Wide Wing Drive and Space

The numbers are for identification purposes only. In our system, we fill the spots with the closest available player when the ball is driven, not by a specified player.

When the ball is driven from the wide wing, we fee that the most important spot to fill is the spot that is being filled by player #2 in the animation above. Rick Majerus calls this spot "cracback." The purpose of the spot is to give the ball an outlet if it is trapped.

We like to have our post player (#5 in this diagram) slide to the opposite block from where the ball is being driven , if he or she is limited to scoring in the post.

We fill the diagonal pass spacing spot (opposite wide wing from ball--player #4 in the diagram.). Usually #4s defender is going to drop to cover #5 if 5s defender moves to help on the drive.

Fill the ball side deep elbow spacing spot (#3 in the diagram). This spot is important for two reasons. One is that if his/her defender helps on the ball, there is an opportunity for an inside out three point shot, but also if the ball is passed out to #2, three serves as a vehicle to get a quick reversal.

A second option (if #5 is able to score from 15 feet) is to have #5 step to the elbow on the ball side, then have a three point shooter (#4 in our diagram) slide to the corner on the side of the floor opposite the ball. If #5 has stepped up the lane, then the blocks are unoccupied and you have a possibility for a long pass to #4 for the spot up three point shot, depending on where #4s defender goes to help. IN this scenario, #3 in our diagram would then fill the opposite deep elbow from the ball. Depending on the ability of #5, you could step that player to the three point arc, if they are a three point threat.

I will get this second scenario animated and posted soon.