The Basketball Triangle Offensive

Player 1 has the ball. 2 runs to the free-throw line extended from the block area. 1 can pass to 2 and cut for the handoff or keep the ball and use 2 for a pick. If 2 hands the ball off to 1, 2 can roll to the basket for a perfect pick-and-roll. On the triangle side, 3 and 4 will go to the block area and set a double screen for 5. 5 will take his or her assigned defender behind the screen, then pop out toward the tandem side looking for a pass from 2, providing he or she did not handoff to 1.

If 5 does not get the ball, he or she continues the route to form the triangle. Without the ball, 1 continues to the corner looking for a pass from 2 and a jump shot. 2 can also pass to 1, slide down the lane and play a two-player game with 1 because that side of the floor is open. 2 can always turn and face-up with the defender for a one-on-one situation. 4 slides up to the tandem post while 3 pops to the top. If 1 has the ball in the corner, 5 ducks into the lane and gets a pass from 1 for an easy layup or dish-off. After the player movements, notice that the triangle and tandem are now on the opposite sides of the floor. For simplicity, try to have every entry with the triangle and tandem on the same side.

5 has the ball and passes to 4 in the corner to start the series. 3 steps up to set a pick for 5. 5 cuts off 3 looking for a pass from 4.

If 5 fails to get a pass from 4, he or she runs a route and curls around 2 looking for a pass from 4. If 5 still does not get a pass, he or she drifts to form the triangle on the left side. As 5 is running through the lane, 3 sets a pick for 4 trying to set up a pick-and-roll.

If nothing materializes from the corner entry, 4 dribbles to the top as 3 goes to the block area to form the other half of the tandem.

Players 5, 2 and 1 makeup the triangle on the opposite side.

5 passes to 3 in the post. 4 runs baseline looking for a backdoor pass from 3. As 4 cuts across the baseline, 1 forms a double screen with 2. 4 curls and looks for a pass from 3. If 4 fails to get a pass, he or she proceeds to the top to form the triangle.

2 flares out to the corner and 1 becomes the triangle-side post 5 can cut off 3 for a handoff or play a two-man game with 3 as soon as 4 clears out.

If nothing happens, 3 dribbles out and 5 goes to the post to form the tandem side. 3 also has the option to face-up and go one-on-one with the assigned defender.

Triangle Post Option

5 has the ball, 1 sprints toward 5 for a pass as 3 steps and locks out his or her defender and steps into the lane looking for a quick pass from 1 for a layup.

Tandem Backdoor Option.

2 sprints toward the baseline then jab steps and runs to get a pass from 5 at the triangle elbow.

1 takes two or three steps to the left and cuts toward the basket looking for a pass from 5.

Tandem Screen-And-Shoot Option.

Players proceed as in diagram 6. As 4 is just about to curl around the screen, he or she backpedals to the corner looking for a skip pass from 3 for the jump shot.

Triangle Pop-And- Shoot Option.

Players proceed as in diagram 2 above. 1 passes to 2 and cuts while looking for the return pass. 3 and 4 set a screen for 5.

5 runs the normal route behind screen, but instead of coming over the screen, he or she pops to the corner looking for a skip pass from 2 for the jump shot. If 5 fails to receive the pass, he or she should come over the screen looking for the pass and shot at the free-throw line area or try to go under the screen for an easy layup.