Going small down low and "tapping out" the defense.

A reliable quick-hitter or option play from a 1-2-2 (double stack)

Having always liked to attack from down low, we are constantly looking for ways to exploit our 1-2-2 (stack) man offense.

That has led to the reliable quick hitter, or option, we call the "Tap." We can run it right from our regular offense or use it as a special play any time we choose, including from out of bounds.

As you can see in Diag. 1, we operate from a double stack set up on the low block alongside the lane. We have our guards (2 and 3) piggyback our big man (4 and 5) in front of them.

The fact that we have guards with good post-up skills provides an extra bonus, enabling us to screen and shoot from high-percentage vantage points.

In our normal offense, our guards (2 and 3) will break out to the wings via various routes. These break-outs will set up our "Tap" play.

Our guards will tap the big guys (4 and 5), which will send them up on the break-out. As a rule, this will entice the opponents' big defender (D) to chase his man to the wing, as shown in Diag. 1.

With D cleared out of the low post area, our good post-up guard (3) can now operate on his man.

Our point man (1) will hit 5 at the high wing, and 5 can then send the ball right in to 3 at the low post.

Note 5's location. We want him up - not low, as indicated by the broken circle in Diag. 1. This position will facilitate his entry pass to post-man 3, who'll usually be straddling the lane line for the pass.

Quite often, the defense will respond to the break-out with a switch - X covering 5 and D (the big defender) staying low on 3, as shown in Diag. 2.

Whenever this happens, 3 will drift to the corner. He'll have an easy shot if D holds on the lane.

If D goes with him, as shown in Diag. 3, 2 will slide across the lane and post up, as shown. He will look for the feed from 3 and then go to work on his man down low.'

As another option in this setup, 5 (after passing to 3 in [ILLUSTRATION FOR DIAGRAM 2 OMITTED]), can slice back down the lane against his mis-matched defender.

Guards 2 and 3 can create a lot of mischief for the defense with their post-up skills. They can cut, fake and shoot (without dribbling), or go up with a baby hook.

The "Tap" may be worked with both guards tapping their big men or with only one tapping and the other cutting or screening. All kinds of simple but effective screens, clearouts, and shots lend themselves to this offense.