Post #5, August 5, 2008

TEACH ENTRY PASS PRESSURE RELEASE EARLY

At UCLA, the first thing we were taught, regarding the half-court offense, was the main play we would use that year. The second thing was pressure release. The “main play” was the play we wanted to run. If able to run it, all of our scorers would receive the ball in Position A. But, as we all know, that is not always possible. Defenses attempt to take away what you want to do.

Post #4 addresses counters. These are counter plays ran once you have made the entry pass you want to make—usually the guard-to-guard-to-forward pass. But sometimes defenses are taught to take away that entry pass. That is when you need a pressure release for the entry pass. As I mentioned above, the first thing we were taught was the main play. But, before we even got into the intricacies of that, we were taught entry pass pressure release.

PRESSURE RELEASE FOR GUARD-TO-GUARD PASS DENIAL
Using the 2-1-2 high set of the UCLA High-Post Offense with center at the high post, when one guard prepares to pass to the other (two guard front), both forwards and the center are coming out after a hard basket cut.


The weak-side forward watches to see if the guard-to-guard pass can be completed to the guard on his side. If he sees pressure, he comes directly toward the ball-handling guard (The center is always slightly ball side so he will not interfere with the forward’s cut.) and receives the pass above the free-throw line. The pressured guard begins his backdoor cut just before the forward receives the ball. The center drops to the weak-side block and joins the weak-side forward in setting a double screen for the backdooring guard. The passing guard cuts off the ball-handling forward, looking for a hand off pass. Options are: backdoor pass to guard, hand off to guard, one-on-one for forward, pass to cutting guard (backdoor cut) off double screen.

But there are more options. As the backdooring guard approaches the double screen, the center, positioned at the top of the double screen, can slip the screen by coming into the lane to receive the pass from the forward. This play will almost always work as the defense is focused on the guard. Also, if the backdooring guard curls off the screen, across the lane, the center can follow in his shadow and be wide open. Remember what I wrote earlier, deception is key to offensive execution.

PRESSURE RELEASE FOR GUARD-TO-FORWARD PASS DENIAL
If the guard-to-guard pass is made but the forward is not open, the center senses the pressure and steps out to receive the pass from the guard.  The forward goes backdoor, the passing guard replaces him at the wing, the center and weak-side forward set a double screen for the backdooring forward on the weak-side block, and the other guard comes to the top of the key. From all the options presented in the guard-to-guard pressure release, you can come up with your own options on this play. For example, if the backdooring forward is a strong post-up player, he can button hook and post up on his original side.

WHY TEACH ENTRY PRESSURE RELEASE EARLY?
Entry pressure release must be taught early in the preseason for two reasons: You will need it early in the season, and It sends a message to your team.

Point One: You will need pressure release early in the season because many coaches teach pressure defense and deny all passing lanes. Early in the season all players are anxious to deny because they haven’t been burned yet. But watch their confusion when you start burning them with lay-ups, short inside shots, and wide-open jump shots.

Point Two: You will send a message to your players that will instill confidence. That message is, “We read the defense and take what they give us. No matter what they do, we have an answer that will cause them to think again.” 

By the way, for both o these plays, when the shot is taken, you have rebounding and defensive balance. I will address team offensive rebounding in the next posting.