A major strength of the Read & React Offense is its ability to transition seamlessly between all its layers and every basketball formation (5 OUT, 4 OUT, 3 OUT). We’ve alluded to the jazz metaphor previously and it really does fit.
Once you have the notes and chords down, you can improvise any song at any tempo. In basketball language that means once your players know the layers (or even just a group of layers), they can play any style at any speed and attack any type of defense – all because they can sequence any layer in any order.
But, just because your players know the layers doesn’t mean they know how to improvise a song (an attack) that sounds good. That takes practice. Practice in how best to link certain layers together. Practice in which layers are most effective together. Practice in which layers create certain opportunities.
Some of that will come from you, the coach, directing traffic and offering ideas. The rest, though, will be a natural progression of players figuring it out for themselves through trial and error.
The video below demonstrates how you can take a few minutes every practice for imagination time – a time where players can experiment and make mistakes without defense. You may be surprised at the outcome. Some of the best tweaks in the Read & React came straight from players seeing opportunities in the trenches that coaches could never see from the bench.
This video is an excerpt from a 5 DVD set dedicated to practice ideas and implementation. If you’ve ever had a question along those lines, then Read & React Clinics: Planning the R&R Practice needs to be in your collection.
