COURT 401

LESSON 1 OF 14

LEVEL 4Offenseall

Decide Before the Ball Arrives

YOU21X2X5PRE-READLANE
FIG. 42PRE-CATCH READALL FORMATS
The best players seem faster than everyone else, but often they're just earlier. While the ball is still in the air toward them, they've already looked at the floor: where their defender is closing from, who's open, where the space is. By the time they catch, the decision is made — shoot, drive, or pass — and they execute instantly. Practice the habit: every time a pass starts toward you, take a snapshot of the court before the ball touches your hands. Catching and then starting to think is how open moments disappear.

READ THIS

While the pass is in the air toward you, read the closeout — its angle, speed, and the help positioned behind it.

DO THIS

Choose shoot, drive, or move-it before the catch, and land with the footwork for that choice so execution starts the instant the ball arrives.

COACHING LINEAGE

Steve Kerr

Off-ball movement wins: cut, relocate, space. The defense can only watch one thing.

Gregg Popovich

Ball movement is a weapon — the extra pass is always right. Good shot to great shot, every possession.

IN THE SITUATION ROTATION

The ball is being swung your way on the right wing. In the half second before it arrives you glance and see your defender sprinting a long closeout from the paint, and the help defender still sunk deep under the rim.

Appears as a Situation of the Day · all

Decide Before the Ball Arrives