Q: My question is about the Power Dribble. I noticed on the DVD that when the player at the point Power Dribbles toward the wing, the strong side corner does not circle move toward the opposite corner but, instead, holds their position. The other perimeter players circle move in the direction of the dribble. This seems to violate one of the fundamental principles of circle movement for the corner player. Any thoughts?

A: When the Power Dribbler leaves his spot to dribble to the wing, the players behind him are filling empty spots because of Layer 3 Pass & Cut rules. They are not Circle Moving. Circle Movement only occurs when someone drives North-South to the goal. That’s why the player in the corner doesn’t move.

Let me explain it another way:

If the ball were in the corner (5 OUT) and the corner Power Dribbled up the wing, the point, opposite wing, and opposite corner would not move. The “pick & roll” would occur on the wing and leave the corner empty. The player who rolls to the basket could fill out to the empty corner from which he came, or backscreen out somewhere else, etc.

Here’s another example:

The left wing Power Dribbles to the point at the head of the key. The left corner would fill the left wing because of Layer 3 habits: fill up empty spots. The right wing and right corner would not move. When the pick and roll occurs at the top of the key, the screener will be rolling to the basket. If the point takes the ball and drives to the basket (he/she would be driving LEFT North-South), then everyone on the perimeter WOULD Circle Move. The left wing would move to the left corner. The right wing would move to the top of the key. The right corner would move up to the right wing. The right corner would be empty.