Q: In offensive transition, we’ve been successful in the past sprinting wide to the corners, bringing the ball up wide and passing ahead to the corner asap to look for cutters or a reversal. Now that we are running the Read & React, we are asking our wings to first hit their spots, then cut through the lane to the opposite wing (as suggested on the R&R DVDs). We’ve found, however, that our guys keep looking back for the ball and are very hesitant to cut through - as if the 3 point line were a wall. It seems as if the wings are afraid to cut through and miss a pass that’s already on its way and the player with the ball is afraid to pass ahead early for the same reason. Also, if the ball is being dribbled up the floor while the two wings are cutting through, wouldn’t the cutters be actually cutting away from the basket when the ball gets in a position to be passed? My question boils down to this: is the point of the transition to score in the primary break using the Pass & Cut layer as a fall back in the secondary break?

A: I left transition as loose and open to interpretation as possible. The reason is that HOW to push the ball up the floor changes from coach to coach in terms of philosophy and emphasis. Yours is a great example. The only reason that I have players cut through the lane is to place them in a familiar cut/movement/habit from the half-court offense (Layer 3). In this manner, they don’t have to run the break, then pause to “set it up”. Instead, they can continue to attack the defense while others (on both offense and defense) are completing their transition. But this is not necessary for using the Read & React Offense in the half court.

The question becomes: how can you dovetail YOUR transition into the R&R seamlessly? Since everyone’s transition is different, I showed my version of transition on the DVDs as merely an example. Your question tells me that I didn’t do a good job communicating that point.

So, you are correct in your last statement about the point of transition. Run your break however you are comfortable with and find a way to funnel your secondary break into the R&R offense.