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Transition decision game

Guards organize advantage; bigs rim-run, seal, and trail into the next action. Play through the first good advantage instead of predetermining a shot. 6 to 18 players, 2 baskets, about 12 minutes.

Add it to a practice plan
Transition decision game drawn on a full court in 3 steps. 1. Create the temporary advantage: The ball handler owns the middle third, the guard stretches the sideline, and the big wins the front of the rim before the recovering defender can enter the play. 2. Help collapses: spray it wide: When both low defenders protect the rim and stop the ball, the handler passes away from the help to the wide runner before the third defender recovers. 3. Defense recovers: flow to drag: If the defense removes the first advantage, the big leaves the rim and sets a drag screen. The handler attacks immediately while the wide runner holds spacing.
1. Create the temporary advantage: The ball handler owns the middle third, the guard stretches the sideline, and the big wins the front of the rim before the recovering defender can enter the play. 2. Help collapses: spray it wide: When both low defenders protect the rim and stop the ball, the handler passes away from the help to the wide runner before the third defender recovers. 3. Defense recovers: flow to drag: If the defense removes the first advantage, the big leaves the rim and sets a drag screen. The handler attacks immediately while the wide runner holds spacing.Credit: Drawn by Ball Coach

What it needs

Players
6 to 18 players
Baskets
2 baskets
Court
Needs the full court
Time
About 12 minutes
Equipment
basketballs, two colors of pinnies, scoreboard or score sheet
Type
Team work, intermediate

Set it up

Play full court in groups of six: a ball handler, a wide runner, and a rim-running big attack two defenders while a third defender waits at half court. The waiting defender enters when the ball crosses half court, turning the temporary 3-on-2 into live 3-on-3. Start the next group safely behind the baseline with a ball.

Run it

The ball handler pushes the middle third with the eyes up. The wide runner sprints outside the lane line to the corner, and the big runs directly to the front of the rim. The two low defenders protect the basket and stop the ball; the half-court defender releases only after the ball crosses half court. The offense takes the first clean advantage: hit the big when the rim is open, spray the ball to the wide runner when help collapses, or keep the ball and finish when neither defender commits. If the recovering defender removes the first advantage, the big exits to a drag screen and the group flows directly into live 3-on-3. The possession ends on a score, defensive rebound, or turnover. Offense becomes defense, and the next three attack the other basket.

What to coach

Guards organize advantage; bigs rim-run, seal, and trail into the next action. Play through the first good advantage instead of predetermining a shot.

Score it

Award two points for a paint score or uncontested catch-and-shoot three created before the defense matches up, and one point for a correct decision that produces a clean shot after the drag screen. The defense earns one point for forcing the offense to pull the ball out and two for a stop or turnover. A rushed contested shot scores zero. Play to 12.

Make it harder

Begin without the recovering defender so the offense learns the 3-on-2 reads. Add the delayed third defender, then release that defender earlier. Finish by requiring the big to choose between sealing a smaller defender and setting the drag screen when the initial rim run is covered.

Use it in practice

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Where this drill comes from

Ball Coach wrote this drill for its practice planner's drill library. The curricula below shaped how the library organizes practice; no text or diagram is copied from them. The diagram is drawn by Ball Coach.