Choose a drill for the part of the possession that needs work. Lee's playbook gives separate breakdowns for Wave, Chin, backdoors and 5 Out. Preserve each drill's player positions and rotation, then reconnect it to the full action.
3-on-0 Wave Cuts
Use the playbook's guard, high-post and wing spots. The guard feeds the post, makes the chosen Wave route and receives the return for the finish being practiced. The options include the shot, drive, kickout, skip, double cut and the post-screen pull-up.
After the rep, the guard rebounds and becomes the post. The weakside wing fills the top and the old post fills the wing. Alternate sides. Keep the chosen finish consistent until the passing and footwork are understood.
This breakdown develops the entry and return action. Add the other two players before teaching the complete Point post-and-flare continuation. Source: printed pages 57-58.
Top Backdoor
Begin with a player at each wing and one at the top. A wing with the ball dribbles at the top player, who backcuts. The passer delivers the ball for the finish, then fills the top.
The shooter rebounds, passes to the stationary wing and fills the empty wing. Repeat in the other direction. Read the cutter's path before releasing the pass. Keep the pass in front of the cutter and out of the defender's reach. Source: printed page 59.
3-on-0 Chin Cuts
Use the source's three-player breakdown to rehearse the flare options. Practice the shot first, then the drive, kickout, backdoor or give-and-go option selected for the session. These are separate repetitions with a clear purpose.
The guard rebounds, kicks the ball to the top and becomes the weakside wing. The strongside wing moves to the top. The other wing stays in place and becomes the strongside wing when the drill changes direction.
This drill focuses on the flare reads. Return to five players to practice the actual Chin entry, including the handoff, weakside exchange, cut on the wing-pass release and immediate flare. Source: printed pages 60-61.
Five Out Backscreen
Use printed page 62 with its player numbering. The sequence practices the wing and corner spacing, the backdoor and reversal, and the later backscreen and post opportunity. The cutter or screener can receive the perimeter shot before the post seal is added.
Teach the first pass and cut, then the backscreen and return inside. Keep the shooter, next receiver and screener identified throughout the rep. A player cannot both hold the ball and cut for a pass at the same instant.
Connect the drill to the 5 Out lesson, including the high-school or Air Force personnel version chosen for the team. Source: printed page 62.
Wing Handoff or Backdoor
Start with two wings and a player under the basket. The player under the basket passes to a wing, moves to the top and receives the return pass. The ballhandler dribbles toward the opposite wing, who uses the taught handoff or backdoor read.
The shooter rebounds and passes to the same side. The passer fills the empty wing. Alternate sides. On the backdoor, wait for the cut and use the one-hand bounce pass described in the source. Vary the finish after the players can keep the route and pass on time. Source: printed page 63.
Add a defender without losing the lesson
Demonstrate the action first. Give a defender one prescribed response so the offense can identify its cue. Then allow a choice between responses the players know. Watch the spacing, decision and pass independently of whether the shot goes in.
For a concrete example, use the Low split practice progression. A defender playing tight on 2 gives the curl cue in the playbook. Restore all five players to complete the rotations and the wing decision after the post passes out.
Put the drill back into the possession
A three-player drill cannot represent every weakside fill. End the teaching block with the complete action and its covered-first-option continuation. Use the practice guide to plan that progression.
Use the diagrams with the lesson
Teaching reference: Lee DeForest's Princeton Offense Blueprint, printed pages 57-63.