The Dribble Push

Posted byRadiusAthletics

There are many ways to initiate Five-Out offense. In today’s examination, we will be digging into one of those ways — the Dribble Push.

As the offense advances into the front court, the ball-handler pushes the player in front of the them through to the other side (Fig. 1).

This could be done by dribbling at them or perhaps a non-verbal signal (i.e. the ball handler “raising the roof” with their off-hand). A simple wave could suffice.

 
Fig. 1 – Dribble Push

The goal is to get the ball deep, preferably to free throw line extended or deeper.

From there, the offense can use different options to create an advantage or exploit scoring opportunities. We’ll run through a few using the three players on the ball side in our diagrams.

Wing Ball Screen

The first is simple: a wing ball screen (Fig. 2). In early offense, we want to get to this “side drag” within the first four to six seconds after gaining possession.
 
Fig. 2 – Dribble Push to a wing ball screen or “Side Drag”

Player 2 pushes through as Player 1 dribble advances. The trail player, Player 5 in Fig. 2 above, wing ball screens for Player 1.

 
Fig. 3 – The Empty Corner

The “Push” creates an empty corner (Fig. 3, pink box). After setting the side drag, Player 5 may roll or pop toward the empty corner.

Having an empty corner also strengthens the “reject” option where the ball handler rejects the screen and drives baseline (Fig. 4).

 
Fig. 4 – Rejecting the Side Drag

Player 2 is now in the headlights of the driver after pushing through. Often their man is tasked with helping on the baseline drive from the reject and they are open for the “drift” pass along the baseline.

Drive It

The Dribble Push also clears out the side for a simple dribble attack. Emptying the side plays to the strength of a strong right-hand driver in Fig. 5.
 
Fig. 5 – “Follow the Leader” Drive

As Player 2 pushes through, Player 1 uses a change of speed move (somewhere near the timeline) and attacks behind Player 2’s exit “following the leader” into a drive.

Post Up

If you like to post up your guards, the Dribble Push is an excellent way to do this (Fig. 6).
 
Fig. 6 – Dribble Push, Leg Whip into a post up

We call this a “leg whip” post up. Player 1 pushes Player 2. It looks as if Player 2 is going to exit to the other side, but he/she suddenly leg whips their man into a post up.

Reversal Options

Now let’s get creative. We dribble push to clear a side, then play to the trailer – Player 5 in these diagrams.
 
Fig. 7 – Dribble Push, playing to the trailer

What then are our options? Let’s begin with “GUT” action in Fig. 8 below.

 
Fig. 8 – Dribble Push, play to the Trailer, GUT action

In GUT action, Player 2 does not exit to the other side. Instead, they come “up the gut” when we play to the trailer. Player 5 delivers a handoff to Player 2.

For more on PUSH GUT action…

Another reversal option is the dribble handoff (Fig. 9). Player 1 dribble pushed Player 2 and passed to the trailer (Player 5).

 
Fig. 9 – Dribble Push, play to the trailer, DHO

Player 5 immediately dribbles at Player 1’s defender and Player 1 comes over the top for the handoff.

Drilling the Dribble Push

The diagrams in this breakdown show how 3v3 can be used to work on playing from the Dribble Push.
 
Fig. 10 3v3 Full Court – Dribble Push

Above (Fig. 10), we setup a transition opportunity for the offense. X1 passes to Player 1 to start the three-player drill. Now the offense can flow into a dribble push and play out of any of these options.

The simple drag screen, dribble handoff or a pass reversal are often the initial installation points for Five-Out offense.

Don’t neglect the push as a way to manipulate space, change shape and enter your offense. As we’ve discussed you can flow into many of the same actions from the dribble push. Plus a few more!