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ICYMI: Last week we looked into how the OKC Thunder create threats with their non-shooting perimeter players through the use of aggressive cutting concepts. View the newsletter HERE.

Today at a Glance:

🔒 SG Plus Content: Made Shot Pressure - "Going Away" Traps

🎤 Slappin' Glass Podcast: Chus Mateo {Real Madrid}

🥇Best of the Week: "Novak" BLOB & Zone Cutting

Let's dive in...

Inbounder "Going Away" Traps

"Say what you will, but you’re never prepared for the surprise attack." - Sarah Dessen

A few months back, we studied 2023 NCAA DII Champion Nova Southeastern's pressing concepts {🔒}, including their use of "Going Away" traps to jump the ball after the outlet pass of a missed shot. By waiting for the outlet passer to get even or in front of the ball ("Going Away") before executing the trap, the intention is to capitalize on the moment when the inbounder's vision is lost on the ball, rendering them ineffective as a potential pressure release outlet. This strategy isolates the ballhandler in the backcourt, making it difficult for anyone not named Curry to beat the trap with a dribble.

Continuing with this same concept, today we highlight how teams are applying this unexpected trap after made shots when their opponents inbound with a "Traditional" Big, where "Traditional" refers to a paint-oriented big man not as adept at playing or making decisions on the perimeter...

Zooming In: After the inbound pass, the Big is often taught to sprint up the court. By leaving a defensive Big in the backcourt instead of retreating as well, an advantageous trapping situation is created when the inbound-passing Big sprints past the ball.

With the Big running away, instead of turning to follow the trap for an outlet pass, the ballhandler is left hanging all alone in the back court while the remaining perimeter players are out of position running to their offensive spots to organize the upcoming possession (more on this to come).

"Free" Traps

Obviously, the best-case scenario is the defense generates a steal, but what we have come to appreciate is the intuitive nature of the trap in creating a lower-risk gamble. Recognizing an opponent is inbounding with a player not capable of capitalizing in the open court, the defense can launch a free run of aggression at the ball, knowing that more than likely they will have time to scramble back to a neutral position if the ball flys out of the trap.

Zooming In: As shown in the example above, the defense gets exactly what they want: a trap on the ball with the Big sprinting away. The offense beats the trap with a long pass ahead to the Big, but what happens next? Instead of attacking the advantage, the Big doesn't even look at the rim and plays the ball laterally to an outlet, allowing the offense time to sprint back to neutral in the half court.

*Note: This is a topic we discussed at length with now Iona Head Coach, Tobin Anderson, in our "Crunch Time" film session with him this summer where he detailed some of the trapping strategies they used in their historic upset of Purdue in the NCAA tournament.

On the other side of the coin, if the Big takes the initiative and attacks in the numbers advantage, well, let's just say there is a reason Vegas continues to build hotels with your money...

Disjointed Possessions

Another reason we respect this trapping strategy is its ability to force the offense into disjointed possessions. Every possession consists of "mini-actions" and reactions, and how well a team can react and counter-react often determines the outcome of that possession. The nature of most defensive possessions is that the defense is reacting to the offense first, this random trapping can tip the scales and put the defense in the driver's seat of the possession.

When executing a "Going Away" Trap, not only is the defense advantageously trapping off a non-ballhandling Big, but it is also catching the remaining three players off balance. After made baskets, the offense often organizes their upcoming possession and calls a set. So, prior to the trap, the remaining players are sprinting up the court to their positions and spacing, waiting for the PG to initiate the possession.

With the trap preventing the PG from initiating the offense, and the offensive spacing getting misconstrued to offer outlets against the trap, hunting solutions in the advantage is not an easy assumption.

Zooming In: Reacting to the trap and punishing the scramble when forced to operate in poor or unfamiliar spacings slows the decision-making, buying time for the defense to sprint back into the action.

With little to no consequences this trapping strategy will yield chances for the defense to eventually steal possessions.

🎥 For much more on "Going Away" and "Free Traps", SG Plus members can view the full video breakdown now on SGTV...

Together with Hudl

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Slappin' Glass Podcast

"You have to show that you are good all season, not only one day. The first two months is perfect. Sometimes I remember too many players that came and the first two months were amazing, and in the important moments, when there are problems, they disappear, and this is something that I don't want to do. In the bad moments, I've got to be there, I've got to be the first one, and this is the way I think that you have to lead something. Not too many words, but showing with your attitude that you are going to be there, ready to help my teammates in the moment that they need to be helped." - Chus Mateo

Real Madrid Head Coach, Chus Mateo, joined us on the podcast this week in what was a terrific peak under the hood into the inner workings of their Euroleague Championship run. Real Madrid switched to a 2-3 zone late in the playoffs for the first time all year and rode the success of the zone all the way to the title. In this episode we discuss:

2-3 Zone Concepts: Coach Mateo discusses the various strategies they employed within their zone coverage and the reasons behind each. Coach Mateo also provides great context into the staff discussions and considerations before deciding to play zone in the middle of their series with Partizan and down 0-2.
Attacking Drop Coverage: Real Madrid has one of the best "Drop Coverage" bigs in the world in Walter Tavares, and we asked Coach Mateo the actions that give that coverage the most trouble during "Start, Sub, or Sit?!"
Player Buy-In and Coaching Ego: During "Start, Sub, or Sit?!" we also dive into getting players to buy-in along with Coach Mateo's views on what true leadership is on and off the court. Great stuff.

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

Listen Now!

Tactical

📺 Pablo Laso - BLOB "Novak"

"Applying the "Novak" action to the baseline inbounds, screening a shooter to the rim before bringing them back out off a pin down."

✚ Pair With: Turkish club Gaziantep's BLOB Triangle Exits.

🔒 SG Plus Content: UConn's Swing Thru & Diamond Series breakdown, including their "Novak" action.

📺 OKC Thunder Zone Cutting - High Post Punctures

"Cutting the corner on high post catches or nail penetration with the intention of beating the wing defender tasked with cracking down on high post punctures."

✚ Pair With: Coach Trinchieri attacking the 2-3 Zone Up on post catches.

🔒 SG Plus Content: Last week's breakdown on OKC Cutting Concepts and our "Film Room" Session with Joe Gallo on the Miami Heat's Zone Defense.

Interesting Reads

📚 These Are The 8 Friends You Need To Be Happy In Life

"We get different things from different friends. And sometimes even with a sizable group you’re still not getting all the things you want in order to feel truly supported in life. Kinda like how to be healthy you need the four different food groups — you can’t just eat cookies for every meal."

📚 Unapologetically Authentic and Emotionally Intelligent, Mike McDaniel Connects

"Yes, he's an intellectual and, many say, an x's and o's guru. But what makes McDaniel so different is that, unlike so many savants, McDaniel is no introvert. He has an uncanny ability to connect with people.

He cares about people and he's not afraid to talk about it. McDaniel is not afraid to talk about anything."

📚 Five Paths to Peak Performance

"If you want to achieve the unexpected, you need to start making some unreasonable decisions.

Being unreasonable means forging a path distinct from the conventional one. It's about envisioning a reality that aligns with your values and having the tenacity and resourcefulness to make it happen, even if it sets you apart from the pack."

Quote of the Week

“One can furnish a room very luxuriously by taking out furniture rather than putting it in.” - Francis Jourdain

Thank you for reading and have a great week coaching,

Dan and Pat

info@slappinglass.com

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Slappin' Glass

🏀 "Free" Traps