"Basketball is a game of __________ ." Everyone fills in the blank differently, in multiple ways. Focus today on separation via cutting. Never presume that our players know what we think they should know. Turnovers and presumption kill dreams.
"Movement kills defense." Cutting is underrated. Cutting moves players into spots to drive, shoot, screen, or be unobtrusive. Cutting and pivoting are two vital offensive skills that create separation that get too little time.
1) "Set up your cut." Direct from the Bilas "Toughness" criteria. This applies with or without a screen.
2) Cut urgently. Offense fails without 'intentional cutting'. How many times have you seen teams try to run UCLA cuts with the cutter not setting up the cut and not cutting hard? Urgency is a word players should live.
3) Read the defender. Punish head turners by cutting behind them.
4) Be aware of the ball handler. If they're not looking at you or for you, they can't deliver the ball and your cut is wasted.
5) "The ball is a camera." If you want it to find you, then you have to find or create a passing lane.
6) Walk to run. Walking into a cut can catch lackadaisical defenders unaware.
7) "Go to, to go away." Cutting directly at a defender can put them at a disadvantage.
8) Inside foot cut. I call this the Edelman cut. You don't see this much because most cuts arise off the outside foot. Edelman cuts off the inside foot (maybe with some push off) and scores. Not for regular use.
9) Types of cuts. Access great video like Coach Nick's here on Bball Breakdown. UCLA, Flex, Zipper, Shuffle.
Lagniappe. Exceptional presentation via Basketball Immersion on weakside (helpside) cutting with focus on corner cut, 45 cuts, and dives with baseline drive. Extended video worth showing your players.
