Point Over: The Princeton Offense Over Read

Point Over starts with 1 passing to 5 at the high post and cutting over the top of the ball toward a fake screen for 4. The name describes 1's route. It does not mean that the defender went over a ball screen.

First read: 4's backcut

Player 4 moves toward 1 to set up the backcut, then cuts to the rim for a pass from 5. Player 1 pops back out for the return pass. The source says 1 should not catch in the corner. If that return is denied, 1 can backcut.

Player 4 finishes the rim cut. Player 3 moves above the weakside elbow, ready to screen for 4 and read how the defense handles the next side ball screen.

The rolling side-screen option

When 1 receives the return pass, 5 sets the side ball screen. Player 1 attacks off it and 5 rolls to the basket. Player 3 screens down for 4 to come toward the top.

Printed page 19 gives 1 the drive, the pass to the rolling 5 and the pass to 4 near the top. Keep the roll visible in the lesson. This option differs from the nonrolling follow action in Point Away.

Read a trap with the correct outlet

If the defense traps the ball screen, 1 dribbles higher to pull both defenders away from the basket. Player 3 recognizes the trap and sprints to the top for the outlet. Player 5 rolls, and 3 can pass high-low to 5. Player 4 clears to the top area shown in the diagram.

The outlet is 3 in this counter. Do not copy 4's normal downscreen catch into the trap response. The change in 3's job is part of how the offense handles the pressure.

The changing-post version

If 1 has no score and the defense is not trapping, 1 dribbles up. Player 4 comes off 3's downscreen, 2 fills the wing and 5 has rolled inside. In the Air Force continuation on printed page 20, 3 takes the post role for that possession and 5 fills the wing.

Player 1 reverses to 4, who passes to 2 on the wing. The new post, 3, can screen for 4's UCLA cut as the action moves into the Strongside phase. The role change is for this possession.

The fixed-post version

To keep 5 in the familiar post role, the source offers a different continuation. When the roll is covered, 1 passes to 3 coming to the top. There is no downscreen in this version. Player 4 fills the corner and 1 fills the other corner. Player 3 can feed 5 and select a Point route.

Teach the choice before the possession. Combining 3's downscreen from one version with 3's direct lift from the other gives that player conflicting jobs.

Additional side-screen choices

Printed pages 20-21 include a reversal version where 5 follows to the elbow, a post-flare finish, and pick-and-pop options. In one post-flare sequence, 1 passes to 2 on the wing, 3 posts and 5 flarescreens for 1. Player 2 reads the post, the flare receiver, the screener or the dribble-up to Chin.

Other diagrams use 4 as the post after the backcut, or use 4 to backscreen 5 inside. Work from the selected diagram all the way through the next catch. Those choices extend the base action without changing which player rolls in the page 19 example.

Practice the return catch and continuation

Begin with the post feed, fake screen, 4's backcut and 1's return catch. Check that 1 catches above the corner. Add 5's side screen and roll, then restore 3 and 4's weakside work. Show the trap response as a separate repetition before letting the defense vary its coverage.

Use the Point overview to keep the read names consistent and Away to compare the different ball-screen finish.

Source: Lee DeForest's Princeton Offense Blueprint, printed pages 19-21.