A lot of teams will use a post to post entry pass in a high low setup. But the post to post pass can be used from different angles and not just in a high low setting. By changing the angle of the pass, an offense can manipulate the defense in different ways.
In this play the offense can help remove any helpside defense with quick cuts and quick passes. The offense can get the ball into a great scoring position with good passing. The defense will be reacting to the offense and not be able to get into helpside positions. This will give the offense a chance to score without having to worry about backside defense rotating over to help.
The play starts in a box formation. This should be a quick cut by two players with 3 quick passes. It is a play which is going to score quickly or not at all. This is a great play to run that can lead into another continuous motion offense because of the quickness of the play. If the offense does not score within the 3 passes then it needs to move into something else.
The box formation starts with the guards on the elbows and the post players on the blocks. The key is the players on the side side of the lane moving and running across the court at the same time. The players need to cut at the same time so the ball can move from the point(1) to the center(5) as quickly as possible. The quickness of the play helps with the ability of the play to score.
As the forward(3) and center(5) cut, the point(1) is passing to the forward(3) as soon as possible. The forward(3) will then turn and pass the ball down to the corner to the center(5). The center(5) should be turning to the middle of the court on the catch. The center(5) needs to see the big(4) as soon as possible after receiving the ball.
Once the center(5) receives the ball, the play becomes a post to post entry pass. The key to making the pass as easy as possible is the seal set by the big(4). A good seal will have the big(4) move their defender up the lane line creating as much space on the baseline as possible. The higher the big(4) can move their defender up the lane line the easier the post to post pass becomes.
Also, by moving up the lane line, the big(4) makes it easier to score once they catch the ball. Their defender is on the top side so the big(4) has the entire baseline side to move to score. Plus there is no helpside defense because there is nobody on the backside of the court. All of the helpside defense is gone.
The only help could be the guard(2)’s defender which is why the guard(2) is cutting to the backside block on the catch. If the defender helps down then the guard(2) will be open on their cut. This simple cut keeps the defense at a disadvantage no matter how they react to the offense.
While this play is very simple it can work so fast before the defense has a chance to react. Two cuts and 3 passes is all this play has. Because the play does not have a lot of moving parts, the quickness of the cuts and passes can be used to help the play work even better.
This is not a play that can be used multiple times throughout a game. It is, however, a play that can be used every single game. This is something to use once or twice a game that can get a basket or two each and every game.
I like to keep this play available. I like to use it if I feel like a post player needs to get a touch or a basket. This could be to keep a run going. Or it could be to get a post player more involved due to lack of touches. And at times I like to run it if a post defender has 4 fouls. This is going to put them in a position to either foul or give up a layup due to being in a bad position.
