Princeton Series Continuity Offense

Фото: Princeton

Jamie Angeli is currently the head coach of the University of Seattle women's basketball team. He has been also an assistant coach in several men's basketball team: UCLA, George Mason, South Florida, Bradley and Bowling Green. As an head coach he won three national cham-pioships and an Asian Cup with Al Rayyan in Quatar and he also coached Al Arabi in Kuwait. He is also author of many technical books and DVDs.

I have had the opportunity to correspond with many basketball coaches over the years about the probability of implementing a "Princeton-type" offense in their high school or collegiate program. The advantages are very enticing:

1. Great spacing allowing for dribble penetration.
2. Floor balance aiding in defensive transition.
3. Ability to beat pressure with backdoor cuts.
4. Emphasis on fundamental skills like cutting and passing.

There were some common reasons why coaches stay away:

• Difficult to teach an offense based primarily on reading the defense.
• Offense breaks down when backdoor pass is not available and passer loses his dribble.
• Need more screening action or sets that flow into the offense.
• They felt they needed more control as to what shots they were getting, and using a continuity offense or sets gave them that control.

In creating the "Princeton Series Continuity Offense", I did my very best to address the problem areas mentioned above while still keeping all of the reasons we have been intrigued by this system:

1. Great spacing and floor balance for dribble penetration, back cuts and defensive transition.
2. Easy to keep continuity, even through unsuccessful back cuts and dribble pick-ups and when entries and ball reversal is denied.
3. Easy to teach and reinforce with included breakdown drills.
4. Included set plays that incorporate screens and post isolations for your best post and perimeter players.

I think you will appreciate how easy this system is to teach and you will absolutely love how any type of defense (overplaying, sagging, or trapping) will not stop you from creating great scoring opportunities or take you out of continuity. So what are you waiting for? Today is the day to bring the Princeton Continuity Offense your program!

Early offense

Getting into the Princeton Series Continuity Offense quick and easy from transition. Here we attack the right side of the floor with the ball in the point guard's hands, 1. We run 5 down the center of the floor, looking for the over the top pass from the point on either side of the floor. At the mid-lane area, he will then break to the ball side of the floor, looking to post on the block or flash to the high post area.

Our wing players, 2 and 3, sprint the floor looking to flatten out on the wings and then "bounce" back up to the free-throw line extended area. 4, in this diagram, trails the play looking for ball reversal from 1, ready to exchange with 2, if 1 uses the dribble hand-off entry option with 2 (diagr. 1). You will find that defenses will try and take away the ball side entry of the floor in transition, so we suggest having your point guard drive the ball across the top to the opposite side of the floor while in transition. Player 5 follows the ball across, looking for the ball in the lane and then flashing to the high post elbow, looking for the potential entry pass from 1. Player 4 crosses to the opposite side of the floor behind 1 looking for the reversal pass from 1, or ready to exchange with 2, if 1 decides to use the dribble hand-off entry with 2 on the left wing (diagr. 2). If your trailer player is a good three-point shooter, you will certainly increase your opportunity to score off the break. If 4's defender has to come out on 4, you will have a great opportunity to put the ball on the floor and attack the rim. If 5 is flashing to the high post and out of the lane, the only help on 4 comes from 2's defender.

Player 4 can look to get to the rim or drive and kick out to 2 for the open three-point shot (diagr. 3). Of course, 5 would be open for the dump off pass from 4, if his defender is moved over to help on penetration. You may also use the trailer entry pass to get a better passing angle into 5, either in the low or high post, if his defender tries to deny to 5 the entry pass in either position. Drill this high-low option while breaking down the offense and get your 5 man to execute a good "leg whip" on his defender, sealing him behind so hat he can catch the high-low entry pass from 4 (diagr. 4).

If 5 does not get the ball on the high-low entry, 4 now starts the offense by either using the post entry pass to 5, the wing entry pass to 2, or the dribble hand-off pass option with 2. As described in our basic continuity and alignment section, 1 and 3 exchange whenever there is a dribble hand-off on the opposite wing (diagr. 5).

Basic continuity and alignment

As you can see in the diagr. 6, we have a two-guard front with 1 and 4. You can place any of your perimeter players in either of these four spots, as they are all interchangeable. The ball will be brought down either side of the floor in the point guard's hands or your off guard if you have confidence in either guard bringing the ball up. If you have all good ball handlers, then this offense becomes even more difficult to guard as you will have different players in different positions each time down the floor, depending on who brings the ball up on the break. If you had a chance to look at our transition section, you can see how easily and quickly we get into this basic alignment right from our early break and on ball reversal through the pass or dribble drive.

