Basketball Press Offense - Four Across Press Breaker

From the Coach’s Clipboard Basketball Playbook, @ http://www.coachesclipboard.net

Here is one way to beat the full-court press. Use this four across setup. There are links to several other press offenses below.

4-Across Press Breaker

Option #1

O3 fakes in and then cuts long. O2 and O4 set a double screen for O1. O1 runs the defender into the screen and cuts thru the lane to the opposite elbow and receives the in-bounds pass. Meanwhile, after screening, O2 slides down into the weak-side short corner as another in-bounds pass option. O4 releases to the weak-side half court. After receiving the inbounds pass, O1 dribbles up the floor, looking to pass to either O3 or O4.

4-Across Press Breaker Options

Option #2

O5 can run the baseline and the in-bounds pass goes to O2. O2 looks to pass to O1 or O4.

Option #3

O4 comes back to the top of the key to receive the in-bounds pass. O4 looks for O2 and O1 cutting, or O3 long.

"Four Fly"

This is a set play for when you only have a few seconds left on the clock. This time O1 cuts over the top of the double screen. As soon as O1 rubs shoulders with O4, O2 takes off on a "fly pattern" for the long pass from O5. O3 should be moving up the floor as well and could receive the pass from O2. O5 should make sure that he has a clear pass and is not blocked out by being directly under the backboard.

Simplified Version of the 4-Across Press Breaker

Oftentimes in basketball it is best to keep things as simple as possible. The above 4-across press breaker will require some practice time. Below is a simplified 4-across press breaker that I was actually able to teach my 16U girls team at a half-time break.

The line-up is a little different, and I think easier for the players to understand. The O1 and O2 line up on the inside and O3 and O4 are along the sidelines. Instead of a double screen, O2 sets a screen for O1 who receives the in-bounds pass from O5. Meanwhile, O3 and O4 make a fake cut toward the ball and then break up the sidelines toward half-court. After O1 receives the pass, she/he turns up the floor with just a couple quick dribbles and can probably pass to either O3 or O4 up the sidelines. If O3 and O4 are covered on the sidelines, then O1 can probably just dribble straight up the middle. If the defense collapses on her/him, then O3 or O4 should be open.

If O1 is unable to get the in-bounds pass, then O2 should be open to receive it and also attack the middle with the dribble, while looking for the pass to O3 or O4.

Simplified 4-Across Press Breaker

Here's another adjustment. If the defense is denying the sideline and the middle looks open, try this scheme. O5 is the in-bounder and O1 and O2 screen and cut for the ball, same as above. This time, O3 fakes going long up the sideline, and then cuts back hard to the middle. O4 goes long. After O1 or O2 receive the inbounds pass, they look for O3 open in the middle and cut up the sidelines looking for the pass back. If O3 is denied the pass, O1 or O2 can pass back to O5 who is used as the "reverse" person who can then pass up the opposite side or middle (usually one of the other is open). See the diagram below.

4-Across Press Breaker

You can use this simple press break to also attack the 2-2-1 zone press, where the defense is denying the sideline pass... see 2-2-1 Press Breaker

Another Version of the 4-Across Press Break

See the diagrams below. This time O3 is the in-bounder, your two best ball-handlers line-up on both sides of the free-throw line, O4 is at ball-side sideline, and O5 is at weak-side sideline. O4 fakes long and v-cuts back hard to receive the inbounds pass. O1 and O2 fake a cut toward the in-bounder O3. O1 then cuts hard up the middle looking for the pass from O4. O2 is your second cutter delaying his/her cut until O1 clears, and then looks for the pass from O4. If both O1 and O2 are denied the pass, then O4 can pass back to O3 moving inbounds and O2 can move to the weak-side for ball reversal from O3. O5 breaks long and may occasionally be able to receive the "home run" pass.