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Transition

Transition Offense Reads

By kevin roy on March 29, 2023

In the clip below Gonzaga assistant coach Stephen Gentry (formerly an Illinois assistant) discusses some automatic reads in transition that were utilized when he was at Illinois.

The first scenario occurs when one big is trailing the play and the other has made a rim run. In this scenario, the read is a simple roll-and-replace.

The trailing big sets a ball screen and rolls and the big that made the rim run replaces him at the top of the key. If the rolling big does not receive the ball from the point guard he seals his man and looks to receive a high-low pass from the other big.

The second scenario that may occur in transition is when both bigs are trailing the play. This initiates an automatic double-drag screen. Coach Gentry stresses the need for 4 and 5 to set their screens at least 6-8 feet apart. He wants the defender on the point guard to negotiate two separate screens.

Coach Gentry states that it doesn’t matter which big sets the first screen but he always has the 5 roll and the 4 pop. The 4 should be careful and pop to the middle third of the floor so the defender guarding the corner can’t defend him and the offensive player in the corner.

The third scenario covered by Coach Gentry is the pitch ahead.

If the ball is passed ahead before crossing halfcourt the point guard will cut through to the opposite corner. This will signal the 3 to lift to the wing. The 2 that received the pitch ahead will hit the trailing big. The 3 man will now make a basket cut (Buffalo Action) and fill the opposite corner.

After the 3 cuts through the 1 will lift to the wing. The 4 man passes him the ball and chases into a ball screen. From here they simply flow into their offense.

This clip was taken from a full presentation by Coach Gentry at a TABC Clinic. Click the following link to gain access to the complete presentation: Stephen Gentry – Transition Offense

The Value of Running Wide

By kevin roy on July 4, 2022

Coach Cody Toppert, a former Memphis assistant coach and current assistant at LSU, explains the value of running wide in transition and how it helps create early open looks in a 5 out offense.

In the clip below Coach Toppert does a great job illustrating his concepts using game footage.

Here is a quick breakdown of what he discusses in the clip.

  1. Find the nearest sideline
  2. Run wide and keep vision of the ball
  3. Running wide creates opportunities for the trigger man in the middle third of the floor and creates opportunities to stretch the defense and find early shots.
  4. Value the Corners – race to the corner and be shot ready
  5. Put pressure on the rim and fill spots behind the 3-pt line

He also discusses that data shows that the 3pt % drops later in the possession. Players make a higher % of threes when they take them early in the possession.

This clip was taken from Coach Toppert’s complete course. For more information about that course click the following link: 5 Out Systems and Actions

For those interested Coach Toppert is a highly regarded player development coach and he has also put together a training course on that topic: Complete Player Development Masterclass – Turn Your Players Into Pro`s

 

Basketball Plays: Thru C Out Counter

By Brian Williams on October 12, 2015

Coach Vonn Read has submitted several plays from his playbook series The Basketball Encyclopedia of Plays to the Coaching Toolbox.

Vonn is currently serving as an assistant Women’s Coach at Houston.

He has also served as an assistant coach in the WNBA with the Phoenix Mercury, Orlando Miracle, and San Antonio Silver Stars.

He was an advanced scout for the Orlando Magic as well as The Charlotte Sting.

 

 

 

 

basketball-plays-1

This is a good 3-point set right out of transition for your 4 player (Shooter) at the end of the game.

The 1 player will pass the ball to the 2 player and then cut to the opposite corner.

 

 

basketball-plays-2

The 5 player will step up to set the fake ball screen, which sets up the 3-point shot.

The 2 player will drive the ball hard to the baseline, looking to force help by X1 or X4.

If you only need 2 points, a lot of times this action will result in a layup.

 

basketball-plays-3

After faking the ball screen, the 5 player will screen in on X4 in the paint.

X4 will usually help on the penetration by the 2 player, which opens up the 3-pointer by the 4 player.

The 4 player will sprint to the wing off the screen by the 5 player for the 3-point shot.

Coach Read has also put together The Basketball Encyclopedia of plays. You can check them out here: The Basketball Encyclopedia of Plays or read more about the books:

Any coach looking for the latest and innovative plays from the Professional, College, or High School levels can stop looking. With a compilation of over 7,700 different plays, you will never need to purchase another basketball playbook again. These playbooks can be used as a great reference tool for years to come. This 2 Volume Book includes plays from 19 different play categories, and they are the most extensive playbooks on the market.

The Basketball Encyclopedia of Plays (Platinum Series) contains over 7,700 Plays (Both Volumes combined) from the NBA, WNBA, USBL, and College levels from someone who has worked as an Advanced Scout or Coach on each level!!! This book has been intensely compiled over the last 21 years, with plays taken from a lot of NBA Coaches (past and present), WNBA coaches, and College coaches (Men’s and Women’s) from around the country.

Any coach that is serious about improving their knowledge of the game from an X and O standpoint will benefit tremendously from these books. These Books can be used to discover New Quick hitters, add a New Package to your playbook, or develop an entire Offensive System. There are a lot of new ideas and concepts in these books to study, and the Basketball Encyclopedia of Plays can be a great resource for coaches on all levels!!! This book is definitely for those X and O junkies who are always looking to improve as a Coach.

“THE GAME IS ALWAYS CHANGING? ARE YOU?” Vonn Read

Here is the link: The Basketball Encyclopedia of Plays

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