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Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Basketball - Thoughts on Spacing

Every good offense has effective spacing. How do you teach spacing? 

1. "Offense is spacing and spacing is offense." - Chuck Daly   Watch 'biddy basketball' and you see terrible spacing. The ball has gravity and it attracts both defense and teammates in "kiddie ball." 

2. Offensive sequencing: 

  • Spacing
  • Player and ball movement
  • The scoring moment
3. Terminology. We name the "three-point line" as "the spacing line." 

4. Why spacing? Spacing allows the ball handler more freedom of movement. It makes double-teaming harder for opponents. It opens passing and cutting lanes and forces longer closeouts. 

5. What "violates spacing?" 

  • Don't cut to an occupied post. 
  • Don't bring more defenders to the ball (unless you're setting a ball screen or faking/slipping a screen. 
6. Open more space (e.g. create gaps) by cutting. 

Duke "Elbow series" 

Another horns action with options for handoff or dribble drive for the big. Of course, you could also interchange the 4 and the 1 and get a mismatch if the defense elects to switch. 

 7. Open space by "draw two" and pass. Spacing can happen by staying outside the spacing line. 


8. Defense manages spacing by dropping to the level of the ball and loading to the ball. 

9. Keep the help side (weak side) occupied to prevent help defenders from tagging. 

10.Penetration also distracts help defenders who lose control of their primary assignment. 



When reviewing video of younger teams, screen captures often prove helpful by demonstrating bad spacing. 

Lagniappe. Everyone emphasizes "attention to detail" and "doing the little things." Tell them and tell them again. 
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