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Offence reads · Interactive

Read the roller's defender

The handler reads the screener's defender. If he is low, hit the roller. If he is high, swing to the baseline side. The big defender's depth decides: low means the roll is covered by the pass; high means the roll is covered and the swing is open.

Step through it

The cue: “Low: hit the roller. High: swing.” Only the defender who gives the read is drawn.

Read the three steps as text
  1. 1 has the ball at the top and 4 sets a ball screen, with X4 guarding the screener. 2 is on the left wing.
  2. 4 rolls toward the rim. The handler reads X4's depth, and here X4 is low.
  3. X4 is low, so 1 hits the roller at the rim. If X4 were high, 1 would swing the ball to 2 on the baseline side instead. The cue: Low: hit the roller. High: swing.

Ask, don't tell

After the rep, ask one question: “How deep was his big?” 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.

Related

See also the drop coverage play, Ball screen and replace, Attack the switch, or all the offence reads.

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.