What is the Princeton offense low post series in basketball?
The Low Post series of Princeton offense generally focuses on utilizing a low post player to ultimately create close-range or perimeter-oriented scoring opportunities, especially via cutting and screening actions.
What are examples of the Princeton offense low post series?
The Princeton offense low post series includes the initial action to begin the set as well as various options to create scoring opportunities following the initiation phase. The examples below demonstrate these concepts in greater detail, which also includes diagrams and key actions in bold text.
How to understand the diagram examples via a brief legend
In reference to any diagrams below, each of the offensive players are generally represented by the standard basketball positions in number format, unless otherwise noted.
- 1 through 5: 1 through 5 represents the offensive point guard (1), shooting guard (2), small forward (3), power forward (4), and center (5), respectively.
- Black Dot or Small Circle: The black dot or small circle represents the basketball.
- Solid Arrow: The solid arrow indicates movement or a cut on the basketball court.
- Dotted Arrow: The dotted arrow represents a basketball pass.
- Wavy Arrow: The wavy arrow indicates dribbling.
- T-Shaped Symbol: The T-shaped symbol signifies a screen, also known as a pick.
- Double Pipe Symbol: The double pipe symbol denotes handoff action.
Initial action
- The initial action to begin the Princeton offense low post series typically consists of a slot to wing (or guard to forward) pass followed up with a cut through to the opposite corner on the weak side by the player executing the first pass.
- Afterwards, the wing or forward can feed the ball to the adjacent post player who is currently located near the strong side low post area.
- From there, the post player can try to score via a low post move or execute other actions.
- Slot to wing pass: Starting off, 1 executes a slot to wing pass, which is received by 3 near the right side wing area.
- Through cut: After the slot to wing pass occurs, 1 cuts through to the opposite corner on the left side.
- Post entry pass: As 1 cuts through and eventually fills the corner, 3 executes a post entry pass, which is received by 5.
- Slot to top movement: While those previous actions happen, 2 can move towards the top from the initial left slot area, mainly to space out the floor.
Laker cut
After executing the post entry pass, the wing player could utilize a Laker cut on the high side or low side and receive the ball again to score a layup. Other off-ball players can shift to different court areas accordingly as well.
Example 1
- Laker cut on high side: 3 performs a Laker cut on the high side of 5.
- Scoring opportunity: Once near the basket, 3 could receive the ball again from 5 and score via a layup.
- Potential fill cuts: If 3 is not open, then 3 could cut out and fill the left side corner. Furthermore, 1, 4, and 2 can fill the left side wing, top, and right side wing areas, respectively.
- Possible continuation: 2 could execute the high side Laker cut as well. Alternatively, the players could run other actions via the low post to create other scoring possibilities.
Example 2
- Laker cut on low side: 3 performs a Laker cut on the low side.
- Scoring opportunity: 3 could receive the ball again from 5 via a handoff, in this instance. Afterwards, 3 can score by way of a layup.
- Potential fill cuts: If 3 is not open, then 3 could cut through and fill the left side corner. Furthermore, 1, 4, and 2 can fill the left side wing, top, and right side wing areas, respectively.
- Possible continuation: 2 could utilize the low side Laker cut as well. Alternatively, the players could run other actions via the low post to create more scoring opportunities.
Post split
- Once the ball enters into the low post, that can be followed up with post split action, also known as a split cut, which could lead to various scoring opportunities.
- In essence, the wing player could screen away from the ball for another teammate. The wing player could also slip the screen as well.
- Furthermore, the player at the top could reject the screen and cut to the basket while the screening player simply replaces themselves back to the original location.
- Alternatively, the top player could set a screen for the wing player who could use that screen and curl cut to the basket.
- The top player could also replace at the wing spot following the screening action and potentially receive the ball from the low post player.
Example 1
- Post split action: 3 screens away from the ball near the high post elbow area. 2 utilizes that screen and cuts to the vacant right side wing.
- Slip option: 3 could possibly slip to the basket during or immediately following the cut of 2.
- Scoring opportunities: 5 can pass to either 2 or 3, resulting in a potential three-point shot or layup, respectively.
- Potential fill cuts: Assuming 3 slipped but didn’t receive the ball, 3 cuts through to fill the left side corner. 1 and 4 can also fill the left side wing as well as the top, respectively.
- Possible continuation: The team could run other actions such as the high side Laker cut mentioned earlier.
Example 2
- Post split reject: 3 can screen away near the high post elbow area. However, 2 can reject that screen and cut to the basket instead.
- Self-replace: 3 can replace themselves back to the right side wing again.
- Scoring opportunity: 2 can receive the ball from 5 while cutting to the basket and score via a layup.
- Potential fill cuts: 2 can cut through to the left side corner if they were not open. 1 and 4 fill the left side wing and top, respectively.
- Possible continuation: The team could run other actions such as the low side Laker cut stated earlier.
Example 3
- Post split curl: 2 can cut towards the high post elbow to set a screen. 3 can use that screen and curl cut to the rim.
- Wing fill: After setting the screen, 2 could fill the vacant right side wing area.
- Scoring opportunities: 3 could receive the ball from 5 while cutting to the basket, leading to a potential layup. Alternatively, 2 could receive it instead, potentially resulting in a three-point shot.
- Fill cuts: 1 and 4 can fill the left side wing and top, respectively. In this instance, 1 and 4 are simply keeping their defenders occupied to mitigate potential weak side help.