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Happy Sunday and welcome to all the new subscribers from around the world! We're excited to have you as part of the community 🙏

ICYMI: For those looking for a complete Masterclass from A to Z on installing and teaching the "Modern 5 Out Offense", last week we finished up our "Film Room" Series with Alabama Assistant, Ryan Pannone on the subject with Part 3!

Today at a Glance:

🔒 SG Plus Content: Spain PNR Set Ups - Gaziantep Basket​

🎤 Slappin' Glass Podcast: John Krikorian {Christopher Newport}

🥇Best of the Week: Zipper Backside Clear & Post Spain PNR​

Let's dive in...

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Spain PNR - Setups and Counters

*A big thank you to SG contributor, Ben Ostrow, for his work on this week's video and newsletter breakdown.

Ahh..."Spain" or "Stack" Action. An interesting PNR setup that, when executed properly, can be one of the more difficult problems a defense is faced with in the half court.

This week we'll take a look at one of our sleeper favorite teams from the 22-23 season, Turkish club, Gaziantep Basket. The frequency and creativity with which Gaziantep used the Spanish PNR as the basis of their offense makes them a particularly interesting study, as they effectively organized the action out of a number of different entries and false movements. This creativity leading into the Spanish PNR turns what is already one of the game's tougher actions to defend to something even more challenging. Additionally, we appreciate the various counters Gaziantep uses to capitalize on the threat of the Spain PNR. Good stuff.

False Motion

In more than a few conversations on the podcast, we've discussed the pros and cons of running "false motion" prior to an action versus running the action directly. Both approaches have their merits. In Gaziantep's case, given the frequency with which they run the Spain PNR, they often benefit from masking the action in an attempt to disrupt the defensive execution.

With their opponents fully prepared to face a steady diet of the Spain PNR, well-coordinated movement and various entries can impede the defense's ability to recognize the Spain PNR unfolding, hopefully resulting in late or blown coverages.

Zooming In: Shown above is a good example from their "Zipper entry" of all the movement Gaziantep employs prior to running the Spain ball screen. Notice how all 4 perimeter players change sides of the floor before the Spain Pick and Roll occurs. All of this coordinated false motion makes it extremely hard for the defense to be organized and properly execute their ball screen coverage.

Zooming In 2.0: This Zipper set employs two of our favorite cuts: a shallow cut and "cutting to screen." First, the point guard follows behind the ball with a shallow cut to change sides of the floor and adjust the eventual angle of the ball screen. Meanwhile, the eventual back-screener passes the ball to the center and makes a hard rim cut before stopping short to turn and set the screen. In both cases, the defense is challenged to defend a cut first, testing their ability to recognize and communicate when the cuts transition into the Spain PNR. Clever.

Today's video breakdown is filled with a number of different sets all attempting to accomplish the same thing...create as much defensive confusion as possible by forcing the defense to defend a cut, a screen or a DHO prior to the Spanish Pick and Roll.

Zooming In: Just like the previous clip, the false action coming out of a double drag entry gets all 5 offensive players moving and changing sides of the court before the Spain Pick and Roll takes place.

Zooming in 2.0: The above example also gives clues to the reads and reactions Gaziantep builds into all their Spain PNR actions. Fenerbahce blitzes the ball screen, leaving nobody to set a back screen on. To counter, the stack screener smartly leaks out to the opposite wing instead of the top of the key. Spacing to the wing against the blitz creates a longer rotation for the back screener’s defender if they decide to help tag the roll. In this case, he does not, leaving the roller wide open dunk.

Creative Counters

Though Gaziantep employed many creative "false action" movements before the actual Spain PNR, they could also leverage the initial setup of the Spain action as a sort of decoy to punish over-eager defenders with one one of their well-timed counters. Here are a couple...

Elevator Screen

Zooming In: Shown above, Gaziantep replaces the normal "roll and backscreen" Spain action with a "Elevator Action", with the center veering off to the wing to create an elevator screen for the back-screener to sprint out through.

If this counter became predictable, Gaziantep could mix it up by introducing a blind step-up screen from the corner for the shooter receiving the ball after slipping out of the back screen...