Perimeter player responsibilities and alignment

As you can see, all four players are placed high and wide even with and above the free-throw line extended and the lane line up to the top. Each perimeter player will eventually occupy each wing spot and top spot as you run through the continuity. It is very important that you drill your players to understand and appreciate the spacing on this offense (diagr. 7). Keeping the basket clear will provide constant backdoor opportunities for your wing players and give your post man the opportunity to be isolated in the post on pick and rolls.

The 5 man's responsibilities and alignment

After your early offense, your 5 man will occupy the high post elbows for post catches, the wing for ball screen opportunities and on top of the lane line extended for back screens. Here are two important rules for the 5 man to remember (diagr. 8):

• If 5 back screens, he then follows up immediately with a ball screen.
• When 5 rolls to the basket after ball screening, he then flashes to the ball side elbow as quickly as possible. |

Let's start now the continuity. We will use our dribble entry to begin the offense the majority of the time, but, as you will see in our other sections, we also use our post pass or our wing pass entry to begin the offense. Here we see 1 and 2 executing a dribble hand-off on the wing to begin. Anytime the opposite wing players see a dribble hand-off on the wing, their rule is to exchange. Players 3 and 4 will want to time their exchange so that 3 is cutting up to the top, again, even with the lane line extended up (diagr. 9), as 2 is driving the ball up on the opposite side lane line extended up. This timing is critical to set up your back door options discussed in our backdoor options section. We will assume for now that 3 is open (but don't panic, if he is denied, we will backdoor this man and stay in our continuity - no problem). We explain this backdoor option in our backdoor options section. As soon as 2 passes to 3, 5 will set a back screen for 2. Player 2 cuts to the rim, while 3 looks to pass inside to 2 if he is open. Player 1 fills the open spot on top, once 2 cuts off the back screen from 5. Player 2, if he does not get the pass, quickly cuts back out to the open wing spot on the right side of the floor (diagr. 10).

Player 3, after seeing 2 is not open on the back screen cut, will now drive the ball at 4 on the left wing (again, another backdoor opportunity we will discuss in our backdoor options section). Since 1 and 2 recognize the dribble hand-off entry, they know that the rule is to exchange on the backside of the floor. Player 2 will be making his cut up to the wing, will then plant his outside foot and make a hard cut to the top of the floor lane line extended (diagr. 11). Player 5's rule, as you will remember from his responsibilities, is to ball screen immediately after any time he sets a back screen. As 4 takes the ball from 3, 5 is setting a ball screen for 4.

Players 4 and 5 now execute a screen-and-roll. The lane is always clear, so 5 will have no help side defenders to worry about after rolling to the basket. Player 4 takes the ball off the screen, looking to score or dump the ball to 5 rolling (di-agr. 12). Player 3 is always ready on the wing for the open jump shot just in case his man helps on 5 rolling to the basket. Same goes for 2's defender helping on 4's drive or 1's defender helping on 5 rolling. They are both, 2 and 1, spotting up and looking for open three-point shots.

If 4 cannot pass to 5 inside for the shot, he quickly reverses the ball to 2 on top.

Player 2 and 1 now execute a dribble hand-off to the right wing. Player 5, following his rules, knows he does not have to ball screen this time (since he rolled to the basket), and flashes to the ball side elbow as quickly as possible (diagr. 13), looking for a potential entry pass, which we cover in our post entry section. As 1 takes the ball off the dribble hand-off, 3 and 4 remember their rule (anytime there is a dribble hand-off on the wing, we must exchange on the weakside of the floor). Again, it is important to really drill this option, so that 3 is cutting to the top as 1 is getting the ball even with the lane line extended out on top (diagr. 14). This will provide the best angle for backdoor options and create an opportunity for the defense to feel they can sneak out and steal this reverse pass. As I mentioned earlier, we will show you the back door options in the backdoor section and how easy it is to get back into continuity if you cannot make the back door pass.

The continuity continues now with 5 back screening for the passer 1. Player 3 looks inside to 1 coming off the back screen. Player 2 fills the open spot on top after 1 makes his cut. Once 1 sees that he is not open on the back screen from 5, he immediately cuts to the right side open wing area (diagr. 15). Player 5's rule applies again (after the back screening, always the ball screen). Players 3 and 4 execute a dribble hand-off on the wing, while 5 moves over to set the ball screen for 4 coming off the hand-off. Player 1 has cleared out and up to the top while 2 cuts away to the wing, completing the exchange because of the dribble hand-off action on the opposite side of the floor (diagr. 16). This action not only occupies defenders on the weakside, opening up the basket for 5 rolling to the lane, and 4 driving to the basket, but, since the backside lane area is always open, it also sets up a great backdoor option for 1, if his defender tries to overplay on ball reversal, a great action and hard to defend when executed correctly.

