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The Turned Head (Backdoor Window)

The denying defender's head is turned to find the ball — the lane behind him just opened for the backdoor cut.

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FIG. 03BACKDOOR WINDOWALL FORMATS

THE TRIGGER — ONE LOOK

Watch the denying defender's face, not his feet: the moment his head turns toward the ball, he can't see the man he's guarding. Turned head equals backdoor window.

YOUR JOB, BY WHERE YOU'RE STANDING

Wing

Plant your high foot and cut hard backdoor the instant his head turns.

A defender can guard you or watch the ball, not both. His turned head is a one-beat head start to the rim — hesitate and it's gone.

Ballhandler

Deliver the bounce pass the moment the cutter plants — to the rim side, away from the defender's reach.

The cut only scores if the ball arrives with it. A beat late and the defender has turned back; a chest pass and his trailing hand tips it.

Big

Hold the weakside dunker spot — do not drift into the lane the cutter needs.

The backdoor lane only works empty. Standing your ground keeps your defender chained to you and out of the catch point.

THE NEXT BEAT

His peripheral vision catches the first step and he'll chase blind toward the rim. The window closes in one beat — ball and cut have to move together, or not at all.

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The Turned Head (Backdoor Window) — Shape Library — Court Cipher