Most secondary fast breaks rely on ball reversal to be effective. Some teams will deny the return pass to the point guard, stifling ball-reversal and killing the secondary attack. This secondary break can be an effective strategy against teams that deny the return pass from the wing to the point guard.

• On the pass to the wing, the point guard cuts through to the weakside block.

• As in most secondary attacks, the post player (4) posts up on the ballside block.

• The trailer (5) fills in at the top of the key.
  If necessary, The wing player with the ball (2) should take 1 or 2 dribbles towards the baseline after receiving the pass from 1, to give 4 time to establish position on the block, and to draw the transition defenders to the baseline (flatten the defense).

• After looking for the pass into the post, the wing player with the ball (2) reverses the ball to the trailer, who has settled in the top of the key. If the trailer (5) is a good shooter, he will often have an open shot at the top of the key.

• As the ball is being reversed, 3 downscreens for 1 on the weakside block

• As 5 catches and turns to reverse the ball, 1 should be coming off of 3’s screen. 1 should never be standing on the perimeter waiting for the reversal pass from 5.

• After setting the downscreen for 1, 3 screens away for 4 on the opposite block. Timing is important: As 1 catches the pass from 5, 4 should be coming off of 3’s screen

• 5 and 2 move towards the weakside block and prepare to set a double screen..

• After screening for 4 on the weakside block, 3 comes off of a double screen from 5 and 2 to the middle of the key.

• If 3 is not open off of the double screen, he pops to the perimeter for the reversal pass from 1.

• 5 comes off of a screen from 2 at the block to receive a reversal pass from 3If nothing is available, the team can shift into it’s halfcourt offense. One of the primary objectives of any secondary break is to have a seamless attack with no breaks in the action between the primary break and the halfcourt offense. Teams should practice shifting from the secondary break into the halfcourt attack without any breaks in the action as well. We want to be executing a planned attack at all times.

secondary break - countering denial defense

9 Coaching Principles

1. Always look to fast break after a defensive rebound, steal, or blocked shot. It is beneficial to run after made shots as well, but the coach and players must be ready to adjust if the other team employs a press.

2. . On made shots a post player always inbounds the ball. He should develop the ability to immediately grab the ball as it goes through the net, take it out of bounds and pass it to a guard in a time span of no more than three seconds. A slow inbounds pass can stifle a fast break and allow the opponent to set up its defense. It is very important that he moves to the side so that he is not under the backboard when he inbounds the ball. This insures that if he tries to throw a baseball pass he won’t inadvertently throw the ball against the glass and lose possession. This maneuver is called “clearing the backboard”.

3. The two Post players typically have one of two responsibilities. One sprints the floor on the break, looking to post-up on the block for a quick post feed if/when the team enters into its secondary break. The other acts as a trailer, following the break up-court and filling a spot near the top of the key after the ball is passed to a wing. On the trip up court, this man acts as a defensive safety in the event of a turnover. When he steps into a perimeter position, he usually facilitates ball reversal.

4. The point guard hustles to the ball-side outlet area and yells “Outlet”. He should have his back to the baseline so that he has vision of the entire floor.

5. ALWAYS Pass ahead to the open man. The pass advances the ball up the floor much faster than the dribble.

6. Don’t “pass a player into trouble”. For instance, don’t pass to a man who can be double teamed on the catch or to a player who will struggle to make good decisions when he catches the ball.

7. Center the ball. The point guard/ball handler should “push” the ball up the middle of the floor with the dribble until a pass presents itself. If no passes are available his goal should be to try to push the ball from the outlet area to the free throw line area as quickly as possible (ideally in 3-4 seconds) with the fewest dribbles necessary (ideally 3 or 4 dribbles). In this situation the free throw circle area is termed the “bubble”, and the process of advancing the ball via the dribble is termed “pushing it to the bubble”. In the numbered break the ball is centered via the dribble. In a two guard break (Deuce), the ball is centered via the pass or the dribble.

8. EVERYBODY SPRINTS! Oftentimes a guard will get a steal in the opposing team’s back-court and the entire team stands and watches as the guard goes for the solo lay-up. Everyone should run the floor with this player. If he misses his shot, we want an opportunity for an offensive rebound and put-back. An offensive rebound on the fast break is a tremendous weapon for ANY team. In open court situations even undersized teams can collect many offensive rebounds and put-backs because box-out responsibilities can be unclear. Aggressiveness and hustle are more relevant than size or boxing out in transition.

9. If a team doesn’t have an advantage on the primary break (the primary break is the initial phase of the fast break that looks for the transition layup – it usually includes a ball handler in the middle lane and runners in the outside lanes), a team should immediately enter into a secondary break. This usually occurs if 3 or more players are back to defend. This is like a yellow light for the driver of an automobile. The team should not stop attacking; rather it should shift into a simple secondary attack by looking for:

• A. Quick post-ups, and

• B. Ball reversal.

For all but the more experienced teams, the secondary break need not be any more complicated than this; if players are at all confused, the purpose of the secondary attack - to continue to attack without disrupting the flow - will be lost.