At any time, after 1 cuts off the back screen from 5, 3 may elect to take the ball back to the middle using a ball screen from 5. Player 5 is already moving over to ball screen since he just back screened. Here we see 3 taking the ball off the ball screen, while 5 rolls to the rim. Player 2 is filling up top, while 1 has begun his cut back out to the wing, once he did not get the ball off the back cut and back screen from 5, while 4 also fills up to take his help away from the rolling 5 man. Player 3 can look to pass the ball back to 4 if he is open or kick the ball to 1 or 2 (diagr. 17). Once again, it is very easy to stay in continuity as 3 passes out from his penetration. Player 5 flashes to the ball side elbow, while 3 fills the vacated wing spot (diagr. 18). You are now in your 4 out, 1 in alignment that began the offense.

The rules and options on this offense will always ensure that each perimeter defender will be getting different action to defend each time down the floor (di-agr. 19), because:

• The ball will not always come up the same side of the floor.
• If you have more than one good ball-handler, you may elect to have multiple players pushing the ball up the sideline.
• You have three entry options each time you have the ball on top lane line extended (wing pass, entry, post entry, wing dribble entry).

Wing pass entry option

Although our basic continuity shows you our dribble entry wing option, you may certainly pass the ball to the wing at anytime in the offense. Here we see 1 passing to 2 to initiate the wing pass entry option. Player 5 immediately back screens for 1, who cuts to the basket (diagr. 20).

Player 5's rule remains the same, after back screening, he must ball screen. Player 5 now sets a ball screen for 2 on the right wing. Since there was not dribble hand-off on the wing, 3 and 4 do not exchange, 2 comes off the ball screen looking to score, while 1 cuts up to the wing. Players 4 or 3 may be open if their defenders help on the drive from 2 or from 5 rolling (diagr. 21). Player 4 then takes the ball and the offense keeps the continuity by 3, 4, or 5 executing either a wing entry, post entry or dribble hand-off on the left side of the floor, while 5 flashes to the ball side elbow after rolling. Since 4 opted to use a dribble hand-off wing entry on the left side, 2 and 1 must exchange on the weakside. Player 4 could just as easily make another wing entry pass to 3 and the action would be duplicated on the left side of the floor. Here we see 2 cutting to the opposite wing with 1 cutting to the top lane line area of the floor, because 4 elected to use the dribble hand-off wing entry option (diagr. 22).

If 4 was to use the wing pass entry option again with 3, his rule would be the same. Instead of using a back screen from 5 (since he is not available after rolling to the basket), 4 would simply make a solid give-and-go cut to the basket. As soon as 4 passed to 3, 5 clears out of the lane and to the ball side wing ready to duplicate his ball screen action on the left side of the floor (diagr. 23). Player 3 now drives the ball off the screen from 5, while 4 cuts up to the left side wing area as 5 rolls to the open basket area. Player 3 looks to score, dump the ball off to 5 rolling, or kick the ball out to 2 on top (diagr. 24). Players 2 and 1 did not exchange because there was not a dribble hand-off entry used. You may also initiate a quick wing pass entry any time the defense tries to stop the ball going from across the top (for example, when 2 takes the dribble hand-off from 1 and the defender jumps out and tries to force the offense back). It is not a problem when this happens: in fact, you can really take advantage of this overplay by quickly passing back to 1 and using the back screen from 5 or you could hit 5, execute the post pass option and cut to the basket, leaving the overplaying defender behind you (diagr. 25)!

If you did not hit the post and execute the scissors option, the pass back to the wing would then initiate the wing entry option and allow 5 to back screen for 1, and then ball screen for 2, as described earlier (diagr. 26).

Post entry option

I absolutely love the post entry option and the scoring possibilities from it. At anytime in the offense, the top perimeter player can hit the 5 man in the high post elbow area with a pass. That is why it is critical that your post player always be in a "post-up" position on the elbow, ready to seal and step to catch the entry pass (treating it just like he would posting up on the low block). He must always be there as an entry option. Here we see 2 driving the ball up on top just after taking the hand-off from 1. Players 3 and 4 have exchanged, but now 2 decides to hit 5 in the high post. If 1 is denied, he can look to cut backdoor for the lay-up. In any event, 1 will want to set his man up with a few steps toward the basket (diagr. 27).

