MacKay single-double gaps
 | 1 Mike MacKay YouTube video - Single and Double Gaps (and How to Teach Cutting). Use backcuts and blast cuts to create double gaps for dribble penetration (see Progressions for basket cuts). Spacing creates gaps, cutting creates bigger gaps. See Offence - 5-out youth motion, Blog Posts - 5-Out Dribble Penetration, Conceptual Offence, Tactics - Creating Gaps. 5-out offence is used by many youth teams. The problem is that the spacing is single gaps. |
 | 2 One advantage of 5-out spacing is a backdoor pass. If help arrives to take away a pass at the rim, the other option is a pass to a perimeter player (here 4). Adam Spinella - Hoiberg 5-Out Concepts - 5-out spacing allows for backcuts, the rim is vacated. Gregg Popovich - if denied anywhere on the court, go backdoor and continue in the direction you were going. Chris Krauss - Motion Concepts - he doesn't like cuts all the way through, cut to the middle, read what's going on, you might have to come back, or relocate. A backcut (or basket cut) to the rim is a scoring opportunity, then exit cut but first read what's going on (e.g. react to a drive or shot). Hal Wissel - keep the middle open, when you cut to the basket, don't stay in the post area for more than a one-count, fill an open spot on the side of the floor with the fewest players. |
 | 3 A lot of teams play sag defence against this type of offence, no backdoors are available. Gap Theory (Spacing) - 5-out spacing (50) stretches the defence outside the paint and takes away a traditional rim protector. |
 | 4 How can we give the offence an advantage? We like to create a double gap by cutting a player. MacKay - How to Teach Cutting - in a single gap, backcut immediately if you are looked at, dribbled at, or pivoted at. Alex Sarama -Teaching Offensive Concepts - if you are in a single gap, create a double gap for a teammate so they can blast cut. Blast cuts are made from a double gap into a single gap, and give you a speed advantage. |
 | 5 Options Use a double gap for a blast cut or dribble penetration. a) 4 blast cuts into the double gap for a pass, putting the defence in motion. 4 has a chance to play dynamic 1-on-1, reading the defence before catching the ball and attacking immediately on the catch, here baseline. 2 exits the paint weakside. 1 holds after passing (does not basket cut). ** The blast cut creates baseline space for an immediate drive, or 4 can attack middle using speed. 1 does not need to create a double gap with a basket cut. If 4 delays a blast cut (see below), 2 may need to exit the paint before 4 drives. If 4 doesn't make a play, 1 can backcut and 3 blast cut (see below), the complete sequence is pass-hold-cut-fill. If 1 basket cuts, break it off on a quick drive by 4, otherwise create a double gap for a middle drive by 4, or 3 holds then blast cuts for another dynamic attack. The sequence is pass-cut-hold-fill. Sarama - 4 can backdoor cut, catch and shoot, attack baseline (dynamic cross), or attack middle (curl). How to Teach Cutting - back cut and blast cut to fill behind (it's hard for X4 to help on the backcut by 2 and contest the blast cut by 4). Pass-cut-fill - 1 basket cuts to the "smile", 3 fills to a double gap, 1 exit cuts (e.g. to the ballside corner). Randy Sherman - Improve Conceptual Offence - a) drive opposite a catch (away from where you caught it, not back into the teeth of the defence), b) attack the larger space, Mike MacKay - Read and React Offence - if you are in the key when the ball is being driven to the basket and the ball enters the lane below you, go to the elbows. Or 2 could back-pedal to the short corner, 5 fills the weakside 45-degree angle, 3 fills the 90-degree angle above the ballside elbow, and 1 is the safety moving in behind. Score with 45 Cuts - a baseline drive opens up a weakside 45 cut as defenders help and drop (cover down). |
 | 6 b) 1 can drive the double gap, breaks the foul line, 4 clears behind (away from X4), gets a pass, 1 exits to the corner. ** To maintain the double gap for a draft drive, 4 would hold in the corner (for a two-count) before a blast cut. Delay replacing a cutter unless the ballhandler has already had a chance to attack a double gap. Basketball NSW - a cut that is made toward the basket creates space behind for a second cutter, or for the ballhandler to "drive on the back of the cutter". See Offences - Dribble-drive outline, 5-out dribble-drive motion. |
