The Tribe

13 Jul Quick Note for Cutters

MESSAGE TO PLAYERS: Those who cut the lane must treat the lane with respect; the lane is the #1 killer of the defense; if you can receive the ball or get the ball into the lane more times than your opponent, then on a percentage...

27 Jun New Layers: Corners

In the previous post, we went over Ball Screens as a new layer in the Read & React Offense. Well, here’s the final new layer: Corners. Corners gives cutters a reaction when they’ve lost the basket cut. Let me explain. Sometimes when you Pass & Cut, your...

23 Jun New Layers: The Ball Screen

The rumors are true: there are now 20 layers in the Read & React Offense. Here’s what happened. We released the Read & React over two years ago to tremendous fanfare and excitement (just kidding). Since its release, we’ve put on several basketballclinics, appeared at a...

21 Jun Let the Post Defender Determine the Next Best Action

Although a ball handler has the freedom to do anything (almost) within the structure of the Read & React, certainly we can all agree that given the situation, the defense, the player, etc, one action will present itself as best. We call this the Next Best...

05 Jun Wing Drives Baseline in 5 OUT: Problem or Opportunity?

I love the corner cutter in a 5 OUT when the wing drives baseline. There, I said it. It’s out there and it feels so good to get that off my chest. Why do I love him? Well, mainly because he is the underdog. He is the most harassed cutter in the entire Read & React system, yet he continues to soldier on, following the Circle Movement principle with a blatant disregard for what outsiders might think of him. “You’ll clog the middle!”, they yell. “You won’t make it to the other side in time!” “You’ll keep the penetrator from getting to the rim, you selfish…” But, those words of discouragement don’t even phase him. He just Circle Moves like he’s been trained to. Sometimes he’s open; sometimes not, but he knows deep down that he’s doing what’s best for the big picture. Nicely done, corner cutter in a 5 OUT when the wing drives baseline. Nicely done. Ok, that’s over. I just had to have a little fun with this issue. In reality, this is probably the most discussed “problem” in the Read and React. We’ve had emails about it, I’ve seen it in forums, coaches ask about it in clinics and I finally want to put it to bed (at least, for now). The goal of this post is to look at what aspects of this action are seen as problems and examine all the proposed solutions. From there, it’s really up to you.

26 May Coe College Game Footage – Laker Cuts High & Low

The below footage was taken from Coe College's first year with the Read & React Offense. They've since won back-to-back IIAC Conference Championships, advanced to the Sweet 16 in the D3 National Tournament, and Coach Randy Peterson has been named the IIAC Basketball Coach of...

20 May Countering the Four Levels of Defense, Levels 3 & 4

If the Defense has accomplished the first two levels of defense (guarding the ball and effectively helping), then the Offense must push the defense into the third level – guarding situations. A Defense capable of guarding the ball, protecting the rim, helping effectively, and defending situations...