What is the V-cut in basketball
The V-cut consists of action that occurs when an offensive player utilizes a cut that is in the shape of the letter V, ultimately to get open, receive the basketball, and create a potential scoring opportunity near the perimeter or near the rim.
It should also be mentioned that the V-cut could be performed by any of the standard basketball positions during a game.
However, this particular basketball cut is primarily used by players such as the point guard, shooting guard, or small forward to get open near the perimeter areas of the court.
Why is the V-cut generally effective
The V-cut is generally effective not only because it helps an offensive player to get open but also because it gives that same offensive player an opportunity to perform a useful action with the basketball such as passing, shooting, or driving, especially via the triple threat position.
To provide more clarity, let’s say that an offensive player near the right side wing would like to receive the ball from another offensive teammate near the top.
Furthermore, let’s say that an off-ball defender is closely guarding that offensive player near the wing, not necessarily with something like denial defense in this instance, but with at least a moderate amount of defensive pressure.
From that point, if the offensive player near the wing were to receive the ball, then that same player would probably not be able to execute effective actions or those potential efforts would most likely be severely limited.
The reason that this could occur is because once the offensive wing player receives the ball, the opposing player, who would now be an on-ball wing defender, could easily closeout on the offensive player with the ball and crowd their space.
When the offensive player does not have much space or separation from their on-ball defender, this makes it more difficult to carry out actions that could be favorable for themselves or for the team as a whole.
In more simple words, it is much more challenging for an offensive player to pass, shoot, or drive, especially when an on-ball defender is in that offensive player’s space.
Nevertheless, the V-cut attempts to counter against that defensive tactic by generating essential space or separation for the offensive player.
What are possible offensive actions after a V-cut
After a player executes the V-cut and receives the basketball, there are several offensive actions that could occur, which could include taking a jump shot or driving to the basket among others.
Take a jump shot
After an offensive player executes the V-cut and receives the ball, that same player could take a jump shot within their respective shooting range.
The type of jump shot could be either a mid-range shot within the three-point line near the perimeter areas of the court or a long-range jump shot behind the three-point line.
Drive to the basket
An offensive player could drive to the basket, also known as attacking the rim, after executing the V-cut. This could be useful if the defender is executing a poor closeout.
In addition to that, in certain instances, an offensive player could also fake and drive by utilizing a shot fake or fake pass followed up by a drive towards the basket, which could potentially lead to scoring points via a layup or dunk.
Jab Step
After receiving the ball subsequent to the V-cut, an offensive player could get into the triple threat position and perform a jab step.
This could be favorable when the defender does not necessarily crowd the space but at the same time, the defender is not giving too much space that would occur with a sagging defense.
After performing the jab step, the offensive player could either shoot or drive depending on how the on-ball defender changes their stance and/or the location of the help defense at that particular time.
Call for an on-ball screen
After receiving the ball following the V-cut action, the offensive player could call for an on-ball screen from another teammate.
This would usually occur when the offensive player in possession of the basketball is a perimeter player such as a point guard, shooting guard, or small forward and the screener is a post player such as a power forward or center.
It should also be noted though that it is possible to execute an inverted on-ball screen where a perimeter player would set an on-ball screen for a post player but this is generally rare.
Moreover, it is feasible for a perimeter player to set an on-ball screen for another perimeter player or a post player to set an on-ball screen for another post player but once again, those situations are usually not very common.
Pass and cut
Once an offensive player performs the V-cut and receives the ball, that same player could then follow up with pass and cut action.
Essentially, after the V-cut occurs, the offensive player that receives the ball could either pass back to the player that passed to them or pass it to another teammate and immediately cut to the basket.
From that point, if the offensive player receives the ball again and quickly scores, then that would also be a completion of give and go action.
Pass and screen away
When an offensive player carries out the V-cut and gains possession of the ball, that same player could then continue with pass and screen away action.