 | 7 4 has a double gap middle and a long closeout by X4. |
 | 8 Don't freeze the ball and let the help defence set up. Keep the offence moving, the first option is to keep cutting, 3 cuts (a static backcut from a double gap), 5 can go dynamic 1-on-1 into a double gap. 4 does not cut after passing (see above). ** 5 does not delay the blast cut, 4 already had a chance to attack a double gap. The cut by 5 creates another double gap, and 2 delays a fill behind to keep the gap. Read and React - fill open spots above you. Do not be too quick to fill this space as it takes away the penetration of the player with the ball. |
 | 9 5 attacks (a quick real-estate drive) and passes if he doesn't have anything. 3 exits opposite the drive. ** Another option is a blast cut by 2 into the double gap (a blast cut can set up another blast cut), or a backcut by 4 and a blast cut by 1. Read and React - if you are in the key when the ball is being driven to the basket and the ball enters the lane above you, go to the short corner. Coach Daniel - Future of Offence - 4 guys out and one guy in the dunker spot is still 5-out spacing to him. |
 | 10 Re-set - 4 can "dribble centre", it's like a pass, moving the ball with the dribble. 3 makes a backcut when dribbled at (backcut when one gap away). There is a double gap on each side when 4 picks up the ball (1 does not follow behind). ** Doug Novak - Offensive Philosophy - nothing can stop the ball from moving. If you can't swing the ball, dribble at the next offensive player for a backdoor or throw behind [a pitch or DHO]. If you can't throw behind, look to snapback where you dribbled from. Wissel - balance the floor by dribbling to the point.  |
 | (Progressions) Basket cut on a dynamic pass and/or a stationary pass. How to Teach Cutting - blast cut, pass-cut-fill (see above). Against sagging defences, basket cuts can be used to create double gaps, especially on a stationary pass. Like a backcut, a basket cut can open up a "draft" drive or a blast cut, A draft drive is delayed (waiting on a cutter), whereas a blast cut can lead to an immediate attack, especially a "real- estate" drive into a double gap created by the blast cut. A blast cut can lead to another blast cut. Instead of a backcut by 2, 1 passes to 2 (a stationary pass) and basket cuts. The basket cut unlocks the floor, 2 has a double gap to drive middle (a draft drive), or 3 can blast cut to replace 1 (after a two-count, a delayed fill cut) for a pass-cut-hold-fill sequence (see below). 1 would break off a basket cut if 2 attacks immediately. Read and React - after passing to a teammate one pass away, run a basket cut (front cut or back cut). When leaving the basket find the open spot, usually a corner. Alex Sarama - Avoid Pass and Cut Offence - off-ball cutting (ghost cut) makes no sense with pass and cut, and 2 has to wait for the cutter to clear out instead of being able to drive immediately. The idea of modern basketball is to use zero-second decisions. With pass and cut, players are taught to robotically repeat a pattern, not how to play the game. It would be better for players to pass and space, find a window outside the 3-point line. (Variation - pass and clear to the weakside corner, a corner cut). Randy Sherman - on a diagonal pass (slot to wing), make a diagonal cut directly to the opposite corner. See Offence - Novak dribble-drive (Fan cut), Dribble-drive outline. |
 | 12 Options 1) 2 drives middle, behind 1's cut (a draft drive). This is a static 1-on-1 but into a double gap. Teaching Offensive Concepts - a double/triple gap, match-up advantage, or late clock is a green-light situation in a static 1-on-1. Dribble penetration draws help (two defenders play the ball), leading to a kick-out pass and often an extra pass for a shot or another drive. Often a teammate will cut to the basket on penetration. Penetrate-Pass-Pass - making the extra pass after an initial drive-and-kick re-opens the lane for another drive, keeps the defence in rotation and forces long closeouts. Thomaidis - penetration causes the defence to collapse, a pass out creates a long closeout, the extra pass is the one that defences