Written by Rick Torbett on October 30, 2009 – 3:22 PM
Q: Hey Coach. I have just started practicing and we are now 3 practices in. We have started learning man defense and working on Circle Movement. This offense is already making my defense much better!
My question is this:
In a 3 OUT 2 IN offensive set, when a wing passes to the man at the top of the key and then cuts, does he refill the same wing spot from where he came, or would he refill an unmanned corner spot?
Also, I understand the post movement on North/South dribble penetration, but during pass and cut action, would you have your posts do anything specific in a 3 OUT? Thank you for your time, knowledge, and sincere passion for teaching the game of basketball. And for your wonderful Read and React DVDs.
A: Good questions. I’m glad to hear that your practices are going well and that your defense is benefitting from the R&R. I should make mention of it more. When defense must defend honestly every possession, every day, they can’t help but get better.
In 3 OUT 2 IN, when a wing passes up top and basket cuts, he can fill any open spot on the perimeter. That would include the opposite corner along with his own wing or corner.
Why would I include the corner on his side?
Because he’s probably going to use the post player on the basket cut and depending on how he’s defended, he may wish to fade to the corner after rubbing his defender off on the post. When you get to the back-screen layer, the wing can take anyone’s place on the perimeter by setting a back-screen.
What I like the most about passing and cutting from a 3 OUT 2 IN formation is the fact that the passer gets to use the post players as screens. In other words, the cutter is guaranteed two staggered screens.
This brings up your other question about what to do with the post players. The first thing they should learn to do is Layer 11 Post Blocking: set screens for these cutters and then shape up for the ball where they can.
The next thing they should learn is Layer 14 Pin & Skip. This layer can be taught out of order. It is not a read on the ball like the other habits of the R&R. Your weak-side post player’s first priority should be to look for any defender helping in the lane and set a Pin screen on him. He needs to get verbal and call “Pin!” so that the receiver will forget about any other action and line up for the Skip pass.
99% of the freedom that comes with the R&R lies in what you’ll do with your post players. The only thing post players MUST do (in order to keep the offense coordinated) is to react correctly to dribble penetration. Otherwise, you can do almost anything with them. You can play them at the high post, short corners, mid-post, or have one up high and one down low. You can give them assignments as you see fit, like: set a screen on the ball at certain times during the action. It won’t mess up the R&R. When the screen is used, the roller is a basket cutter and everyone else Circle Moves. You can see some ideas like this on Disc 4 of your R&R set.