Basketball Offense - Coach Sar's Secondary Break

From the Coach’s Clipboard Basketball Playbook
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Coach Ken Sartini
Coach Sartini
Submitted a while back by late coach and friend Ken Sartini (aka "Coach Sar"), Arlington Hts, IL. Ken had a great impact on many young coaches and players, and sadly has passed on. His wisdom and wit are greatly missed by all who knew him.

Having a secondary break is often helpful in getting quick baskets in transition, before the defense can get down the floor. Also a good secondary break can flow directly into your half-court offense.

A good use of the secondary break is after the opponent scores. We inbound the ball quickly and get it moving up the floor. See also Transition Offense, Secondary Break, Secondary Numbered Break, 3-Up Secondary Break.

Below is a secondary break that Coach Sar used with his high school teams. I like it because:
(1) it may result in some quick lay-ups by pushing the ball up the floor.
(2) even if the defense gets back in position, there are good half-court scoring opportunities.
(3) this secondary can flow easily into your half-court offense.

See diagrams A and B below. The outlet (or inbounds pass) goes quickly to your point guard O1. O2 and O3 sprint up the sidelines, both looking for the long pass from O1. O1 should try to pass to either wing as soon as possible, and if the defense is not back, the wing may be able to attack the hoop for a quick lay-up. O5 moves to the ball-side block and O4 moves to the top of the arc opposite O1. O2 looks to pass into O5 on the low post. Anytime in this series that the ball is on a wing with a low post player, there is the possibility of a two-man game.

Coach Sar's Secondary break Coach Sar's Secondary break Coach Sar's Secondary break

If this pass isn't possible, O2 reverses the ball (diagram C) to O1 and then to O4. O5 screens for O2. O2 makes the flex cut around O5's screen and O5 the opens up to the ball.

Now look at diagram D below. If the pass to O2 (coming off the flex cut) is not there, O3 down-screens for O2 and O2 cuts to the three-point arc looking for the pass from O4 and the possible three-point shot.

Coach Sar's Secondary break - into the half-court Coach Sar's Secondary break - into the half-court Coach Sar's Secondary break - into the half-court

Diagram E. As the pass is made to O2 on the wing, O5 drags his/her man toward the elbow, and O3 sets a diagonal back-screen for O5. O5 basket-cuts looking for the pass from O2 (diagram F).

Diagram G. O2 can pass back out to O4 and you can now run a hi-lo option with O4 and O5.

Or you can flow directly into your half-court offense. Diagram H shows how simple it is to move into a 4-out, 1-in set with O3 moving out to the corner.

Coach Sar's Secondary break - options Coach Sar's Secondary break - options Coach Sar's Secondary break - options

Diagram I shows one way to move into a 3-out, 2-in set with O4 setting screens for O1 and then O3. O4 then ends up at the right low block, while your point guard is at the top of the key and O3 is on the right wing.


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