Written by Rick Torbett on January 2, 2009 – 2:23 PM
From: Jeremy Hartman
We are now 4-2. Each of our 4 wins has been by 20 or more points. Here are some observations from my team from using the R&R through these first 6 games.
1. We tend to use the R&R habits better and more often when facing a man D. Against a zone we tend to just stand and forget to seam cut. We tried the speed dribble to the wing against the zone last night with our point guard. Because she is so fast, right after the wing made a basket cut, she could hesitate and then turn the corner to drive baseline below the posts. The posts would slide up the lane to the 90 and 45 degree windows and we would have either a layup or open jumpers.
2. Once our kids started reading the “read line” more accurately, we were getting backdoor lay-ups so easily. It really broke the other team’s back.
3. I now understand why the circle movement is the first layer and why it should be drilled so much. Kids simply just don’t move on the drives; they stand and watch. The times we used circle movement correctly, we get open shots.
Experiences are almost identical to Jeremy Hartman’s. What we found in our five-out set was that even against a man D, the perimeter players closest to the baseline would start their cuts too slowly (in other words, read and react too slowly) so they were actually bringing the defense right to a penetrating ballhandler. There was too much of a crowd and an easy dish or finish at the basket became difficult.