How to Relieve Inbound Pressure Against a Press

When facing a full-court denial press, it becomes increasingly challenging when the opponent puts pressure on the player inbounding the ball. This on-ball defender disrupts the passing lanes and makes it difficult to get a clean pass to a teammate. When you have the option of running the baseline (not a dead ball situation), there is an opportunity to free up this pressure and allow for an easier inbound pass. Here is how it's done.

Things You'll Need

  • Other team guarding your player making the inbound pass
  • Press break strategy after inbounding the ball
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Instructions

    • 1

      Line up in your standard press break offense. In this example we will focus on a four-across set. The two guards should line up at the free throw elbow and the two forwards should be about 15 feet outside the elbows.

    • 2

      The press break starts with the outside forwards taking a couple of steps towards the baseline. If they do not get the pass, they clear out to half-court to open the court for the guards.

    • 3

      The guards make an "X" through the center of the line. The guard that is on the ball side makes a cut to just outside the lane opposite the ball. The guard that is opposite the ball cuts towards the defender who is guarding the inbound passer. If the "X" cut is done effectively, you may be able to pick off a defender and make that pass right away.

    • 4

      When the guard arrives at the on-ball defender, he/she sets a screen on that defender on the lane side. The inbound passer should run the baseline to get his/her player to run into the screen. This will free up the inbounder to make a clean pass. If done properly and catches the on-ball defender by surprise, it could lead to a foul when the defender runs into the screen.

    • 5

      After setting the screen, the guard should seal off the player he/she screened to look for an inbound pass. Otherwise, the inbounder can make a pass to the other guard.