Let’s look at this play in detail: On the surface it looks like a simple action that could be replicated at most levels of basketball. However, the Atlanta Hawks use a few Key principles to ensure great spacing, creating the first initial advantage, and then, finally, creating the space for the guard to get a lay-up.
CAP: Cut and Pop. In this double drag, one player must pop outside of the 3-point line while the other player cuts or rolls to the basket.
Usually in the double drag the first screener will pop and the second screener will roll/slip as there is separation coming off of the first screen.
As soon as the second picker, Capela, recognizes that the on-ball defender turns his hips, signaling a slight advantage, he does NOT wait to set the pick and instead gets out early to create the 2-on-1.
This is where Young is gifted offensively. He uses a snake dribble to get back to the middle, keeping his defender on his back and not allowing him to get back in front.
Snake dribble: On the pick-and-roll, the ball-handler dribbles back the way they came, or snakes back, rather than attacking straight downhill.
Meanwhile Capela makes a clear connection by raising his arm that he is going to seal or gortat his defender so that he is not in position to contest the shot.
How can we put players in game specific context so they can work on this trigger? And how to defend it?
Create a SSG!
3-on-3 Continuous - Scripted Start - Double Drag
Rules:
Offense starts at the HC line. Defense starts on the 3 point line.
Live after ball handler starts dribbling.
Offense must trigger with a double drag. If it is still neutral after the action it is a TO.
Defense must be in drop, and on-ball defender must go over.
After a stop, defense (now offense) must touch the HC line before they can score.
Constraints:
add = 8 second shot clock
add = double points for a reject
add = Gold and silver medals only
add = Offense can re-trigger if they are neutral in one of our known PnR Spacings
Conclusion
This SSG can be used to work on the coverage solutions: Gortat, snake, slip, etc. This specific SSG can be used to work on the coverages you can use against this trigger. Perhaps a team has been using this trigger vs your team and scoring at will. You can re-create this problem at practice and potentially work on different ways that might work best for your team to guard this action.
You can see different ways this action is run and guarded below.
