Step through it
The cue: “Cut behind the defender who is watching the ball.” Only the defender who gives the read is drawn.
Read the three steps as text
- A zone. 1 has the ball on the right wing and 3 waits on the edge of the zone, in line with defenders b and e.
- Defenders b and e turn to watch the ball and slide toward it, leaving the space behind them empty.
- 3 cuts behind e to the rim and 1 passes to the cutter. The cue: Cut behind the defender who is watching the ball.
Ask, don't tell
After the rep, ask one question: “Which zone defender was watching the ball?” Judge the decision, not whether the shot went in.
Why it is in this library
Every read here passes the same tests: it is a read, not a reaction; it has few moving parts; it fits five-out spacing; it transfers as a concept; and it falls back into normal play if the read is not there. Teach the roles (screener, cutter, passer), not the positions.
Unofficial fan-created resource. The read is distilled from published coaching playbooks, curated and reviewed by Ravi Sundram, and the diagram is a schematic drawn for this site. Not affiliated with any team, coach or league.