Exploit court landmarks. The three-point line offers more than three-point shot value.
Practical applications:
1. Spacing line. The ball has magnetic properties, attracting defenders AND offensive players. Demand "NBA spacing" with filled corners and players mostly outside the line. Force defenders to cover more ground, opening driving and passing lanes, and discouraging doubling. Overcome magnetism.
2. Warmups. Dribble the line starting in one corner and returning... right-handed, left-handed, crossovers, hesitations, combinations and for advanced players between-the-legs and behind-the-back.
Rollouts.
3. Drills, e.g. shell drill, including advantage-disadvantage, help and rotation.
Point of emphasis. "The ball scores." That my guy didn't score is insufficient. Unless on the ball, you are responsible for 1.5 guys, your assignment and help.
4. Draw 2. Drawing two defenders outside the three point line opens up even more driving, cutting, passing areas including the short roll.
"The ball has energy."
5. Triggering action. Consider "automatic" action.
If the defender (x3) penetrates the three-point line, 3 cuts back door (and goes through to open space).
6. Defensive anticipation.
Five years ago, a new sixth grade team came out for our first game. I heard the opposing coach call "50," saw the Five-Out (against man) and immediately yelled, "watch the back door." And we watched. Two points. "Chunk" visual alignments and project the likelihood of common actions. But young players may not.
Billy Donovan notes on getting three-point shots.
Lagniappe. Setting up a three (what worked)
Winner.
Serbia.
Lagniappe 2. "Speed" is a function of recognition, decision, and execution.
Summary:
- Overcome magnetism.
- Use the line for spacing, drills, automatics and more.
- "The ball scores."
- "Be responsible for 1.5 guys off the ball."
- "The ball has energy."
- "Chunk" alignments to accelerate decisions.
- "Use recognition-primed decision-making."
