From David Jooss

Hey Coach,

I’m a huge fan of the Read and React and I am preparing for my second season with the offense. Last year I had all guards so we ran it 5 OUT most of the time. This coming year, I will have multiple big guys that can play and so I will be 3 OUT 2 IN most of the time. My plan is to introduce the offense from the start with a 3 OUT format. I have some ideas about circle movement in the 3 OUT 2 IN alignment that I was hoping to get some feedback on.

Here are the ideas:

• If the ball is dribbled from the top to the right with a speed dribble, a north-south dribble, or a power dribble the post on the right block will locate to the opposite block. The post that was located on the opposite block will become the safety valve at the top instead of the opposite guard. The wing on the right side will move in regular circle movement: slide to the corner on a north south or back cut on a speed dribble. If the player at the top drives the ball left from the top the same thing happens on that side. The player at the left block locates to the opposite block and the post that was located on that block becomes the safety valve at the top.

• In the next situation, the ball is on the right wing (again, 3 OUT 2 IN alignment). That right wing ballhandler makes a move with the ball toward the middle, it could be a speed, power, or north-south penetration. The ball side block (right block) would become the safety valve toward the right wing and the player on the left block would slide across to the right block. The other two perimeter players would move in normal circle movement. If the drive middle was a north-south drive, then the player at the top would slide to the left wing and the player that was on the left wing would slide to the left corner.

• If the player on the wing drives baseline in a 3 OUT 2 IN alignment, the rules are the same as normal circle movement: both posts slide up the lane lines, the guard at the top becomes safety valve, opposite guard slides to the corner.

Advantages that I see:

• When the ball side post slides opposite, it will hopefully create more of a driving lane for the ball handler to get to the rim. I think it might also open opportunities for the speed dribble w/ back cuts if the post on the strong side is clearing to the weak side on any dribble to that side, whether it is a speed, power, or north-south. I also think it’s easier for the posts to read the ballhandler if they know that any dribble movement in their direction means they go opposite.

• I like the opposite post becoming the safety valve because I think it sets up a good high-low situation. If the guard at the top drives right, the post on the right block slides opposite, and the post on the left block comes to the top and receives a pass from the driver looking for his safety valve, I think the post that just slid over from the right to the left block can now post hard for a two count.

• If the player at the top power dribbles to the right wing, the post on the right block will go to the weak side opening up the floor for the power dribbler to roll to the basket.

• With these dribble rules, the formation will constantly be shifting between 3 OUT to 4 OUT.

• If the player at the top drives north-south to the right, then takes the natural pitch to the wing for a shot, you have good offensive rebound coverage with two posts now on the weak side.

• I think it will help relieve pressure as well because post defenders generally don’t deny as well as guards. Because of this, if the point guard brings the ball down the court and neither wing is open, the wings can basket cut, the point guard can space dribble to either side and know that he will be able to reverse the ball to the opposite post flashing high.

Rick’s Response:

Hey David!

First of all, thanks for sharing this with me. I already know another coach in the same situation as you are. He ran 5 OUT last year, but is looking at an addition of several good post players this year (hint: he won the NCCAA National Championship!)

The only “fault” I see, if you can call it a fault, is that you’re asking your wing players to change their Layer 1 and Layer 3 habits of Circle Movement and Fill the Open Spot. If they can handle it, without losing their reaction habits, then go for it.

Now, let me tell you what I like about your variations, plus an additional thought you might want to consider:

First, kudos to you for recognizing that there’s a lot of freedom with your post players in the Read & React. This allows any coach to put a personal “twist” on post play (based on their strengths or even their weaknesses) that changes or enhances the offensive action to their favor.

Next, I like that your new post-player-slides adhere to the direction of Circle Movement. In fact, if you look at the R&R Layer on Advanced Post Slides, you’ll see that most of your slides place your posts in the same position at the end of the play. However, your slides are getting them there more quickly. Ex: When the wing drives middle, the ball-side-post circles out to the wing to become the safety valve. In the R&R Advanced Post Slides Layer, the ball-side-post first steps down to short corner and then continues Circle Motion to the wing and the safety valve position. This is a small observation for whatever it’s worth.

Now for the things that I REALLY like:

The ball-side-post’s movement away from the direction of the dribble (regardless of what type of dribble it is), creates SPACE for the penetrator to finish, SPACE for the backdoor (if its Speed Dribble), and SPACE for the roll to the basket (if its Power Dribble). The double-up on weak-side rebounding position is Icing on the Cake - kudos again to you!

The High - Low Post Action created by the weak-side-post filling the top of the key and the duck-in by the other post who filled the opposite side is very hard to defend. By the way, if the duck-in is defended, then a pass to the wing allows the post who ducked-in to seal the defender and receive a pass on the baseline side. When I was coaching, we had one word for it: “Sweet”. The players began to use the word “Sweet” to communicate: “My defender positions ahead of time to defend the pass down the gut, therefore ‘Sweet’ is open for me - especially on the right (or left) side.” Everyone knew what “Up-top” and “Sweet” meant. “Up-top” was the Hi-Lo Post action (feed the low post in front of the rim from the high post at the top of the key or thereabouts) and “Sweet” was the counter when guarded on the top-side (get the ball to the wing while the post who tried to duck-in changes angles and seals the defender from recovering). This action that you’re shooting for was my team’s bread and butter in the late ’90s when we made it to two back-to-back Final Fours. So, I kinda like it.

And I like the change in formation during the same possession.

Now, here’s an addition that you might want to consider (if you haven’t already thought of it):

Using your new post rules as an example: The ball at the top of the key is dribbled right (North-South drive or East-West for something else). The right post (ball-side) cuts to the opposite post, becoming the new left post player. The original left post player fills the top of the key. The left wing stays. So far, so good. Now for my addition: Teach the new left post player and the left wing player to immediately look for a Pin Screen and Skip Pass (before the ball has had a chance to be passed Up-top).

Also, you might want to mix it up sometimes by having the left wing (in the above example), immediately set a flare-screen for the post player who slid up to the top of the key. Dare the defense to switch it. If they do, you have a big-little mismatch. Also, the ball can still be passed Up-top (when the flare-screener shapes up) and then down the gut to the low post who ducks-in to the front of the rim. Or, if the flare-screen works, the ball can be skipped to the post player on the left wing, who immediately feeds the “Sweet”.

Fun stuff to consider… Thanks for sharing your variation with me.