Step through it
The cue: “What did my defender do? That's my cut.” Only the defender who gives the read is drawn.
Read the three steps as text
- 1 has the ball at the top. 2 starts low on the left block with X2 guarding, and 5 waits above him to set a downscreen, with X5 guarding.
- 2 runs up to the screen and X2 trails right behind him. The other reads are: X2 goes under, so pop out; X5 helps, so hit the screener; X2 overplays, so reject; X5 steps up early, so slip.
- X2 trailed, so 2 curls tightly around the screen to the rim and 1 passes to the cutter. The cue: What did my defender do? That's my cut.
Ask, don't tell
After the rep, ask one question: “What did your defender do, and what was the matching cut?” 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.