This action is very similar to a wing "exit screen" taking place during the ballscreen, thus removing and confusing the tag on the roll...

Reject and RIP Screen

Another well-timed curveball Gaziantep employs is to immediately set the back screen for the big instead of having the point guard run the ball screen.

Zooming In: With the defensive big preparing to guard the ball screen, they will more than likely be a step late when immediately hit with a back screen. Porter Moser used this to great effect a few years ago when he was at Loyola Chicago...

Zooming In 2.0: This counter is especially effective against the guard-to-guard switch in the Spain PNR. When the back screen defender is focused on the point guard and getting ready to switch out, they are not prepared to bump on the back screen.

Today's video is filled with creative actions and entries into the Spain PNR, offering valuable ideas for masking, false movement, and counters. What's particularly valuable in studying Gaziantep is how a team can sustain its effectiveness in a single action, even if used frequently, by incorporating various entries and movements that enhance it.

View the full breakdown now on SGTV!

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Together with Hudl

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Slappin' Glass Podcast

We kicked off November in a very big way this week as we were joined by 2023 DIII National Champion Head Coach, John Krikorian. Coach Krikorian has his Christopher Newport squad also ranked #1 in the DIII preseason polls coming into this year as well, and we had a blast picking his brain on:

• Practice Design and Planning: Coach Krikorian details his thoughts on the art and science of a good practice, and how those thoughts have changed over the years. We discuss everything from how much time Coach Krikorian spends planning practice, to the balance of competitive drills and 5 on 0.
• Drop Coverage & Difficult Actions: Coach Krikorian has long coached teams who run effective Drop Coverages, and we had an interesting conversation discussing the actions that can give it trouble during "Start, Sub, or Sit?!". Hear his thoughts on Popping Bigs and Mid Range Jump Shooters.
• Pre-Game Naps: We also dive into how Coach Krikorian prefers to stay fresh and ready for big games during "Start, Sub, or Sit?!", and those in favor of a solid pre-game nap will enjoy his answer here.

Please enjoy the entire great conversation with Coach Krikorian here...

Listen Now!

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Tactical

📺 Zipper Backside Clear - Lob Option​

"Clearing out the backside for a forward or guard to receive a flare screen after the ballscreen. With space cleared to curl the flare for a lob."

✚ Pair With: A similar zipper action to clear the backside for various players to receive a flare screen.

🔒SG Plus Content: Our clinic on space clearing cuts and creating long closeouts.

📺 Empty Side Spain PNR - Post Option​

"Taking advantage of a bigger non-shooting PG by running the Spain PNR through the post."

✚ Pair With: Sergio Scariolo using the Empty Side Spain PNR with Virtus Bologna.

🔒SG Plus Content: Our breakdown on the "Bully" or "Barkley" Drive.

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Interesting Reads

📚 Byron Wien’s 20 Life Lessons​

"Don’t try to be better than your competitors, try to be different. There is always going to be someone smarter than you, but there may not be someone who is more imaginative."

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📚 Gardners ​

"We are both shaping the environment that people interact with, which ultimately influences their experiences but not always in predictable, linear ways. That is why we cannot dictate what people will do, think, feel during our training sessions, because all we can hope to do is indirectly inter-act with them, and do our best to respond to their needs."

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📚 Pat Riley, Inside Out: Organizational Dynamics​

"Continuity to me is the most important thing. Teaching from within. Promoting people who have believed in you and done their job. Giving them the opportunity...Train them up, give them a job, let them know it’s all hands on deck, even though you might have to help somebody else out in times of need. But just do your job, and do it well. Present yourself in a manner as a leader, because everybody here is a leader in their own department."

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Quote of the Week

Thank you for reading and have a great week coaching,

Dan and Pat

info@slappinglass.com

We're proud to partner with the leading Sports Travel company in the basketball world, Beyond Sports! Follow the link above to learn more about why more than 600 universities have trusted Beyond Sports for their team's foreign trips. Let them know Slappin' Glass sent you!

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