Newsletter #336

Today's Theme... Off the Break Point Guard Actions

In years past, we have had some very good point guards who were quick off the dribble and could attack right off the break for an easy layup.  Here are the actions we used.

"Take the Seam" - off the break

Except when fast-breaking, we always come up the floor in our secondary "numbered" break.  Our point guard O1 is always the first option in that break.  So every trip up the floor, O1 is always looking for a chance to "take the seam" or dribble-penetrate the right top seam for a lay-up or a pull-up jump-shot.  We don't have a name for this play, but always consider it as our first option every trip down the floor.

Our best shooter O2 is wide in the corner, and our posts are both on the left side, opening a large seam for O1 to take his/her defender 1-on-1.  If the X2 defender drops inside, or the X5 defender comes up to defend, O1 can pass to O2 or O5 instead.  A guard that penetrates the lane is a very difficult situation for the defense, and this also puts pressure on the inside defenders and exposes them to foul problems.

"Loyola" - after taking the right seam a couple times, we run "Loyola".  Loyola is similar, except run into the top left seam.  Now the X1 defender is trying to deny that right seam, so we have O1 make a cross-over dribble and attack the left seam.  O3 drops deep into the left corner, O4 and O5 move to the right side, and O2 pops out on top as our safety.  The key here is for O1 to be patient, and not attack until he/she sees that the post players are off the to right side and O3 is in the corner (diagram A).

Notice in diagram C, that if O1 passes out to O3, O1 cross-screens for the opposite post player. We also have O5 back-screen for O4, and then O5 also back-screens for O2 (and then O5 rolls to the hoop). This maintains some movement away from the ball, and keeps the help defenders occupied.

"51" and "41"

Of course, we have a high screen option... 51 when O5 sets the ball-screen, and 41 when O4 ball-screens.

This is similar to Loyola, but with a ball-screen.  If O1 has difficulty beating his defender off the dribble, give him a ball-screen.  O1 first passes to O2, V-cuts and gets the pass back from O2.  O5 sprints up from his left block spot and back-screens. and they run a pick and pop, with O5 popping out to the arc.  O3 slides to the corner to open the left seam. 

"41" - This is the same as "51", but on the opposite side, with O4 making the ball-screen . O1 passes to O3, V-cuts and gets the pass back from O3.  O1 waits for O4's ball-screen and dribbles hard around the screen into the seam.  O2 slides to the corner to open the seam. O1 can shoot the lay-up (or pull-up jump-shot), pass to O5, pass to O2, or pivot and pass back out on top to O4. 

With both 51 and 41, if O1 passes back out to the top "popper", O1 clears out (corner), and O4 and O5 run a hi-lo action with the inside post player sealing inside for the pass from the top "popper".

For more point guard plays, see Plays for your Point Guard (the 1-Series)