Attacking Full-court Pressure

Full court pressure may come on any inbounds play in the back court – but often after a made bucket and especially after a made free throw.

#4 takes the ball out of bounds.
#5 and #1 work in a tandem with #1 breaking off of the screen of #5.
#3 and #2 break long first and comeback for the ball if necessary.
The ball is inbounded most often to #1.

Ideally we want to pass the ball down the floor, not dribble the ball. It is quicker to pass the ball and we lessen the chance of a turnover.

#1 now has the ball.
#4 stays behind the ball at a 45 degree angle.
#5 is ahead of the ball at a 45 degree angle (often this will be in a circle),
both #2 and #3 are up the floor from #5 at 45 degree angles.
#1 is looking to pass the ball before the trap is allowed to form.

When #1 catches the ball his first look will be to #5 in the middle of the floor. We look here first since this pass will usually break a diamond press. If #5 is not open #1 then looks to #3 or #2 and then back to #4. If a pass were made back to #4 we would go to our original press breaking positions.

#4 has the ball but may be “last man back”
#5 and #1 work in a tandem with #1 breaking off of the screen of #5.
#3 and #2 break long first and comeback for the ball if necessary.
The ball is returned most often to #1 via a short pass or dribble hand-off or “Utah”

If none of these options are open, #1 may use the dribble, but we want to limit the use of the dribble against pressure.

As the ball is passed from #1 to #5,

#5 now has the ball
#4 will stay behind the ball to relieve pressure as he aligns himself at a 45 degree angle from #5.
#1 moves up from the ball at a 45 degree angle.
#2 moves up the floor and now gets at a 45 degree angle from the ball.
#3 now gets at a 45 degree angle from #2.

Try to maintain good floor spacing, good passing angles, someone behind the ball to relieve pressure and try to spread the defense the full length and width of the floor.