Blog Posting #25, January 2, 2009

THE WEAK SIDE MAKES THE STRONG SIDE GO
Intelligent Weak Side Movement

Coaches have always known, an active weak side helps the strong side become more effective. I’m not a fan of five man motion offense, but there’s one thing I like: There is usually good weak side action. The reason is, motion offense is dependent on movement without the ball on the weak side to create side-to-side perimeter passing and to keep weak-side defenders occupied so the strong side can score. But what is “weak side movement without the ball?” More importantly, what type of movement is most effective?

 The objective of this posting is to convince coaches to teach players “intelligent movement without the ball” by showing the common sense of these simple maneuvers and principles.

WHAT MOVEMENT WITHOUT THE BALL IS NOT
You will better understand what intelligent and effective movement without the ball is, when you understand what it is not. It is not moving after, or when, the ball moves. It is not going through the motions of a weak side screen. In other words, if it does not move defenders out of position to help, it is not good weak side movement.

THE DEFINITION OF “INTELLIGENT WEAK SIDE MOVEMENT”
An intelligent and effective weak side move is any maneuver that draws the defender’s attention and causes him to move out of position. In other words, it’s “activity with premeditated achievement.”

EXAMPLES
The best way to describe the effectiveness of these maneuvers is to provide examples.

Ball Screen to Middle: Use a Weak Side Backscreen
A moment before the ball handler dribbles off the ball screen, the cutter comes off the backscreen on the weak side. One player must cut to the basket (either the cutter or the screener with a slip screen). This will draw the defenders toward their men and open up the middle. The ball screener is still able to slip screen to the basket or roll after setting the screen.

Opening Up the High Post Against a Zone: Make a Baseline Cut from Strong Side to Weak Side
When a wing player makes an aggressive baseline cut (going through and looking for the lob) it will drop the middle defender down just a bit. If the post player on the same side moves early, he will be open at the high post momentarily. This will open up either the low-post player or the cutter that went through to the weak side.

Opening Up the Lane Against a Zone: Seal the Guard at the High Post
It has been said, “You can screen against a zone.” Coach Wooden says, “You had BETTER screen against a zone.” Any time the high post player screens the weak-side guard as the ball is passed from point to wing (or dribbled) and detains him from moving to the strong side, it momentarily opens up a hole at the high post. 

Ball in the Low Post: Make a Basket Cut from High Post
We have all seen this and taught this, but most of the time the cut is too late. A cut where the cutter is already on his way to the basket when the ball is received, catches the defense as it’s adjusting to the ball moving to the low post. This may draw more than one weak side defender, at least for a moment. But the cut has to be accelerated and aggressive.

Low-Post Player Contributions:
A post player that will stay on the weak-side can do much to keep his man busy and unable to help when teammates drive to the basket or the pass is made into the key for the score.
 One: Fake the flash (Duck) move
 Two: Fake the lob reception (move under the basket, throw up the arms, and call for the lob)
 Three: Fake baseline cut (Fake cut to the weak side, under the basket)
Fake a Screen: Move slightly out toward a perimeter player and motion him to come off the backscreen. 
Four: Work the middle defender. The middle-low defender is the key to a zone defense. If he is out of position, everyone will be. Screen him when the ball moves to a wing. The baseline cutter may be open. Cut below him (toward the baseline) and he’ll drop. Flash in the middle and the high post player might become open.

PRINCIPLES
Those are some examples of maneuvers that will keep the weak side defenders busy. Here are the principles for creating maximum effectiveness while executing the maneuvers.

ONE: DROP BEHIND YOUR DEFENDER’S VISION.
Your defender is trained to take position one step below the line between you and the basket. Don’t let him do that. Keep making cuts below that line and make him try and find you. He will drop lower and lower to keep his eye on you. This takes his attention.

TWO: MAKE YOUR MOVE WHEN THE DEFENDER TURNS HIS HEAD.
Don’t move when the defender can see you. Make it when he turns his head. This will create maximum separation and cause the defender to pay you a lot of attention.

THREE: CUT TO THE SPOT THAT WILL BE OPEN WHEN YOU GET THERE. 
In Wayne Gretzky’s words, the key to his success was, he played the puck where it was “going to be.” Most weak-side movement today is too late; players move when the ball moves. Movement must be anticipatory (before the ball moves). Early movement will cause defensive disruption, either against a man-to-man or zone defense. The intelligent weak-side player will think ahead and arrive in the open spot, moments before it opens. He could be wrong, but he could be right as well. Here’s an example: Against a zone, when the ball is skipped from wing to wing, the high post player is at the elbow when the ball arrives at the wing. A quick pass there could be disaster for the offense, especially if the low post player has maneuvered early as well.

FOUR: KEEP MOVING AND HAVE FUN
Outsmarting the defensive player is fun. Keep anticipating and moving with a purpose. You may be wrong nine times, but that tenth time, when you called it perfectly—well, there’s nothing like it. Enjoy.