In order to be an effective coach/teacher, I must be able to tell every player whether his movement at any time is correct or incorrect. Set plays make that possible. It is more difficult or even impossible to do with a principled offense. R&R is a principled offense that enables the coach to tell each player what to do in any situation from any position with or without the ball. So, how does R&R keep that quality of predictability and be a principled offense that can take advantage of whatever the defense “gives” at any time, from any position, and from any formation?

ANSWER: Combinations of A, B, and C.

A. There are 13 possible things that a player can do with the ball that initiates a unique 5-player-basketball-action:
1. Drive right
2. Drive left
3. Speed dribble right
4. Speed dribble left
5. Power dribble right
6. Power dribble left
7. Pass right
8. Pass left
9. Skip Pass
10. Feed the Post, cut East
11. Feed the Post, cut West
12. Feed the Post, laker cut right
13. Feed the Post, laker cut left

B. Any player could execute these 13 possible things from any of the 5 spots on the floor:
1. Top
2. Right Wing
3. Left Wing
4. Right Corner
5. Left Corner

C. The 13 possible moves could be executed from any of the 5 spots in the 3 general Formations:
1. 5 OUT
2. 4 OUT 1 IN
3. 3 OUT 2 IN

The possible Total Combinations: 13 X 5 X 3 = 195

But this is only the possible SINGLE unique actions that could occur within the framework of the Read & React. The fact that any combination of the 13 actions could occur while maintaining 5-player-coordination is perhaps the strongest part of the offense and is what makes it most difficult to defend. So, how many unique sequences could occur given 13 possible actions taken 2 at a time or even 3 at a time?

13 possible actions taken 2 at a time in any order = 156; from any 5 spots = 780; from any 3 formations = 2,340

13 possible actions taken 3 at a time in any order = 1,716; from any 5 spots = 8,580 from any 3 formations = 25,740

There’s even more when you consider what happens with the unplanned Circle Reverse action or what happens when players can backscreen their way onto the perimeter. Since post players are only required to react correctly to dribble penetration, then post players could add an almost infinite amount of unique combinations to the offensive action with the freedom they are given. They could screen for cutters, screen each other, go inside and out, set screens on the ball, play strongside or weakside, etc.

And here’s the kicker: even with these unbelievably high number of basketball actions that can occur, the coach can tell every single player whether their movement was correct or not. No guesswork, no principles. Like a set play, the coach can pinpoint EXACTLY what every player should do in every one of these actions.