November 19, 2004, Newsletter Issue #189: UNDERSTAND RELATIVE MOTION

Tip of the Week

15` - 18` spacing between all of your players probably gives you the best chance of spreading out your offense and making it hard to guard. This will create a number of "triangles" between any THREE offensive players. These triangles are what puts pressure on a defense and is, really, the basis for offensive plays. Now put the players in the proper places, and as the Pilgrims said, "now we`re talking turkey".

I think that there is a spacial relationship that he must keep to create a good passing angle. For example, if the player wants to enter a pass to the wing(the free throw line extended to the three point line)the passer needs to be on the "Entry Line". If you were to draw a line from the basket through the corner of the key at the free throw line, and extend it to half court, I call that the "Entry Line". The passer should be as close to that line as possible to make an effective pass. The closer he gets to the basket, the closer to the middle of the floor he can be. The further from the basket, the wider towards the sidelines he can be. If a player wants to enter a pass to the post, the passer, the ball, and the basket should all be in a STRAIGHT LINE. This will create the most difficulty for the defensive post player to determine a "side" to play defense on. Whatever side he chooses, the offense can make a simple move to feed the post from the other side. When determining passing angles, I believe that there is a mathematical relationship between the passer, the reciever, and the defender, and maybe the basket. Being a basketball coach and not a mathemetician, I`m not exactly sure what the relationship is, but I know that there is one.

That defensive relationship is defined by the "ball/man line". The ball/man line is an imaginary line between your man, and the man with the ball. PLayers tha have a keen awarness, at all times, of the ball-man-line understand "relative motion". You should be on the basket side of the ball man line, with your back to the baseline, and away from your man enough to help your teammates. This position helps form what is often called the "defensive triangle"

On Defense always be able to see your man and the ball (this is when your man doesn´t have the ball). To do this you must be in a defensive triangle position with you, the ball and your man. Flatten out the triangle, with you at the center point of the triangle. When your man is 1 pass away, you can deny the player from getting the ball. You must be in a defensive triangle position with you, the ball and your man. Flatten out the triangle, with you at the center point of the triangle. As your man moves - you must move. Any time the ball is passed YOU MUST JUMP TO THE BALL. Make gradual, quick, immediate adjustments in your stance. You must be in position before the ball is caught. Jumping to the ball allows you to be in proper position to front cutters, avoid screens (be a moving target), and help teammates. Any time the ball is dribbled you must make the proper ball side or help side adjustments in positioning. Making these small adjustments will prevent you from needing to make one large adjustment.

Understanding these relationships on offense and defense is what provides the basis for "Relative Motion"

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