Entries out of the Stax alignment: part 3: double, pipe cut, & inside roll.

The Stax alignment is a multi-dimensional man-to-man offensive set that maximizes the players' efficiency through a series of entries that have the capability of quickly and easily flowing into structured continuity patterns.

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Its alignment can stretch the defense both vertically and horizontally, as well as exploit defensive weaknesses on every part of the court.

Part 1 in December 2004 expounded the background and philosophy of the Stax and its entries. Part 2, which ran last issue (April 2005), presented a breakdown of several more of its basic entries, and Parts 3, 4 (to be published in August 2005), 5, and 6 will continue and conclude the analysis of the Stax entries.

DIAG. 1, DOUBLE:

The initial entry alignment of the Stax offense and the beginning action of the Double Entry--a dribbling entry that always goes toward the left side of the entry.

As 1 approaches the top of the key, both 5 and 3 set up a stagger screen for 1, while 4 sets a pin-screen for 2; who will pop out to the free-throw line extended.

After 1 scrapes off the stagger screen, 5 will roll to the basket and 3 moves up to the top of the key. If the dribbler (1) cannot turn the corner and drive all of the way to the basket, he will look for a pick and roll with 5. If X5 is playing behind 5, 1 should immediately exploit him for an inside shot.

DIAG. 2:

If 1 cannot pass the ball inside to 5 or 4, he should pass to 3 at the top of the key. As this pass is being made, 5 will make a strong duck-in cut toward the dotted circle. If 5 gets open, 3 should be able to deliver the ball to him in this higher percentage scoring area.

If X5 is aggressively fronting 5 to deny the duck-in cut, 4 should come across the lane to (blindly) pick off X5, who is probably concentrating on 5.3 can actually look for a pass to either post player (5 or 4), or either of the perimeter wings (1 or 2).

DIAG. 3, PIPE-CUT:

An entry that is always initiated with a dribble by 1, to the right side. The primary receivers are 1 and then 4. It then shifts to 5 on the opposite side of the floor. When the ball is reversed for the second time, 5 becomes the next threat, then 4 again. On the third ball reversal, both 5 and 4 will become the major threats to the defense.

As 1 dribbles to the free-throw line extended, 2 makes a pipe cut to the top of the key. The pipe cut creates a potential reversal pass receiver (2) at the top of the key and it also helps eliminate the interior helpside defense, enabling 1 to look first for a pass to 4 on the new ballside block area.

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X5 and X3 are now on the weakside above the free-throw line extended. This will stretch X2, X5, and X3 both vertically and horizontally, weakening the support defense for X4.

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DIAG. 4:

If 1 cannot pass the ball (or lob it) inside to 4, he should reverse it to 2 at the top of the key. 2 can then drive off 5's screen at the top of the key, with 3 flaring to the deep corner. 5 rolls down the lane to the new ballside post area in a typical pick-and-roll action between 2 and 5.

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DIAG. 5:

Either 2 or 3 looks to pass the ball inside to 5. If the pass isn't there, the ball can be reversed to 4 at the top of the key. 4 will have two options: He can hit 1 at the wing or 5 ducking into the lane.

If the option doesn't materialize, 4 will cut into the dotted circle to set a stagger screen with 2. 3, after making his pass from the corner, can take a step toward the baseline and then roll all the way up over the stagger screen to a point above the free-throw line.

Player 3 now has two primary receivers--5 on the weakside block and 2 at the wing. 5 is now in the weakside low-post area, 2 is posted alongside the lane, 1 is at the right wing with the basketball, 3 is at the top of the key, and 4 is at the bottom of the dotted circle.

DIAG. 6, PIPE CUT (CONCLUDED):

4, behind X5's sight line, can cut across the lane to set a pin-screen for 5, who ducks over the screen to the opposite side of the lane. The offense is now in a classic 3-2 alignment with three possible inside passes.

DIAG. 7, INSIDE ROLL:

Illustrates the Stax alignment and the beginning of the Inside Roll. The play is designed to attack the defensive point guard and then the perimeter, with the twin stacks, 2 and 4 low, and 3 and 5 high.

After 2 and 3 break out to the wing areas over the pin-screens of 4 and 5, 1 passes to 2 on the wing and then cuts over 4's screen and drives straight for the basket. Otherwise, he can settle for posting in the spots vacated by 4 and 2.

At this point in the entry, 1 is on a low block, and 3, 4, 5, and 2 are horizontally aligned on the free-throw line extended, as you can see in Diag. 8.

DIAG. 8, INSIDE ROLL (CONCLUDED):

The offense is set in a shallow 4-1 alignment with wing 2 having the ball. The play starts with 2 dribbling off 4's screen to the key area. 1 and 3 then loop around to points slightly outside the shooting arc. 2 breaks his dribble to hit 4 driving into the lane.

As you can see, 3, 5, and 1 take their defenders away from the ball. All of this movement should occupy the defense and open up a lot of different scoring threats from different locations on the floor.

By John Kimble, Former Basketball Coach, Crestview (FL) High School