Step through it
The cue: “Sell the handoff, then pop back.” Only the defender who gives the read is drawn.
Read the three steps as text
- 5 has the ball on the right wing and 1 comes up from the top toward a handoff, with X1 guarding.
- 1 comes in to take the handoff and sells it. X1 reads it early and jumps ahead of the handoff.
- 1 does not take it. He cuts back out to the wing and 5 passes to him as X1 chases from behind. The cue: Sell the handoff, then pop back.
Ask, don't tell
After the rep, ask one question: “Did your defender jump the handoff?” 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.