February 11, 2005, Newsletter Issue #201: GET OPEN AT THE WING - CREATING THE LEAD PASS

Tip of the Week

There are a few different methods to get open on the perimeter.

V-cut - Set your defender up with a couple of steps in one direction, make contact (but don`t push off). Plant your inside foot (the one closest to the basket)and change directions quickly. Pop to your spot with your outside hand (the hand away from the defense) extended as a target hand.
or
L-cut - Start near the key and walk up the free throw lane. Take a step over defenders top foot with your inside foot (the one closest to the middle of the floor) and make contact (again, without pushing off). Now the defender should be behiind you, so explode quickly and pop to your spot with your outside hand (the hand away from the defense) extended as a target hand.
or
Post at the wing - Come to a stop at the wing and bring the defnse to a stop. As in the L-cut, take a step over defenders top foot with your inside foot (the one closest to the middle of the floor) and make contact (again, without pushing off). Now the defender should be behiind you, so explode quickly and pop to your spot with your outside hand (the hand away from the defense) extended as a target hand.

Keep this in mind: if you are running around trying to get open against a quicker defender it may be very difficult because he`s quicker than you. However, if you slow down and bring the defender to a stop - now you are on equal terms. He`s not quicker than you. You are both stopped. But the offense now has an advantage because they know where they are going and the defense doesn`t.

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