Step through it
The cue: “Drive into a gap. Don't cut until the drive reaches lane-line extended.” Only the defender who gives the read is drawn.
Read the three steps as text
- 1 has the ball at the top, 2 and 3 are on the wings, and 4 and 5 are in the corners. X2 guards the left wing.
- 1 drives into the gap on the left. X2 comes in to help, so 5 cuts from the corner to the rim and 1 passes to the cutter.
- The passer, 1, loops out to the open corner and 4 lifts to fill the wing, so every spot is filled again. The cue: Drive into a gap. Don't cut until the drive reaches lane-line extended.
Ask, don't tell
After the rep, ask one question: “Which spot was open when the ball got there?” 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.