Ahmet Dedeoğlu
06-13-2008, 03:30 AM
Now, on to the Princeton high post sets
By Fran Fraschilla
Special to ESPN.com
Sorry for the delay, class. Championship Week is keeping everyone a little behind.
But, last week, in Part I of the Princeton Offense, we covered the low post offense within this system. This week we will cover the high post offense.
CoachSpeak Interested in the X's and O's of college basketball, but don't understand the terminology? Read ESPN's Fran Fraschilla's introduction to Hoops 101 on ESPN.com for a crash course in the basics of basketball.
Remember, we emphasize how important the center is in this offense because he is the primary playmaker. Also, keep in mind that the other four players are interchangeable, so it would not be unusual to see three or four guards out on the court at the same time.
For a refresher course on Part I of the Princeton Offense, click here
Part II: The High Post Offense
The alignment and first cut of the high post offense in the Princeston Offense begins when the point guard (1) passes to the off guard (2) and cuts through the elbow area, looking to brush the center's man as center (5) flashes to the elbow. You'll notice that there are three perimeter players on the opposite side of the court from the center.
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Pass and Slip Split
On the pass to the center, notice the backdoor opportunity for the small forward (3) if he is overplayed. After the off guard (2) passes to the center (5), he screens away for the power forward (4), who slips the screen and back-door cuts to basket if his man "cheats" to get over the off guard's screen.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
As soon as the power forward (4) cuts, the off guard (2) pops back out for the pass from the center and the shot. Or, when the center (5) comes over to screen, the 2's man naturally "jumps" toward the screen. That allows the off guard (2) to "reject" the screen and drive to the basket.
Notice, also, that on the drive to the basket by the off guard, if the point guard's man leaves to help, the off guard is able to pass to the point. This is known as "penetrate and kick" or "draw and kick" ... as in, draw the defender and kick it to the open man.
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Here's an example of the center (5) passing back to the off guard (2), who uses the center's screen as the small forward (3) down screens for the power forward (4).
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Another option if for the off guard (2) to pass to the power forward (4), as the center (5) sets a "flare screen" for him. If the off guard's defender goes under the screen, he has the jump shot.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Now, if the off guard's man follows him over the top of the screen, he has a great driving angle to the basket, and if the point guard's man helps again, we have the "draw and kick". By the way, this is what Dicky V. means when he says a player is a "3-D guy" -- drive, draw and dish.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Pass and Post Split
On pass to the center (5), the off guard (2) screens for the small forward (3) in a "post split". The small forward "reads" his defender and if the defender plays off him, he will use the screen for the jump shot. The point guard (1) sets a "flare screen" on the other side of the court, primarily to keep the defenders occupied.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Post and Post Slip Split
If X3 plays his man "tight", the small forward (3) will fake coming off the screen and back-door cut to the basket for a layup. Once the 3 back cuts, the off guard (2) pops out to the wing.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
As the center (5) passes back to the off guard (2), he will come over to screen for him, and when 2 uses the screen, the center can "pop" out for the jumper, or "roll' to the basket. On the other side of the court, the small forward (3) uses the "staggered double screen."
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
If the off guard's man jumps toward the screen, 2 drives it baseline, as, hopefully, the "staggered double" will occupy three defenders on the opposite side of the court.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
The Spin Dribble
Once the point guard (1) has cut through, and the center (5) flashes to the elbow and is denied a pass, the off guard (2) reads this and spin dribbles back to the power foward (4). If the 4's man "cheats up" as 4 steps to the ball, the poward forward will back-door cut as 2 throws the one-handed bounce pass by the defender.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
If the power forward (4) is not open, the off guard (2) passes to the point guard (1) as 4 posts up on the block. The off guard then uses 5's "flare screen" for the jump shot.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Or... The drive and the "draw and kick" with 3.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
There are so many more options we can get into, but it would take all the college basketball season, the NBA season (remember to watch the New Jersey Nets run this offense) and into next football season. We have given you, however, the basic idea of what to look for in the "Princeton System".
Remember, it is an offense that has been around a very long time in the Ivy League. But, now, Carril's influence has extended to the ACC, the Big Ten, the Mountain West, and the NBA. As the saying goes, "Everything old becomes new again".
