Attacking Pressure
Press Break
Always Be Prepared & Anticipate Pressing Situations
However, against well prepared team, presses loose their effectiveness and can become a real liability to the defense. Analyze the type of press and take advantage of its weaknesses and weak players. Take good shots and crash the boards, maintain defensive balance. Keep the floor spread and look ahead. Bypass and eliminate as many defenders as possible. Take as much Real Estate, distance up the court, as the defense will allow. Wings should work behind the defenders taking advantage of back cuts whenever possible. Employ a slow to quick tempo.
| Fundamentals | Guidelines | Don'ts | Press Breaks | Implementation |
Offensive Fundamentals Required
Raising Your Level of Passing - View Click Here
Inbounding the Ball Against Pressure - View Click Here
Creating Leads - Techniques to Get Open - View Click Here
Attacking Outnumbered Situations - View Click Here
Offensive Rebounding Techniques - View Click Here
Advanced the ball with short, crisp passes. Close the distance, make someone guard you prior to passing. Do not make any one handed or lob passes. Work the ball into the middle then attack. Look to attack out numbered situations. Use the dribble sparingly always ending in shot or pass. Do not pass off the dribble. Use jump stops. See the floor. Receivers must create leads and meet all passes receiving the ball with their back to the sideline in a “triple Threat” stance. Lead the receiver to the “Elbow” when throwing long. “Eat the Ball” rather than throw it away. This allows the defense to get set and make a defensive stop.
The key to attacking presses is advanced quickly with teamwork rather than relying on a single point guard to advance the ball. While clearing out is effective against Person-to-Person presses, it is dangerous against zones. It also allows the defense to get set along with player fatigue becoming a factor during a game. Attacking with five players is much more sound and effective. Use offensive formations, such as 2-1-2 alignment, rather than set plays.
In making an outlet pass after a defensive rebound or when inbounding the ball after a made shot, the first look is long, which immediately puts pressure on the defense to get back and protect the basket. The second look is short and the third look is to the middle. In advancing the ball, the trailer maintains defensive balance and does not cross half court until the early push is stopped.
Since press breaks will readily create outnumber situations, it is very import to practice attacking 2 on 1 and 3 on 2 situations. O3 and O4 especially need to be well taught and drilled in to attacking and finishing (scoring) on a 2 on 1 situation. Inbounders must also practice throwing long, accurate inbounds passes leading receivers to the "elbow." Anytime a double team occurs, make a reversal pass back to the inbounder trailer. This will immediately creates a 4 on 3 offensive situation.
Press Break Guidelines
1. Spread the floor
Bypass & eliminate as many defenders as possible.
Take as much "Real Estate" (distance up the court) as the defense will allow.
"Close the Distance" (make someone guard you) prior to passing.
2. Employ a slow to quick tempo
Work the ball into the middle, then attack.
Create leads and meet the ball.
Lead the receiver when throwing long.
3. See the floor and move the ball
Receive the ball with back to sideline in triple threat stance.
Use sharp, crisp passes.
Get passing done early.
Look for and attack out numbered situations.
4. Take care of the ball.
Use the dribble sparingly.
Do not pick up dribble. End dribble with shot or pass.
Avoid passing off the dribble (use jump stops).
Eat the ball rather than throw it away.
5. Analyze the type of press
Always be prepared & anticipate pressing situations.
Take advantage of press weaknesses and weak players.
Take good shoots and crash the boards.
Maintain defensive balance.
Some DON'Ts About Press Breaks
-
DON'T receive ball with back to basket.
DON'T dribble up sideline (Avoid trap zones).
DON'T throw one handed passes. Use sharp crisp passes.
DON'T pick up the dribble. Always end dribble with shot or pass.
DON'T hurry. Be confident and play through adversity.
DON'T pick up ball after an opponent's made shot to make the inbounds pass until teammates are ready to receive the ball.
DON'T throw bounce passes especially when inbounding the ball.
DON'T telegraph passes. Look off receivers & use pass fakes.
Successful Press Breaks
Having designated player roles and assignments eliminates any indecision and confusion. It is best to always run press break after a made field goal or free throw regardless if the opponent is pressing or not. This will eliminate any element of surprise during a game.