Basically, after the V-cut happens, the offensive player in possession of the ball could pass it back to the player that passed to them or pass it to another teammate and immediately set an off-ball screen for another teammate.
Also, if the offensive player with the ball passes it to another player in the low post and immediately cuts away to set an off-ball screen, then this is also known as a split cut or post split action.
What are basic diagram examples of the V-cut
Example 1
This is an example of a standard V-cut, which also includes general instructions on how a player should perform it.
Additionally, the diagram features two offensive players, simply denoted as 1 and 2, as well as one defender that is initially off the ball, denoted as X2.
Furthermore, 1 is the the offensive point guard near the top with initial possession of the ball, 2 is the offensive shooting guard near the right side wing, and X2 is the defensive shooting guard executing man to man defense against 2.
Moreover, notice that initially, X2 is closely guarding 2 but not with so much pressure that 2 cannot receive the ball.
In other words, for this example, 2 could quickly receive the ball from 1 via action such as a simple chest pass.
However, the main issue is that this would be advantageous for X2 because X2 could easily perform a defensive closeout to limit offensive abilities of 2.
So, this is where the V-cut comes into play. To start the action, 2 begins by walking or moderately jogging towards the basket.
When that occurs, X2 continues to stay near 2, particularly on the high side, so that 2 does not easily get open, especially near the basket.
Next, after 2 briskly walks or leisurely jogs towards the basket, 2 immediately plants a foot, which for this case, should be the right foot, preferably between the legs of X2, and immediately sprints back toward the free throw line extended/high post elbow area with hands ready to receive the ball.
Also, notice that 2 does not take the exact same linear path when popping out towards the perimeter. Instead, 2 slightly changes the path’s direction at an angle and that is what creates the V-cut.
In other words, the full directional path that 2 takes to get open should be in the shape of the letter V.
The reason this directional path is necessary is because it gives 2 a higher chance to get open and stay open for a longer amount of time, even if that extra time is only an additional second or two.
To make this point clearer, let’s break the V-cut down into two simple phases. During the first phase, when 2 initially cuts toward the basket, X2 simply mirrors that action and therefore, slides their feet towards the basket as well, mainly to stay near 2.
Nonetheless, when X2 slides towards the basket, this action also causes their momentum to naturally move in that direction.
Therefore, during the second phase, when 2 slightly changes the path’s direction at an angle and pops out or cuts away, it would be extremely challenging for X2 to not only reverse their momentum but also change their direction to ultimately remain alongside 2.
As a result, 2 would most likely get open, receive the ball, and produce scoring/playmaking opportunities, especially from the triple threat position.
Example 2
This is another example of the standard V-cut, this time, without the defense. Simply put, 2 executes the V-cut initially towards the basket and then sprints out towards the high post elbow area.
Afterwards, 2 receives the ball from 1, attacks the rim, and then scores by way of a layup or dunk.
Example 3
This is an example of V-cut variation that comprises 2 initially filling the low post block as opposed to filling the wing area, as with the standard V-cut.
To start, 1 executes a dribble entry towards the left side wing and as that happens, 2 carries out the V-cut into the lane and then pops out towards the high post, particularly near the nail area.
From there, 2 could receive the ball and take the mid-range jump shot or possibly drive to the basket.
Example 4
This is yet another variation of the V-cut. At the initial setup, 2 fills the low post block as previous. This time though, 2 cuts into the lane area but pops out towards the right side wing just inside of the three-point line.
Following that, 2 receives the ball and takes the jump shot or drives to the basket.
Example 5
This is an example of a V-cut within the first part of the traditional shuffle offense. To start, 2 receives the ball from 1 and as that occurs, 3 gets open near the right side wing by way of a V-cut.
Afterwards, 3 receives the ball from 2. Next, 1 cuts to the basket by way of the back screen set by 5.
From there, 1 could receive the ball from 3 and score at the rim. However, if 1 is not open, then 1 would cut through to the right side short corner and the shuffle offense would continue into part 2.