By Fran Fraschilla
Special to ESPN.com
Sorry for the delay, class. Championship Week is keeping everyone a little behind.
But, last week, in Part I of the Princeton Offense, we covered the low post offense within this system. This week we will cover the high post offense.
CoachSpeak Interested in the X's and O's of college basketball, but don't understand the terminology? Read ESPN's Fran Fraschilla's introduction to Hoops 101 on ESPN.com for a crash course in the basics of basketball.
Remember, we emphasize how important the center is in this offense because he is the primary playmaker. Also, keep in mind that the other four players are interchangeable, so it would not be unusual to see three or four guards out on the court at the same time.
For a refresher course on Part I of the Princeton Offense, click here
Part II: The High Post Offense
The alignment and first cut of the high post offense in the Princeston Offense begins when the point guard (1) passes to the off guard (2) and cuts through the elbow area, looking to brush the center's man as center (5) flashes to the elbow. You'll notice that there are three perimeter players on the opposite side of the court from the center.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Pass and Slip Split
On the pass to the center, notice the backdoor opportunity for the small forward (3) if he is overplayed. After the off guard (2) passes to the center (5), he screens away for the power forward (4), who slips the screen and back-door cuts to basket if his man "cheats" to get over the off guard's screen.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
As soon as the power forward (4) cuts, the off guard (2) pops back out for the pass from the center and the shot. Or, when the center (5) comes over to screen, the 2's man naturally "jumps" toward the screen. That allows the off guard (2) to "reject" the screen and drive to the basket.
Notice, also, that on the drive to the basket by the off guard, if the point guard's man leaves to help, the off guard is able to pass to the point. This is known as "penetrate and kick" or "draw and kick" ... as in, draw the defender and kick it to the open man.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Here's an example of the center (5) passing back to the off guard (2), who uses the center's screen as the small forward (3) down screens for the power forward (4).
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Another option if for the off guard (2) to pass to the power forward (4), as the center (5) sets a "flare screen" for him. If the off guard's defender goes under the screen, he has the jump shot.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Now, if the off guard's man follows him over the top of the screen, he has a great driving angle to the basket, and if the point guard's man helps again, we have the "draw and kick". By the way, this is what Dicky V. means when he says a player is a "3-D guy" -- drive, draw and dish.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Pass and Post Split
On pass to the center (5), the off guard (2) screens for the small forward (3) in a "post split". The small forward "reads" his defender and if the defender plays off him, he will use the screen for the jump shot. The point guard (1) sets a "flare screen" on the other side of the court, primarily to keep the defenders occupied.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Post and Post Slip Split
If X3 plays his man "tight", the small forward (3) will fake coming off the screen and back-door cut to the basket for a layup. Once the 3 back cuts, the off guard (2) pops out to the wing.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
As the center (5) passes back to the off guard (2), he will come over to screen for him, and when 2 uses the screen, the center can "pop" out for the jumper, or "roll' to the basket. On the other side of the court, the small forward (3) uses the "staggered double screen."
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
If the off guard's man jumps toward the screen, 2 drives it baseline, as, hopefully, the "staggered double" will occupy three defenders on the opposite side of the court.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
The Spin Dribble
Once the point guard (1) has cut through, and the center (5) flashes to the elbow and is denied a pass, the off guard (2) reads this and spin dribbles back to the power foward (4). If the 4's man "cheats up" as 4 steps to the ball, the poward forward will back-door cut as 2 throws the one-handed bounce pass by the defender.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
If the power forward (4) is not open, the off guard (2) passes to the point guard (1) as 4 posts up on the block. The off guard then uses 5's "flare screen" for the jump shot.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Or... The drive and the "draw and kick" with 3.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
There are so many more options we can get into, but it would take all the college basketball season, the NBA season (remember to watch the New Jersey Nets run this offense) and into next football season. We have given you, however, the basic idea of what to look for in the "Princeton System".
Remember, it is an offense that has been around a very long time in the Ivy League. But, now, Carril's influence has extended to the ACC, the Big Ten, the Mountain West, and the NBA. As the saying goes, "Everything old becomes new again".