Early Numbered Break - View Click Here
Laker Press Break - View Click Here
Attacking Half Court Presses - View Click Here
Early Push Off a Free Throw Situation - View Click Here
Installing & Implementing
The key to the success press break is in its precise execution and coordination. Get coaching done prior to, not during a game. Coach players not the system. It's not what you run, but how you run it that counts. Use the time tested "Whole-Part-Whole" method of teaching. Be creative and design your own offensive breakdown drills that will fit your needs and player abilities. Insist in correct spacing and timing along with precise footwork and execution at all times. Bad habits can be practiced as well as good ones.
| Coaching Objectives | Implementation | Breakdown Drills | Game Strategies |
Coaching Objectives
-
To develop the poise and confidence in attacking presses.
-
To develop the ability and attitude to run press break on every possession.
-
To develop the ability to force the defense into defending the entire court.
-
To develop the ability and intelligence to make the proper outlet/inbound pass.
-
To develop the ability advance the ball quickly under control with short, crisp passes. .
-
To develop the ability to successfully attack outnumbered situations.
-
To develop the ability to combat and attack double teams.
-
To develop the ability to flow directly into early offense when the press break does not produce a good shot.
To develop the ability to anticipate missed shots and go to the offensive boards.
Whole-Part-Whole Method
Start building your press break the first day of practice using visual means when available. On the court, demonstrate and explain all of the player roles and responsibilities. Then have the players walk through these basic options along with their defensive reads and counters. Next, employing the "Whole-Part-Whole Method" break down the press break into its components using a series of progressive breakdown drills. One-on-One, Two Player Break, Three Player Break, Four Player Break and Five Player Break drills. Lastly, go live, motor skills must be learned at game speed.
You want to practice against good defense. Don't wait until game time. Motivate the defense. For example, have the defense make 5-6 stops (combination of defensive rebounds, offensive turnovers, and steals) before they can go to offense. No dummy defense! The toughest defense you face all season should be in practice. The offense will probably struggle at first. However, players will learn to adapt to the importance of creating leads and attacking defensive pressure. Press break should be an integral part of every practice. Basketball is a game of habits.
Drills for Skills
Proven Transition Drills to Improve Individual Player Skills & Team Performance
"Wolf" One-on-One Full Court - View Click Here
Two Player Break Series - View Click Here
Three Player Break Series - View Click Here
Post Fly Three Player Break - View Click Here
"Michigan" Three Player Break - View Click Here
Full Court 3-on-2 / 2-on-1 - View Click Here
Continuous 3-on-2 with Trail - View Click Here
Back-to-Back-to-Back Break - View Click Here
Longest Run: Free Throw & Press - View Click Here
Half and Full Court Scrimmaging - View Click Here
Game Strategies
Play disruptive, tenacious defense. Tough defense enhances the effectiveness of Early Offense.
-
Look to break on every possession. Made & Missed shots.
Move directly from Push to Flow to Continuity without hesitation.
Scout your opponent. Players need to know what defensive tactics to anticipate during the game especially full or half court presses.
When scouting is not possible, scout your opponent during the game.
Don't be a spectator and watch the ball during the game. Be conscience and alert to any defensive changes or adjustments, especially after substitutions and timeouts.
The Case for the Defense
When teams continuously push the ball up the court and flow into early offense, it can prevent or hinder the best of preplanned defensive disruption scenarios. However, by applying defensive pressure immediately, it will not only disrupt any fast break and early offense flow, but it can also catch a team unprepared to counter defensive pressure on missed shots off guard, resulting in easy steals and baskets.
To learn about defensive presses - Click Here.
The Case for the Defense
When teams continuously push the ball up the court and flow into early offense, it can prevent or hinder the best of preplanned defensive disruption scenarios. However, by applying defensive pressure immediately, it will not only disrupt any fast break and early offense flow, but it can also catch a team unprepared to counter defensive pressure on missed shots off guard, resulting in easy steals and baskets.
To learn about defensive presses - Click Here.
Return to Offensive Situations - Click Here
Return to Offensive Strategies - Click Here
Return to HoopTactics - Click Here
-