Press Defenses play
1-3-1 Press: Chaser, Sideline Trap, Second Trap
- Court
- Full court
- Length
- 9 steps
About this play
The 1-3-1 three-quarter press ('23'), drawn as a whole possession. Why it works: the chaser (X1, long and athletic) turns his shoulders to the side the ball is inbounded to and influences the dribbler up that sideline; the ball-side wing (X3 or X4, long) steps up near half court to trap with him; the middle (X2, quickest) fronts every flash; the weak wing drops back toward the goal, level with the ball; and the goalie (X5, your rim protector) holds the lane and reads the sideline lob. The press traps in all four corners of the backcourt half, and if the ball escapes the frontcourt wing and goalie set a second trap on the sideline. What it forces: a sideline dribble into a trap and a lob or a middle pass into an interceptor. What it gives up: the retreat pass, the corners, and the layup if the goalie leaves the lane. Counter shown: the offense swings the ball to the other guard before the chaser can get there; the press answers because the chaser does not chase the pass; he cuts off the angle the new dribbler wants and arrives before the ball does, while the other wing steps up to trap the same way. Weakness: a two-guard front that keeps swinging wears the chaser out. The 23 press came from Basketball For Coaches' 1-3-1 coaching guide and Coach Calls Timeout's walkthrough of the trapping version, with Online Basketball Drills on who plays each role; give them a look for the second-trap rules.