have a hard time getting out to. They are always trying to create long closeouts, that is the most difficult defensive skill. Penetrate-penetrate is a turnover in practice. Sherman - avoid consecutive drives, penetrate pass pass. An exception is drive, kick, shot fake (re-expand the defence), then drive. Chris Oliver - Villanova Second Cuts - a teammate can basket cut on dribble penetration if their defender loses sight of them. Tyler Coston - Space to Hunt - in transition, hunt the "logo" off the dribble then cut to score with a "burn cut" from a corner or 45 (a defender loses vision, attack the back of their head). Score with 45 Cuts - a baseline drive opens up a weakside 45 cut as defenders help and drop (cover down). |
 | 13 2) 2 swings the ball to 4 (another stationary pass) and basket cuts. 3 fills the top of the key (leaving a double gap). 4 can attack behind 2's cut. MacKay - fill to a double gap. |
 | 14 3 blast cuts for a pass after a two-count. The blast cut creates a double gap behind 3, 5 holds the wing to maintain the gap. By exiting to the short corner, 2 allows 1 and 5 to hold. A basket cut on a downhill pass (top-wing, wing-corner) opens up a blast cut to reverse the ball. A passer can hold on an uphill pass (corner-wing or wing-top) as the next logical pass should be to reverse the ball, not bring it back where it came from. Screen away is another option. |
 | 15 3 attacks the double gap with a real-estate drive (a quick baseline drive may be another option), or 5 can blast cut after a two-count (and then 1 could blast cut). 4 breaks off a basket cut. Dribble-drive concepts can be used, e.g., 2 relocates, 5 Euro cuts (or backcuts), 1 can lift or backcut from the corner (or get a pass in the corner). A basket cut or backcut with no draft drive can set up a blast cut for a dynamic attack. |
 | 16 3) 2 does not attack, 3 blast cuts after a two-count. 3 can backcut, catch and shoot, immediately attack left or right, or square up in triple threat. 5 is ready to blast cut from the corner. a) 3 catches and immediately attacks left, 1 exits opposite the drive. (To avoid a 3-second call, 1 may need to exit early, before a drive.) McNeill - 3 and the ball should arrive at the same time. The blast cut creates a double gap behind 3 for a "real-estate" drive, 5 holds the corner to maintain the gap and reads the play. 2 breaks off a basket cut for spacing. How to Teach Cutting - 3 blast cuts when there is a connection (2 makes eyes contact), shortens the pass, 2 can make a single-gap pass. See Shooting - 3-line drive and kick. |
 | 17 b) 2 passes and basket cuts, 3 does not attack immediately, 4 holds the corner to the maintain the gap. 5 holds the other corner, there are two double gaps. 2 can pass and hold on a dynamic, uphill pass. If 3 does not shoot or attack, 5 blast cuts and 3 swings the ball, or 2 backcuts and 4 blast cuts immediately (back where the ball came from), for a pass-hold-cut-fill sequence, instead of pass-cut-hold-fill on a basket cut. Another option is a downscreen for 4. Matt Hackenberg - 5-out screen away motion - if denied, backcut or downscreen and fill from behind. A downscreen becomes a staggered screen on a pass to the other side. |
 | 18 i) 2 exits opposite a drive by 3. Here 3 draft drives behind 2's cut. |
 | 19 ii) 5 blast cuts after a two-count, 3 passes and basket cuts, 4 fills to a double gap weakside, ready to blast cut after a two-count. See How to Teach Cutting (pass-cut-fill). 5 can draft drive behind 3, or attack on the catch (baseline, middle) and 3 breaks off the basket cut. A baseline drive is not a real-estate drive because the corner is filled by 1 (pushed by 2's basket cut). 3 can pass, hold, and backcut if 5 does not make a play, or space away and 4 holds. Wissel - draw and kick is best used from the wing after the ball has been swung from the other side. |
 | 20 c) 3 blast cuts then backcuts, a dynamic backcut, creating a triple gap. 5 does not delay filling the top, 2 had a double gap to attack, don't stall the ball. Does a teammate with the ball need help or space? MacKay - in a triple gap, shorten a pass to a single gap off the dribble and with a blast cut. NSW open-post motion - cutting on the back of a cutter is effective. See Offence - Petitgoue open-post (Revolve). |