The rule on the pass to the post is pretty simple for both perimeter players on the ball side. The passer, 2 in this diagram, always cuts first, with the other wing player, 1, cutting right off the back of 2 into the lane. Action! This scissors cut off the post can often result in a wide-open lay-up or jump shot for either player. As 2 cuts to the lane, 4 fills on top to replace 2, and 5 dumps the ball off to whomever is open (diagr. 28). If 1 did cut all the way backdoor, this is not a problem: 1 would then plant his foot, cut back up and around the cutting 2 player, still mainting the scissors action. If 2, or 1, does not receive the ball from 5, 5 has an easy decision:

• He either turns and scores.
• Or he drives the ball at either 1 or 2.

I really think you are going to like the shot opportunities you will get when 5 drives the ball at 1, or 2 for the dribble hand-off. What makes it so effective is that both of their defenders' momentum is going away from the ball, and then the player they are guarding is now cutting back hard for the hand-off. You will find it is very difficult for 5's defender to jump out and stop this hand-off and shot from either 1 or 2 (diagr. 29). If 5 elects to drive at 2, 1 clears out to the opposite wing, while 3 fills the open spot on top. You will remember that 4 cuts over to the ball side when the pass entered the post (diagr. 30). If 2 does not have a shot from the hand-off, 5 could roll momentarily to the basket. If 2 does not get a shot or pass inside, he throws the ball out to either of the top spots and fills the open wing spot: you are now back in your original alignment. Player 3 starts to make the dribble hand-off entry, with 5 flashing to the elbow area, always looking in case 3 decides to pick up his dribble and hit the high post, or use the wing pass entry option by passing to 1 on the left wing (diagr. 31).

If 5 decided to drive the ball towards 1, 2 now cuts out to the open spot on the wing, while 1 takes the hand-off and attacks the rim, while 3 fills the open spot on top; another great scoring option and hard to guard (diagr. 32). Same as before, if 1 did not get a shot, he would pass out to either of the perimeter spots, cut back to the open wing area and we are now in our basic alignment to continue the continuity (diagr. 33) .

Backdoor cuts

One of the greatest things about this offense is how easily it is to stay in your continuity after setting up the back door. As you may know, many offenses seem to breakdown and die after the initial back door cut and the pass is not available. The passer has lost his dribble and things come to a halt. Not with this offense. When the perimeter to perimeter pass on top is overplayed, the perimeter player (3 in this diagram), will cut backdoor looking for the pass from 2 (diagr. 34) . Player 4 is filling quickly to the top just in case 3 is not open. Rarely will you find the defense can successfully deny both passes here, as most likely 4's defender had to help a bit on the back cut from 3. Player 4 takes his man in a few steps and then breaks up to the top to receive the next pass from 2 (diagr. 35). The offense now continues as before with 5 back screening for the passer 2, and then moving over to ball screen for 3, as he comes off the dribble hand-off with 4 or, if 4 elected to use the wing pass entry option, 4 would make a give-and-go cut to the rim, with 5 hustling over to ball screen for 3, and the offense continues as described in our continuity section (diagr. 36).

Another backdoor opportunity is when the wing player, 3 in this diagram, is being played tough defensively, trying to disrupt the dribble hand-off with 4. The back side of the floor is clear as 2 cut out and up and 1 filled on top, while 3 sets up his man and cuts backdoor to the rim, looking for the pass from 4. As you can see 5 is on his way to ball screen since he just got done back screening for 2 (diagr. 37).

As with all our backdoor opportunities, if the pass is not available, staying in continuity is not a problem. Player 5 recognizes the dribble pick up by 4 and knows now that a ball screen option is not available: he flashes to the ball side elbow area, looking for the potential pass from 4. Player 3 did not get the ball and immediately cuts back to the ballside wing area from where he began (diagr. 38).

From here there are several passing options for 4 to continue the offense:

• He could pass to 3 on the left wing and initiate our wing entry option.
• He could pass to 5 and initiate our 1 option.
• Or he could reverse the ball on top to 1, who could continue the offense on the other side of the floor by executing a dribble hand-off with 2, he could pass to 2 to start the entry-option, or he could even hit 5 cutting across to the elbow area and initiate the 1 option on the other side of the floor (diagr. 39).

Very difficult for them to take you out of your rhythm or continuity.