The following question came up in the comments section of the post, Quick Options for a Scoring Post and an Athletic Post. Rick answered it in the comments, but I didn’t want anyone to miss it.
Question: I have a 4 guard that I want playing the perimeter and in the post. What are some options that I can do? I also have a center that I need to get the ball to also. My 4 guard can post, penetrate, hit the mid range and outside shot. What should be the rules for her when she is on the perimeter and in the post?
Answer: The rule for her should be that no one takes a shot until she has touched the ball at least once every possession!
When she has the ball in her hands, she has the freedom to choose the next best action – those without the ball react with their one predetermined action. This allows her to move everybody depending on her chosen action. I’m sure you’ve already made her aware this.
However, when she passes, whether it’s on the perimeter or into the post, she must cut. Point out to her that cutters, like ball handlers, have the freedom to choose the next best action. This is where she can use her abilities inside and out.
When she Passes & Cuts, she can choose to:
- Post up after her cut in the mid-post, high post, short corner on ball side or weak side. That immediately changes your formation from 4out to 3out – these kinds of formation changes are tough on defenses.
- Screen for her Post player. After the screen, there’s lots of options – flash to another posting spot, fill out to the perimeter, screen for a perimeter.
- Set a back-screen for any teammate on the perimeter. She can literally choose to take the place of anyone on the perimeter. And those who back-screen are often open for 3’s after they shape up.
- She can set a Pin Screen on helping defenders after her basket cut. If the skip pass follows, then she will be sealing a defender inside. Once again, a change in formation.
- She can use a Pin Screen if a teammate sets one for her on her way out of the lane.
- And of course, she can fill out to an open spot of her choice. This sounds trite, but filling out to the right spot can lead to a 1-on-1 isolation and the act of “filling out” becomes her move to get open. A bad close-out on her would be bad for the defense.
Some other thoughts when she doesn’t have the ball:
- Her skill with the Read Line should be the best on the team. Most defenders will try to deny her the ball. When she is one pass away (especially when filling an open spot) and her defender comes over the Read Line, she should have the ball on a rear cut headed for the rim.
- Teammates should look to use the Speed Dribble or Dribble-At to create rear cut situations for her.
- A Power Dribble toward her will bring her to the ball on the outside in a Pick & Roll situation. I can’t help but think that this would be a good situation for her.
- Teammates who have made a basket cut should look to set her a Back Screen. Besides her obvious cut the basket, a back screen on her in a 4out formation allows her to use two staggered screens: the back-screen and her teammate in the post. How difficult is it to defend a great player who gets to use two staggered screens that come at unpredictable times?
That’s a lot of options. Most likely, your team and your 4 guard will respond to some better than others. Try them all, find what works best, and leverage those as much as possible. Oh, and let us know how it goes.
Photo credit: dumpingpixels from Flickr
