Secondary Fast Break Keeps Teams on the Attack
Offense Allows Teams to Apply Pressure After First Wave Fails
Feb 24, 2009
The fast break is one of the more thrilling plays in basketball at any level and can usually lead to an easy basket. But what happens when the initial fast break is stopped by a hustling defense.
For most offenses, that means settling into the offense set and running their plays. But for teams who like to play aggressively, a secondary fast break may be the answer.
Secondary Fast Break vs. the Fast Break
The first step to running the secondary fast break offense is having a team and offensive philosophy that encourages pushing the ball up the court. Because the secondary fast break is just that (the second option when the fast break fails to score points) it is important that teams realize scoring on the initial fast break is always the goal.
The secondary fast break offense comes into play when the fast break is stopped and usually looks for a shot on the perimeter and if the defense comes out to contest that shot, a dump down inside for an easy layup.
When running a secondary fast break offense, all players on the floor must hustle to their assigned spots and fill specific roles.
Roles in the Secondary Fast Break
To run a successful secondary fast break offense, teams must run a more structured fast break style. Players need to fill specific lanes and roles to make the offense a success.
The offense usually starts with a defensive rebound on the opposite end of the court. The rebounder will then outlet to one of the wings where a guard will be waiting.
Guards will always fill one of two positions when the ball is rebounded. The guard nearest to the rebounder will fill the wing spot, while the other guard will move to the top of the key. If no pass is available to the wing, the rebounder could throw the ball to the guard at the top of the key.
If the ball is thrown to the wing, the wing guard throws the ball to the guard at the top of the key or if no pass is available, will dribble the ball to the middle of the floor as the guard at the top of the key fills the outside lane on the ball side.
While this is happening, the three guard, or small forward depending on the offense makeup of the team, will fill the outside lane on the side opposite of where the ball was passed to the outlet. This three guard attack will constitute the first wave of the fast break.
If either guard has a path to the basket, they should take it for the easy layup. If the defense retreats sufficiently and no open lane is available, then the guards will flare to the wings to set up the secondary break.
Post Players and the Secondary Break
When the guards flare to the wings, the guard with the ball will pass to one of the other guards and then pick to the opposite side.
At the same time, the post players should be hustling down the court and filling the areas along the lane lines down to the block. The guard who received the pass should look for the 3-point shot but if that is not available, throwing the ball into one of the cutting post players is the second option.
If no shot or pass is available, the guard will pass the ball up to the top of the key where point guard has screened to free up the offside guard. Again this guard is to look for the 3-point shot or pass it into the post where the post players are sealing off their defenders.
If no obvious scoring chance is available at this time, the offense will then start running their set plays.
Offenses To Run With the Secondary Fast Break
Teams can run any offense out of the secondary fast break, but the one that is most suited for the alignment of the players is the motion offense, which features three guards around the perimeter and two post players screening for each other in the post.
The offense can start out of the secondary break offense with the guards on the wing either screening down or v-cutting (making a sharp move toward the basket then quickly retreating back to the wing) to get open.
From there, the motion offense can run its usual screens and movements.
Secondary Fast Break In Action
The secondary fast break concept was made popular by coach Roy Williams. Williams brought the concept to the Kansas University and then later to the University of North Carolina, where he won a national championship.
The outcome of the offense has been high-scoring games and a frantic pace that wears down opponents as the game goes on.
