Middle
 | 1 Using a 1-3-1 alignment, four attackers rotate around one attacker who stays in the middle of the press offence. 1) 5 middle 2) Denials 3) 4 middle Dave Odom (Press attack) - once in the middle, always in the middle, on the line of the ball and the basket. See Don Meyer Press O (4 corners), Press breaks - Hoop Tactics, Old Dominion Trap "O". For a 2-1-2 alignment, see Michael Lynch, 2-1-2. 1) 5 in the middle 5 is at halfcourt, 2 and 3 are on the sidelines.4 inbounds to 1 and trails the ball to provide a third short passing option, 3 goes deep for a long passing option opposite the ball, 2 stays or optionally goes up the sideline, creating space for 1 to attack on the dribble or pass over the top (shown). Dave Odom - 2 has to break the line of the defence at halfcourt. Don Kelbick - 1 should have the following options, - break on the dribble (up the sideline, going away from pressure from the bottom, and seeing pressure from the top) - long over the top (to 2, eliminate pressure coming from upcourt) - middle (to 5, who looks opposite to 3 to create numbers) - long opposite (to 3) - ball reversal, an enemy of fullcourt pressure. Michael Lynch - 2 is up the sideline. In the regular alignment, 3 stays in the backcourt so we have a player to swing the ball to. |
 | 2 A pass to 5 in the middle is an attacking pass, his first look is opposite to 3. Bill Self - on a pass to the middle, the trailer runs wide opposite, the passer becomes the new trailer (shown). Lynch - 5 steps forward to meet a pass, in the backcourt. Heath Millar - get your best player in the middle of the press. One metre either side of half is a "no flash" zone, don't catch the ball on or near the halfcourt line. In the backcourt don't pass the ball across the split line. Breakthrough Basketball - once you get the ball in the middle, the press will be beaten 99% of the time. |
 | 3 If the ball is reversed to 4, 3 comes back to the ball, 2 goes deep middle. |
 | 4 2 becomes the sideline option on a pass to 3, 1 is the long option. 2 goes sideline to sideline in the 1-3-1 set. Lynch - 2 stays on the other side of the floor. |
 | 5 If 4 dribbles towards the sideline, 3 moves up the sideline to keep spacing, 2 moves opposite the ball, 1 comes behind the ball as safety, creating a 2-1-2 set (Ian MacKinnon - except if 4 is big enough to throw over defenders).Dave Odom - 4 takes it on the dribble if he is a good dribbler. Blaine Taylor - 3 swivels up the sideline, 1 swivels behind 4, 2 goes to the other side. John Brady (LSU Set) - 4 takes two dribbles upcourt towards the sideline, 1 slides behind the ball (always have someone behind the ball). Brian Barone - 4 can pass back to 1 who swivels up the right sideline, 4 fills behind.  |
 | 2) Denials 1 cuts across the foul line if overplayed, gets a pass if open. Lynch - 1 face cuts to the opposite side of the floor, or posts up his defender. |
 | 7 Run the press break on the other side of the floor, 3 will change sides on ball reversal. |
 | 8 Options if 1 is not open on the cut. b) 2 flashes back on the sideline. |
 | 9 On an inbounds pass to 2, 3 replaces 2 and 1 replaces 3, run the system from there. For a 2-1-2 set, 4 would replace 1. Ashbury fullcourt - 5 replaces 2, 3 cuts middle. Arizona - 5 goes long, 1 cuts middle. Bill Self 1-3-1, Giorgis regular - 5 replaces 2, 1 cuts middle. Brian Giorgis - 1 slashes middle, this is the action he likes, a point guard with the ball in the middle of the floor. |
 | 10 2 goes long if denied, 5 breaks to the ball. |
 | 11 1 cuts up the middle on a pass to 5, who can make a return pass to 4. |
 | 12 b) 1 cuts, 5 flashes for a pass, 1 slices up the middle. Variation - 5 breaks to the ball before 1's cut (Hoop Tactics). |
 | 13 If 5 isn't open, 1 cuts up the middle looking for a pass over the top, 2 and 3 flash back on the sidelines (opening up the slice cut by 1). See Utah (Flyer), Hackenberg 2-up (Go). |
 | 14 On an inbounds pass to 2, 1 replaces 2 on the sideline, 5 stays in the middle, into the 1-3-1 alignment, 1 would change sides on ball reversal. See Hoop Tactics. |
 | 3) 4 in the middle Against a press that does not trap on the inbounds pass (e.g., a 2-2-1), 4 can inbounds then sprint to the centre circle and bump 5 deep. See Ashbury halfcourt, Duke vs 2-2-1, Old Dominion trap "O", Arizona, 5star, Hofstra. Blaine Taylor - against a 2-2-1, centre the ball, take away help, but attack the sides first. The attacking set is like using a 1-3-1 against a 2-3 halfcourt zone. Dave Odom - against a 2-2-1, you must take the ball to the level of the defence. Jay Wright - in a press breaker, 4 and 5 can never be too far away from the ball, get them up the court, it's better to be too spaced then to be too crowded. |
 | 16 Then the pattern is the same. |
 | 17 Swivel action. |
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