Q: When teaching the R&R, do I have my posts go through perimeter drills or should I separate them into 2 groups: bigs and smalls? I am going to play mostly the 3 OUT 2 IN because of our post play so when I am teaching the circle layer I was thinking of having them go through the perimeter drills, what are your thoughts? Thanks for all you do.

A: I vote for having your posts go through the perimeter drills and also for your perimeter players to go through the post drills. My reasons are:

1. There are times when your posts will be on the perimeter by accident and if they know the rules, then nothing is lost.

2. There are advantages to occasionally stepping them out onto the perimeter by design:

• It drags their defenders away from the goal where their size is no longer an issue.
• How many post players practice defending on the perimeter?
• If you have to go 5 OUT for a delay game or something like that, then you won’t need to sub out your posts.
• If your post starts inside but steps out to set a backscreen, then he/she can play on the perimeter for a pass or two without needing to rush back inside.
• If your posts are occasionally on the perimeter, then they have the ability to initiate a Power Dribble Pick and Roll. This puts them in the position of being the screener who rolls inside.
• If you have your post player step out onto the perimeter to set a traditional ball screen and instead of rolling to the basket, the best option is to pick-and-flare, then again, the post is not a “fish out of water” and can play on the perimeter for a pass or two.

3. The reason that I would train my perimeters to have post reactions is: If they are cutting through the lane (for whatever reason) and someone drives North-South, then they must react like a post player; If they catch the ball in the posting area, but don’t have a chance to score, then they must be familiar with the cuts and actions from Layer 12 because the perimeter player who passed to them will be making one of the four cuts.

4. And last, generally speaking, it’s good for them to work on perimeter skills - how else will they develop? You might have a Dirk on your hands and not know it. Also, I think it opens up a lot of different kinds of actions for you if you have post players who can go inside and out, either on their own or at your command.