Newsletter #296

Today's Theme... Pinch-Post 2-Man Game Options

The weakside 2-man game is a part of the Triangle Offense.  But you can incorporate these powerful options into other man offenses.  Basically, we're running a 2-man game between your high-post, "pinch-post" (just off the elbow), and a guard.  There are a number of reads and options.  I will list some of the options here, but there is not room for diagrams.  See the Triangle Offense (Part 2) - the 2-Man Game for more details and diagrams. 

Options off the pass to the pinch post (O4)

O3 passes to O4 at the weakside elbow area, and then follows the pass and cuts around O4 for a possible hand-off.

Options off the pass to weakside post

• Hand-off and drive - diagram 20. With the X3 defender trailing, O3 gets the hand-off and dribble-drives to the hoop.
• Hand-off and jump-shot - X3 defender goes under the screen, so O3 gets the hand-off and pulls-up for a jump shot.
• Hand-off and pick and roll - Defense switches on the hand-off, so O3 and O4 run a pick and roll, with a pass inside to O4. Or O4 can clear-out to either the corner or the top, and let O3 take the slower X4 defender 1-on-1.
• O3 cuts inside on X3 overplay  - If the X3 defender overplays and denies O3's hand-off cut, O3 back-cuts right down the lane for the pass and lay-up.
• Fake hand-off and drive (O4) - O4 fakes the hand-off to O3 and dribble-drives to the hoop. This is especially effective if O4 senses the X4 defender is cheating over (jump-switching) on the the hand-off.
• Lob to O4 on pass denial - X4 denies the pass to O4. Since there is often no helpside defender, O3 can lob pass to O4 back-cutting to the hoop.

If the pass to the post O4 is denied, O4 ball-screens for O3.

Options off the ball-screen and dribble from the top:

• Ball-screen and dribble-drive - diagram 26. O3 dribbles around the screen to the hoop.
• Ball-screen and jump-shot - The X3 defender goes under the screen, so O3 comes off the screen with a pull-up jump shot.
• Ball-screen and pick and roll - Defense switches the screen, so O3 and O4 run a pick and roll, with a pass inside to O4. Or O4 clears-out to either the corner or the top, to let O3 take the slower X4 defender 1-on-1.
• Post O4 slips the screen on X4 overplay - O4 goes to set the ball-screen for O3. O4 senses the X4 defender is cheating over the screen (jump-switching), and "slips" the screen with a back-cut, for the pass from O3.
• O3 crossover dribble on X3 overplay - If the X3 defender overplays O3, denying the path around the screen, O3 crossover dribbles right down the lane for the lay-up.
• Lob to O4 on pass denial - X4 denies the pass to O4. Instead of screening for O3, and since there is often no helpside defender, O4 can back-cut to the hoop for a lob from O3.

The triangle offense also uses a strongside 2-man game with many options, so please see Triangle Offense (Part 2) - the 2-Man Game.