Layer #1, Dribble-penetration

Other 4 players use "circle movement" on the perimeter and rotate to fill the
spots. The direction of the dribble-drive (right or left) determines the direction
of the perimeter rotation. If ball penetrates right, the circle rotates right
(counterclockwise). If the ball penetrates left, the circle rotates left
(clockwise).



The only exception is dribble-penetration along the baseline (see below)... the
opposite corner stays, so that the baseline dribbler has the option of passing
out to the opposite corner.

Ball options:
1. Dribble from the top... score, pitch out to corner-wing ("natural pitch") or
back out to "safety valve" (back to the spot vacated by the dribbler), or dish
inside. We always want to fill the spot where the penetrator started from, and
this "safety" spot is often wide open.




2. Wing dribble penetration... score, pitch out opposite, or dish inside.




Layer #2, Baseline dribble-drive
We always want the opposite corner filled for a kick-out pass. In our perimeter
rotation with baseline dribble-penetration, we want these spots filled: the
"safety", a "90-degree pitch", and a "45-degree pitch", in addition to filling the
opposite corner.

Offense in 4-out (diagram I):
Opposite wing moves to corner.
Post rotates up to 45 degree spot.
Opposite wing rotates to 90 degree spot.
Ball-side wing rotates to vacated corner (safety).

Diagram J shows the rotation when the post player is ballside. Here the post
player I-cuts to the 90-degree spot, and the opposite top player (O1) stays put
at the 45-degree spot, while O2 rotates to the safety spot.



Offense in 5-out (diagram H):
Opposite corner stays.
Opposite wing rotates to 45 degree spot.
Point rotates to 90 degree spot.
Ball-side wing rotates to vacated corner (safety).

Offense in 3out-2in (diagram K):
Opposite wing slides down to opposite corner.
Both posts rotate up to 45 degree and 90 degree spots.
Point rotates to vacated wing-corner (safety).




Layer #3, Pass & Cut layer
Rules...
1. Passer... after passing, always basket-cut on a pass 1-spot away.
Generally, we want these cuts all the way to the hoop before filling out to the
perimeter. On a perimeter pass this would be either a front cut (diagram L), or
a rear-cut if defender overplaying (diagram M). This cut eliminates the hedge
defender once the ball is passed to the next spot. If the pass is made into the
post (also just one spot away), then there will be either a Laker low cut, a
Laker high cut, or a slide to the corner, or an "X-cut" (see Layer 12 below).

Note that the passer does NOT cut on a skip pass (two spots away).

2. Pass receivers... if defender has a foot beyond the 3-point arc (aggressively
denying pass), back-cut (diagram N). We call this "one foot over the read line"
=> back-cut. The next perimeter player over will naturally rotate into this
vacated spot and is usually open.

3. After the cut, open spots are filled from the baseline up, and the basket-
cutter fills the open corner spot.



Cutting Options...
After passing, a cutter may be "stood up" by the defender who impedes and
prevents his cut. Instead of fighting the defender, we use coach Bob Knight's
"corner" principle... the cutter just simply moves sideways and screens-away
(diagrams O and P).



A perimeter player may wish to post up his defender inside (if he is a natural
post player, or if he has a size mis-match, or if his defender is in foul trouble).
Diagram N shows O4 passing, cutting inside and then "shaping up to the ball",
or posting up.

A perimeter player may pass and cut and then screen for a post player inside
before filling back out to the perimeter (diagram Q). We also call this
"chipping" or "bumping" the post defender. So "pass and cut" becomes "pass,
cut, and screen". A perimeter player could also pass, cut and back-screen for
another perimeter player (see Layer 8 below).