Chris Mack Xavier Press Break – Attacking Pressure

Written by Coach Peterman

I have coached at the NCAA Division 2 (Southwestern Oklahoma State University), NAIA (USAO), and JUCO Levels (Blinn College and Carl Albert State College) as well as high school. I just felt that fellow coaches especially young coaches need to constantly work on their “game”. Just like the basketball players that we coach. We as coaches need to improve ourselves. That is my story and why I do this blog.

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February 22, 2014

Chris Mack Xavier Press Break – Attacking Pressure

The game of basketball has many aspects that make it advantageous for one team over another. The press is one of those techniques that is used to increase tempo, slow tempo, pressure a poor ball-handling team, or to just increase turnovers. No matter why a team uses the press a coach should have a philosophy of how to attack and what he wants after the press is broken. The following is what Coach Mack feels is vital to a successful press break.

A. Your press offense philosophy must
1. Fit your personality
2. Fit your team personnel
3. Work against the best opponent you will face

B. Developing your philosophy (initial questions to ask) | Chris Mack Xavier Press Break
– Do you simply want to safely break the back-court pressure or score as a result?
– Do you have a player that can beat double teams?
– Do you need to break the pressure with the bounce or the pass?
– Do you understand the intention of the defense that is attacking you?

C. Xavier’s Philosophy for press offense | Chris Mack Xavier Press Break
– “It’s our philosophy to use the fewest players possible in breaking the full court press”
The fewer players used to bring the ball into the back-court the fewer defensive players there will be to protect the basket.
The quickest way to keep a team from pressuring you is to get a couple of easy baskets.
– If players give up a basket when pressing they become less aggressive.
– If you cannot attack to score you must have a philosophy to get the ball safely out of pressure into the half court set.

*Very important to know what the defense is trying to achieve in their press to be able to plan an attack that will lead to positive results.

“Do your “coaching” in practice and let you players “Play” come game time!”

We have a new basketball coaching contributor in Mark Chapman He is doing an excellent job in providing basketball coaching clinic notes, basketball drills, and basketball plays. He is the Head Boy’s Basketball Coach at Hamilton Township High School in Columbus, Ohio. I think that you will enjoy these basketball clinic notes on these Chris Mack Xavier Press Break – Attacking Pressure.

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