
Zip Past Defenses With ‘Road Runner’
Flood one side of the floor, then seal the other side to set up a dribble drive for an attacking layup or a kick-out pass for a 3-pointer against a 2-3 zone. MORE
When you have a leaping advantage in the center circle, use it by tipping the ball forward to start and having your wings sprint toward the hoop on opposite sides of the floor.
WHY USE IT
Get your scoring off to a quick start by snaring two points before the other team has a chance to react. If you have someone who you know can control the tap, have him or her exploit this advantage to gain a 2-0 lead.
SET UP
Put your best jumper (or simply your tallest player) in the middle. Position a forward ahead of the circle with your point guard (1) deep to defend. 2 and 3 start wide on opposite wings.
HOW TO PLAY
The ball is tossed by the referee and 5 tips directly to 4. 2 and 3 fly down their lanes heading toward the basket [diagram 1].
4 turns with the ball and hits 3 sprinting toward the basket as 2 continues to race to the hoop on the opposite side [diagram 2].
3 goes hard to the hoop and scores the power layup as 2 crashes the boards to grab an offensive rebound if the ball spins off the rim [diagram 3].
TECHNIQUE
Tell 2 and 3 they must start sprinting up the floor as soon as 5 tips to 4. Defenders sometimes don’t react quickly off the opening tap, which gives you an advantage if 2 and 3 are quickly moving. 4 doesn’t always have to pass to 3, obviously, as if 2 is the player coming free on the opposite side, then instruct 4 to pass to 2.