LEVEL 1Transitionall
Run the Lanes, Win the Race
The easiest baskets in basketball come before the defense gets set. The moment your team gets the ball — rebound, steal, or made basket — everyone has a job. The rebounder outlets fast, the ball-handler pushes up the middle, and everyone else sprints wide down the sidelines toward the far basket. Wide lanes matter: if everyone runs down the middle, one defender can guard all of you. Spread out, run hard, and the layups take care of themselves. The race starts the instant possession changes, not two seconds later.
READ THIS
Watch for the change of possession — the instant the rebound is secured or the ball goes through the net, look up the floor for open lanes.
DO THIS
Sprint wide down your sideline lane at full speed for the first three steps, keeping the middle open for the ball-handler.
COACHING LINEAGE
Pat Riley
Transition aggression — push before the defense sets. The best offense happens in the first six seconds.
IN THE SITUATION ROTATION
Your teammate rips down a defensive rebound and your point guard flashes to the outlet. You are on the right side of the floor with fresh legs and only one defender is getting back.
Appears as a Situation of the Day · all