Attacking tactics: spacing, ball movement, penetration and screens

1Why this matters

Five defenders can crowd a small area around the basket. An attack cannot run through them, so it has to move them. A defender who is moving is late, and a late defender leaves an open shot: a shot from a good spot with no defender within arm's reach. Every attacking tactic in this lesson has one aim, which is to create that open shot.

21. Spacing

Spacing means keeping about 4 to 5 m between attackers and spreading across the court. If two attackers stand close together, one defender can guard both. If they spread out, each defender has to choose, and a gap opens in the middle for a teammate to drive into.

A common shape is four out, one in: four players outside the three-point line (top, both wings, a corner) and one close to the basket.

32. Ball movement

The ball travels faster than any player can run. Quick passes make the defence shift again and again until someone is slow. Two useful habits:

• Triple-threat position. When you catch the ball, face the basket with knees bent and the ball at your hip. From here you can shoot, pass or dribble, so your defender cannot guess.
• Ball reversal. Pass the ball from one side of the court to the other. The defence has to run across; the attack only has to pass.

Most passes are chest passes (fast and direct) or bounce passes (under a defender's arms).

43. Dribble penetration: drive and kick

Penetration means dribbling into a gap towards the basket. It forces a decision. If no defender comes to stop the dribbler, they score with a lay-up. If a defender leaves their own player to help, that player is now free, and the dribbler passes out to them. This is called drive and kick.

Figure 2. Drive and kick. Black arrow: the dribble. Blue arrow: X3 leaves player 3 (dotted circle: where X3 was) to help. Red dashed arrow: the pass. Diagram: Ganzaa.

54. Screening

A screen (or pick) is a legal block: an attacker stands still in the path of a teammate's defender, so the teammate can get free. To be legal the screener must be stationary, with feet about shoulder-width apart and arms kept close to the body. Moving, leaning or pushing into the defender is an offensive foul.

The most famous combination is the pick and roll:

1. The screener stands still beside the ball-handler's defender.
2. The ball-handler dribbles close past the screen, so the defender is blocked.
3. The screener turns and rolls towards the basket.
4. The ball-handler shoots, drives or passes to the rolling screener, depending on what the defence does.

Screens are also set away from the ball, to free a good shooter to receive a pass.

Worked example

Ishimwe (player 1) has the ball at the top. Her defender is close, and the defender of the left wing is watching the ball.

Choice. Ishimwe drives right past her defender into the key. The left wing's defender steps across to stop her. Ishimwe passes back out to the left wing, who has no one near her and takes an open shot. Spacing made the gap, penetration forced the help, and the pass found the free player.

6Drills you can run with one ball

• Pass and cut (4 players, 5 minutes). Four players stand around the three-point line. After passing, the passer cuts to the basket, then fills an empty spot. Aim for 10 passes without the ball touching the ground.
• Drive and kick, 2 against 1. Two attackers on the wings, one defender in the key. The dribbler attacks the basket; the defender must choose; the attacker finishes or passes. Swap roles after five goes.
• Screen walk-through. In threes (ball-handler, screener, defender), walk the pick and roll slowly, then at jogging speed. The screener counts "one-two" while standing still, to make sure the screen is legal.

No ring? Mark a target square on a wall, or score by passing to a teammate standing inside a chalk circle.

Practice

Solution. One defender can guard both of them, which frees a defender to help near the basket. They should spread to about 4 to 5 m apart.

Solution. Finish with a lay-up. The kick-out pass is only needed when a defender leaves someone to help.

Solution. No. A screener must be stationary. Moving into the defender is an offensive foul, and the ball goes to the other team.

Solution. Screener stands still; ball-handler dribbles past the screen; screener rolls to the basket; pass to the rolling screener.