Backdoor Step

In this post we will take a look at the third N.2 Pass, the backdoor step.

Fisher makes a dribble entry into the wing position, pushing Artest to the corner.  Derrick Caracter comes across the lane but does a poor job shaping up in the post.  The defender up top, who normally sags to help out against the post, is playing his man tightly because his man happens to be Kobe.  

If the defense starts to play the man at defensive balance too tightly, a void in the defense is created in the free throw area.  The weakside wing must recognize this void and flash to the strong side elbow to receive the pass.  Devin Ebanks sees the void and flashes to the hole in the defense.

1) Fisher makes the N.2 pass to Ebanks
As Ebanks flashes, Kobe begins a speed cut to get past his man.  This is the primary action for this N.2 pass.

2) Ebanks gives Kobe a nice drop pass in stride.

Kobe now has the ball on the move with the defense a step behind.  The Grizzlies have no choice but to foul to prevent an easy basket.

This clip begins by Fisher dribbling into the corner.

1) Fisher then passes to Odom in the wing to initiate the offense.

Pau shapes up in the post and forms the triangle:

- Fisher in the corner

- Odom in the wing

- Kobe at defensive balance

- Artest in the weakside wing

The defense drops off Odom, denying the entry pass into the post.  Artest makes his move to initiate the backdoor step.

2) N2 pass to Artest.
This N2 pass keys two actions:

- As Artest flashes, Kobe begins his speed cut.  Kobe goes a bit too soon so he settles into the pinch post.

- Meanwhile, Odom runs a rebound screen cut (man in corner step fakes the baseline then cuts off a screen set by the wing man) for Fisher.  

The options keyed by this N.2 pass are consistent with the reversal options of the N.2 pass to the top: a man fills the pinch post while the wing runs a rebound screen cut.  Unfortunately, Ron being Ron (Queensbridge!), ignores these options and launches the most inefficient jump shot in basketball; a contested long 2 point jumper.

Here the play is run out of bounds.

1) Barnes inbounds to Brown.  

From here a loose triangle is formed:

- Brown in the wing

- Barnes in the corner

- Ratliff in the post

- Blake at defensive balance

- Ebanks at weakside wing

2) N.2 Pass to the backdoor step

The pass keys Blake to make a speed cut.  Instead of running a rebound screen cut, Brown chooses to follow behind Blake.

3) Ebanks executes a nice shuffle pass then uses his body to screen Brown's defender.  It looks as if Brown will have another signature dunk for the taking but Blake's man sees Brown coming and steps in for the charge (the typical option would have had Blake spotting up in the nearby corner, rather than cutting through the baseline, so Shannon would have had an easy pass to a wide open three if the defense chose to help on his drive).

And finally, so we can see the ball actually go in the basket!



In both clips we see the backdoor step keying two actions:
- Defensive Balance speed cut
- Rebound screen cut