Breaking the Press

How to run it

Inbounding against a full-court 2-2-1 press. The team learns to get out of the trap, reverse the ball through the inbounder, find the player in the middle and throw ahead – to finish with numbers before the press gets back.

Set-up

The full court. Five attackers: an inbounder behind their own baseline, two guards, one in the middle and one deep. Five defenders in a 2-2-1 press.

Instructions

1. 1No. 4 inbounds from behind the baseline. Nos. 1 and 2 are guarded by the front two of the press.
2. 2No. 1 makes a V-cut and gets the inbound near the side line.
3. 3The press traps no. 1 at the side line. No. 4 steps in as the safety, no. 3 flashes into the middle.
4. 4No. 1 passes back to no. 4, out of the trap.
5. 5No. 4 reverses the ball to no. 2 on the other side. No. 3 comes towards the ball, no. 1 sprints up the side line.
6. 6No. 2 finds no. 3 in the middle before the new trap closes.
7. 7No. 3 turns and throws an overhead pass ahead to no. 1.
8. 8No. 1 dribbles at the basket. The last defender has to stop the ball and no. 5 moves to the weak side.
9. 9No. 1 passes to no. 5 at the basket.
10. 10Lay-up – the press is broken.

Coaching points

• Don't get stuck in a trap: only pick up the ball when you have a pass, and pass over or round the defence.
• The inbounder steps in straight after the inbound – always the safety valve behind the ball.
• The middle player comes to the ball in the gap between defenders and turns at once.
• Pass rather than dribble against a press – the ball moves faster than anyone can run.
• After the press: attack the basket with the numbers, but don't force bad shots once the defence is back.

Variations