transition basketball

Most transition offense plays are aggressive and quick, giving the defense no time to establish their defensive positions or protect certain areas of the court. Many teams with faster, smaller players or multiple guards are often better at transition offense as they can move the ball up the court more quickly. The key to a good transition offense it know when to use it. This is facilitated by players who can recognize if an opponent’s transition defense is sluggish or weak, and also by the tempo of the game. A transition offense that generates a fast break is not going to be any good if the players executing it do not have good ball control or are impatient.

Five Shooting Five Transition Offense Drill

This drill is called the â€œFive Shooting Fiveâ€ Transition Offense Drill, and it gives your players an opportunity to get comfortable in those fast game situations. Your goal during this drill is to try and make a layup and 2 jump shots, 5 times a minute, for 5 minutes. This means your players have to concentrate on their shooting, and they can’t shoot outside of their range. If your players make those 3 shots, that will count as one score, and you are trying to make 25 total.

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In today’s blog post and accompanying video, we are breaking down the 11 key offensive fundamentals for a successful pass attack system in transition basketball situations.

Offensive Fundamentals #1:

You must sprint the floor every time. This is a transition offense. For it to be effective, your players must sprint the floor every time and run to their spots. They must have the green light to take a good, open 3-point shot in transition. If they don’t have that green light, they will slow down and continue to slow the game as it progresses until eventually they’re walking the ball up.

Offensive Fundamentals #2:

Nobody leaks out on the break. You run the lanes only when the rebound has been secured. Defense is the first, most important thing stopping the other team from scoring.

Offensive Fundamentals #3:

Outlet to the point guard is critical. You must work on getting the basketball to the point guard. This offense is predicated on where the point guard distributes the basketball in his first pass down the floor.

Offensive Fundamentals #4:

Your players, especially the point guard, have to know the difference between two major areas on the floor. Those two areas, and knowing the difference between both, are keys to running this offense successfully.

Offensive Fundamentals #5:

For success in any transition in a secondary offensive system, your players must be able to play in two speeds. And they have to understand when they’re in separate areas on the floor and be able to play in two speeds.

Offensive Fundamentals #6:

Your transition game must take what the defense gives you. Be flexible. Don’t be predictable. Change it up. Pass it around. Keep the defense guessing.

Offensive Fundamentals #7:

Execute the details and fundamentals of each option. Make sure your players know the small parts of this offense that’s going to make the whole offense look great.

Offensive Fundamentals #8:

The point guard must keep his dribble until the pass option is available. He should never dribble across half court, pick up the basketball and then decide where he’s going to pass the ball. He must know where and when he’s going to deliver the ball before he picks up his dribble. And he should never pass the ball ahead, up the floor, unless he feels, in our primary break system now, that they will have an opportunity for a lay-up or a 3-point shot. If it’s not there, he continues to push the ball up the sideline and will deliver the pass once he gets by half court.

Offensive Fundamentals #9:

Players sprinting the floor must turn their heads and find the ball just after crossing half court. This offense, again, is predicated on what the point guard does with the basketball. So it’s important to know what side of the floor he’s on and where the ball is and who he’s going to pass it to.

Offensive Fundamentals #10:

Any time the ball enters the low post, all remaining set plays are no longer in effect. Once the ball enters the low post, whether it’s at the beginning or at the end of our offensive system, all plays are off.

Offensive Fundamentals #11:

You can run this pass option primary and secondary break versus man-to-man and match-up zone defenses. You should run only the primary break options into your zone offense versus all basic zone defenses. This is an offensive system that will be run at both made and missed baskets.

If you enjoyed these offensive fundamentals and tips, be sure to check out my video program that includes a whole multipart series on the offensive fundamentals of transition basketball!Â And donâ€™t forget to Like our Facebook page, where you can discuss these and more great offensive fundamentals with other coaches and players!