"Attacking the Tag" Primer: (Special Edition)
Between a rock and a hard place...
Hello and welcome to this Special Edition of our Newsletter. We’re excited to share a project we’ve been working on for a few months, a deep-dive into some of the best concepts and strategies for “Attacking the Tag”. We’re releasing a full breakdown video of all these concepts on our YouTube Channel on Saturday. You can subscribe to get that HERE.
For terminology clarification, the “Tag”, is the defender in a PnR situation who is responsible for “tagging” , “bumping”, or simply “helping” on the roller/popper.
This newsletter will break down “12 Concepts and Actions” that teams use to effectively attack the “tag” defender and put him/her in difficult defensive situations. *With subtle variations/combinations of actions there are actually about 15-16 concepts in here, and surely more we haven’t included, but our marketing team, aka “my wife” thought 12 concepts “sounded nice and fun”).
Here is how we’ve broken the concepts down…
Spacing Concepts
High Lifts
Dunker Shadows and Duck-In’s
Elbow Release
Obradovic Spacing
Cutting Concepts
Baseline Cuts
45 Cuts
Burn Cuts
Shallow Cuts
Screening Concepts
Stack/Spain Screens
Veer Screens
Ghost Screens
Weakside Flares
Let’s dive in…
{ Spacing Concepts }
#1 High Lift
A cornerstone fundamental in PnR movement is the backside “lift”, commonly referred to as “Shake” action. As the ballhandler attacks off the PnR toward the 2-man side, the “lift” defender is put in a “single-side tag” situation in which they alone are forced to help on the rolling big. The simultaneous “lift” and roll action by the offense puts the tag defender in a difficult scenario of having to first “bump” the big and then having a long closeout back to their man.
Common Advantages/Dominoes Created after hitting the “Lift/Shake Man”:
Shot for “Lift Man”, Catch and attack (“Chop/Stampede” action), Post Entry to Big who should have great position after rolling and sealing.
The same “lift” action is fundamental when the action is going AWAY from the 2-man side in a Middle PnR.
Common Advantages/Dominoes Created:
Shot for “Lift Man”, “Chop Action”, a “High-Low” look to the Big, making the “Extra Pass” to the corner/45, flowing directly into a Middle PnR where the defending Big is now out of position.
#2 Dunker Shadow
The next “spacing” action comes most commonly in an offensive system where two bigs are being utilized. While one big is setting the on-ball, their partner is “shadowing” the ballhandler, thus opening a lane for their partner to roll into and putting the “shadow” defender in a potential 2 v. 1 situation.
Common Advantages/Dominoes Created:
A lob/layup for rolling big, a “duck-in” opportunity for the “Dunker” big, a shot/laup for the ballhandler. A mid-range jumper is often fine by the ballhandler in this situation as this action puts the two offensive bigs in great “inside” offensive rebounding position.
#3 Elbow Release
Another common “spacing” action in an offense with two bigs is the “Elbow Release” coming from the Big Man not in the PNR Action. This "release” action creates a scenario where the “tag” defender is now the “Elbow” big’s responsibility.
Common Advantages/Dominoes Created:
Great post position for the rolling Big; a 2 v. 1 (as shown above) with a cut opportunity available from the “Elbow Big”, a “Cut and Skip” opportunity on the backside if the “low-help” defender commits to helping on the cut; a reversal back to the Top Guard for a quick “Step-Up Screen”, a reversal to the “Elbow Big” for a DHO with the Top Guard.
#4 Obradović Spacing
From the great Željko Obradović during his tenure with Fenerbahce where he loved to constantly keep two player BEHIND the PnR. This “wheel” action combines both a “lift” and a “baseline cut”, (which we’ll get to next). This concept can be confusing for the defense because the player who should “tag” the roll is not always obvious…
Common Advantages/Dominoes Created:
Shot for “Lift Man”, Layup for Rolling Big, “Extra Pass” and “Attacking the Closeout” opportunities on the backside.
{ Cutting Concepts }
#5 Baseline Cut
As mentioned in the “Obradović Action” above, the act of cutting a player from the corner on both the backside AND the strongside of PnR can confuse the “tag” and normal rotation of the defense. This baseline cut is also highly effective in a “Short Roll” situation where the big is able to get a catch at the “Nail”.
