Rebound Screen Cut

The purpose of each possession is to create a sideline triangle on one side of the floor with a two-man game on the other side. One of the most important movements in the offense is the so-called “rebound-screen-cut,” or triangle split. As the name suggests, the movement has three aims: rebound a possible missed shot, opening up a shot with a screen, and cutting to the basket for a pass. As always, the defense dictates the movements of offensive players. I will be exploring the most important options of the triangle split. There are many more, but that would result in about 30 diagrams, but I actually DO have a life.

Diagram 1

In the first six diagrams, we will be assuming that O3 originally had the ball and decided to swing it to the weak side. After passing the ball, he then initiates the rebound-screen-cut with O1 in the corner. If D1 goes over the screen, O1 reads the defense and then cuts to the basket for a possible pass from O2 or O4.

Diagram 2

If D1 goes under the screen to prevent a cut to the basket, O1 reads the defense once again and sets up for a midrange jumper.

Diagram 3

If D1 and D3 switch on the screen, O3 would catch D1 on the wrong side near the baseline and would then cut to the basket expecting a pass from O2 or O4.

Diagram 4

O3 can also fake a screen, catch D3 asleep, use O5 as a shield, and then cut quickly to the basket.

Diagram 5

If D1 anticipates O3’s screen and attempts to disrupt O1’s movement, O1 can quickly change direction and cut to the baseline for a pass. Kobe uses this option frequently when he’s the corner man.

Diagram 6

As mentioned earlier, this movement can also be used for rebounding from the weak side. If O2 or O4 attempt a shot, O3 and O5 can catch their defense off balance and go for offensive rebounds. Here, O3 sets the screen for O1 and then quickly cuts to the basket for a rebound. O5 does the same.

Diagram 7

The split can also be executed when the ball is in the low post. The various reads would be the same with the exception that the ball will be passed from the post as opposed to the two-man game on the other side of the floor.