Dear Coaches, Players, Friends,

Today's Quotes:

"I'm not allowed to comment on lousy officiating." - Jim Finks, New Orleans GM when asked after a loss what he thought of the refs

"I told him, 'son, what is it with you, ignorance or apathy?' He said 'Coach, I don't know and I don't care.'" - Frank Layden, Utah Jazz president on a former player

Today's Theme - Out-of-Bounds Plays, "Tap Head Series"

The Tap Head Series comes from coach Mike Fratello.  Coach Fratello reminds coaches that the action should start as soon as the official hands the ball to the inbounder.  Having the inbounder slap the ball to start the play loses a second.

Tap Head One
See diagram A below. O5 and O4 line-up on the elbows (or just outside). O2 and O1 set up behind O5 and O4 respectively. O1 and O2 use O4 and O5 as screeners. O2 lateral screens for O1. O1 cuts over the screen and rubs around O5 and may be open for the pass and shot on the right wing area. After screening for O1, O2 rubs around O4's screen (diagram B) and could get the pass and shot on the left side. After passing inbounds, O3 clears out to the left perimeter area.

After O1 and O2 cut, O5 lateral screens for O4 (diagram C). O4 cuts over to the elbow (or above) area, while O5 seals the screened defender and cuts down the lane for a possible pass from O2. It's important that O3 has moved out and taken his defender with him/her.

After O1 and O2 cut, O5 lateral screens for O4 (diagram C). O4 cuts over to the elbow (or above) area, while O5 seals the screened defender and cuts down the lane for a possible pass from O2. It's important that O3 has moved out and taken his defender with him/her.

Tap Head Two
Tap Head Two starts exactly the same as Tap Head One.  O2 lateral screens for O1 (diagram D), but this time, instead of rubbing off O5,O1 cuts right down the lane for the pass and lay-up.  After screening, O2 rubs off O5 for a possible pass and shot from the right wing (diagram E).

Tap Head Special
This also starts exactly the same as Tap Head One (diagram F).  O2 lateral screens for O1, but this time, instead of cutting to the wing, O1 turns and screens for O2 (diagram G). O2 then cuts over the screen and around O5 to the right wing for the pass and shot.

After screening, O1 cuts around O4 to the left side (diagram H), and Coach Fratello says that this is often open for the game-winning shot (save this "special" option for the end of the game).

See Baseline Out-of-Bounds Plays

After passing, O2 cuts inside around screens from O5, O1 and O4 (diagram 4). O2 might curl around O4 for the pass from O3 (diagram 5), or if the defender cheats, O2 could bump out to the corner instead. This is basic motion offense as O2 reads the defense. After screening for O2, O1 cuts around O5 to the right wing (diagram 5 below).