Newsletter #348

Today's Theme... Carolina Primary Fast Break

One of the quickest ways to create easy points is to attack before the defense gets back and set, using the Carolina primary fast break.  From legendary coach Dean Smith at North Carolina, the primary goal is to score quickly, often within two passes, using rapid ball movement to create open shots.

After a rebound or made basket, we want O1 catching the outlet pass on the ball-side slot-wing 3-point line area attacking with his/her dominant hand (diagram 1), and rapidly advancing the ball up the middle 1/3 of the court (diagram 2).

After a steal, we want O1 to get the pass along the ball-side sideline. Because, after a steal, defenders usually sprint up in the middle lane, and a pass to the middle is often a turnover. So after a steal, pass and attack up the sideline.

O2 and O3 sprint wide up the sidelines to the corners (diagrams 1 and 2). Here, O4 is the rebounder, so O5 is the rim runner. The first big (O4 or O5) to get down the court is the rim runner, running all the way to the basket. The trailing big (usually the rebounder) sprints to the weakside wing slot.

Some coaches feel that it doesn't matter which player fills which lane, but instead just fill each lane position as quickly as possible and "go!"  If two players run the same sideline lane - the first player up the court back-screens for the second player and then pops to that wing-corner area, while the second player cuts around the screen to the hoop, and then out to the opposite wing-corner.

Other coaches teach that the outside lanes, rim-runner, and trailer are assigned to specific players, so each one knows his role.

We outlet pass to our point guard O1 on the ball-side slot-wing 3-point line area.  After receiving the pass, the point guard speed-dribbles up the center lane, looking for a long pass to the rim runner O5, or to O2, or he/she may attack the hoop with the dribble.  If the break doesn't develop, don't force things as a turnover may occur.  Instead flow into either a secondary break, like the numbered break, or your half-court offense, or one of the Carolina early options (below).

The Carolina break features several early offense actions after the primary break is stopped. O1 might dribble-drive to the hoop for a layup (O5 moves to the opposite side of the lane).  Or, O1 passes to O2 (or O3) for a corner jumper.  O2 (or O3) passes to O5 posting up.  A hi-lo option - a pass to O4 at the top while O5 posts up inside for the hi-lo pass.  A pinch-post hand-off option where O1 passes to O4 and cuts around O4 for the hand-off.  A high pick and roll with O4 screening for O1.

For details and diagrams, and other transition situations (2-on-1 and 3-on-2), see Transition Offense and the Carolina Fast-Break.