while allowing enough structure and freedom for players skills to develop. It puts the owness on their skills and interpretations not the ability to memorize sets and counters.

Where? Where do we get mismatches. Anywhere we can find them a preferably early in the clock. Before the defense is set and communicating (or even back) is the best time to get a 1 on 0. If the defense is back then as soon as someone can create a 1 second advantage or easy mismatch we will exploit it.

G.A.M.E. Rules

1. Atack all the time. Use eyes, body and ball to attack.

2. The floor is divided into grids (6 in each half). No more then 1 player per grid.

3. Players must constanly be active and forcing movement.

4. Allowed types of movement include: cutting to force a push/pull of players without the ball, exchanging grids via a screen, being pushed or pulled in reaction to a cutter or the ball.

5. The ball ulitmately determines and supercedes all other movement. 

6. Players must pass and then: cut to score, cut to create movement or cut to screen.

7. Players must recognize, use and attempt to score in a mismatch once it is presented.

8. Player must understand that concepts change in phases of the clock.

Phase 1 Concepts - Fast Break

- Get someone to the rim.

-Release players up each sideline.

-Have a ballhandler and pressure release opposite them.

-Get the ball up to an pentration and pass to the rim in the first 4 seconds of the shot clock.

Phase 2 Concepts - Transition

- Players not invovled in rim action should be reading push/pull in reaction to drive or cutting action.

- On a kick out shoot if open and able, or immediately reverse the ball.

- Unless we've shot, reverse the ball until player have all cut through and we can get right into mid clock concepts.

-Total ball reversal and repositioning should have happened by the 8 second mark of the shot clock.

Phase 3 Concepts - Mid Clock

- Mid clock phase is 10 seconds in length.

- Mid clock options: Pass Cut Fill, Pass Cut Screen, React to Pentration

- Once you pass the ball you must cut to catch and score, cut to force movment, cut to screen for a teammate. Which ever action creates the most immediate mismatch.

- Any time they are able to effectively attack the rim the player with the ball must attack forcing players to circle in the direction of their selected hand drive.

- Any time you would cross a teammates grid but they are not pushing through that immediately becomes a screen at the meeting point of the grid.

Phase 4 Concepts - Late Clock

- Late clock is the final 6 seconds of the shot clock.

- Player with the ball must immediately create on penetration or find the player most likely to be able to do so immediately. In the case of the later the player who recieves the pass must attack.

- Attacking player looks to create or kick out for a 1 pass shot.

We may also have a couple of sets or specific calls along with inbounds, late game and inbounding situational stuff. I can't give away all the secrets at once though.