Q: In a 4 OUT set, when the top guard drives baseline, what are the options for the same side wing player? It seems that circle movement dictates that he basket cuts along the baseline, but on the DVDs, you have him slide to the corner. Why can’t I let the player decide which movement is best? What are the pros and cons as you see them?

A: Officially, in a 4 OUT set, the two corners are left open as additional spots so that the wing player can slide to them for the natural pitch, but your question brings up an interesting debate. Let me answer it this way:

The “pro” is that the wing player would have a choice of whether to slide to the corner for the natural pitch or basket cut for the lay-up. If he has a high enough basketball I.Q., then he could make the best decision and it would not hurt the continuity offense. (I’m assuming that the corner is empty as in a 4 OUT 1 IN set or a 3 OUT 2 IN set.)

The “con” is the same thing; that the wing player HAS a choice and must make a decision. The Read & React was constructed intentionally to take the decision making away from players without the ball; not because I’m trying to “dumb down” the players, but because with one and only one reaction per action with the ball, the player without the ball eventually moves more quickly and consistently.

There’s another reason for the “one reaction per action” methodology. The ballhandler will know ahead of time where his teammates will be depending on what he does with the ball - no surprises. Soon, the ballhandler learns to not even look for his teammates; instead, all he has to do is recognize where the defensive help is coming from and the pass is instantly on its way to the teammate who is moving consistently to the same spot. If the wing makes the baseline cut, but does not receive the ball, then the penetrator does not have an option in the natural pitch window.

PS: As strict as I may sound, I have to admit that there are situations (similar to this one) where I’ll give an exceptional player (note: exceptional I.Q. and ability player) the freedom to make a decision like that as long as it doesn’t contradict something else in the offense and as long as it doesn’t compromise spacing, etc.