Common Advantages/Dominoes Created:
A layup for the “corner cutter” on a pass from the big off the “Short Roll” (shown above), a shot for the backside guard on a pass from the “short roll” or ballhandler, “Attacking the Closeout” on a “Shake” action (see “Obradović Action”)
#6 “45 Cut”
Another staple in the encyclopedia of “Attacking the Tag”. We’ve done a full newsletter on this cut HERE, but this is one of the best ways to both clear space and punish a stunt coming from a defender at the “Nail”. Combined with a “Lift” on the backside (shown below), this action creates options for the offense and problems for the defense.
Common Advantages/Dominoes Created:
Layup for “45 Cutter”, Layup/Lob for the roller, “Shake Action” advantages (discussed in the “Lift” section), Layup for ballhandler.
#7 “Burn Cut” or “Cut the Stunt”
A favorite action for a big that can “Pop”. Mostly run when the PNR is going AWAY from the 2-man side, this “burn” cut effectively punishes a stunt by the tag defender at the nail while also clearing out space for the Big to pop into. Action is also called “Cut the Stunt”.
Common Advantages/Dominoes Created:
Layup for “Burn” cutter (shown above), open shot/attack for the popping Big, flowing directly into a DHO/2-Man game with non-cutting guard filling up from the corner.
#8 Shallow Cut
The “Shallow Cut” is similar to the “Corner Cut” in that it moves/changes who the “tag” should be during the Middle PnR action (full newsletter on the shallow cut HERE). The Shallow Cut takes the confusion a step further as it loops a player from either the baseline or wing underneath the PnR and then back onto the perimeter. What is often seen when run effectively is confusion by the “Shallow Cutter’s” defender whether they should “tag” the rolling big while their man is spacing to the perimeter. This has a similar effect to the “Lift Action” described above. Hard to guard.
Common Advantages/Dominoes Created:
Layup/Lob for Rolling Big, Layup for Ballhandler, Shot for the “Shallow Cutter” on a throwback, Extra Pass and “Attacking the Closeout” opportunities after throwback (see “Lift Action” above)
{ Screening Concepts }
#9 Stack/Spain Screen & Release
The “Stack” or “Spain” Screen action is a popular way to attack the “tag” because of the tough decision situation it puts the “Stack Screener’s” defender in. Below we’ll first look at the scenario when the “Stack Screen” is actually set. In this action, the successful backscreen being set on the defending Big Man can create a 2 on 1 advantage for the offense where the “tag” is forced to choose between stopping the ballhandler or helping on the roll…
The other advantage created for the offense out of this action is when the Stack Screener “Releases” early from his screen out to the perimeter (Shown below). Releasing early creates confusion for the “Tag” in making the decision to go with his man to the perimeter, help on the drive, or help on the roll. This situation requires a ton of communication from the three defensive players involved.
Common Advantages/Dominoes Created:
Layup for ballhandler, layup/lob for rolling big, shot for “Stack Screener” after screening, Extra pass and skip opportunities to the weakside.
#10 Veer Screen
A really nice twist on a traditional downscreen, as a “Veer” screen has the On-Ball Big “slip” or “Ghost” the PnR action and flow directly into a Pindown for a shooter. Very effective as it often catches the “tag” defender sliding into their help responsibilities as they prepare for the PNR.
Common Advantages/Dominoes Created:
Shot for Shooter, Layup for Big after “Slipping” the pindown, 2-man game opportunities with Shooter and Big after screen.
#11 Ghost Screens
The “Ghost Screen”, or a “Slip” has the effect of freezing the backside help defenders for a brief moment before the next action takes place. This moment of hesitation on who the “tag” should be creates multiple advantages for the offense…
Common Advantages/Dominoes Created:
Pass to “Ghost Screener” to attack with momentum, layup for rolling big, backside skips to play through advantage, sets up the next “true” action with defenders out of position.
#12 Flare Screens
Last but certainly not least, the backside Flare Screen. A favorite of teams like Obradoiro in Spain who run the “Reverse Angle” PNR offense so well. See full breakdown HERE. The “flare and drift” action on the backside punishes a team who is “tagging” a roller from the “Nail”. See in the clip below how the offensive player in the corner screens his OWN MAN while the player in the "45 spot” drifts into the space he’s created. This Flare can also be set on the “Nail” defender to put the “Low Tag” man in a 2 on 1 situation with the Rolling big and ballhandler.
Common Advantages/Dominoes Created:
Shot for drifting shooter, layup for rolling big, “flare slip” layups for corner player setting the flare, and “Attacking the Closeout” advantages on a skip.
Here are the PDF’s for all of these actions.
Thank you for reading this special edition of our newsletter. We hope you found something of value. If you did we’d appreciate a share. Thank you!
Have a great week coaching,
Dan and Pat