1 v 1.5 Wing Attack Drill

The 1 v 1.5 Wing Attack Drill looks to promote scoring efficiency and effectiveness from the wing position in the half court. Many drills that focus on individual offense in the half court often look to have players match-up in a one on one situation and have the goal of the drill being the offensive player beating the defender to finish with a lay-up or close range scoring opportunity. However, in reality this situation is very rarely the case. Many perimeter-scoring situations do not indeed finish with a scoring opportunity being created all the way to the basket, but rather create a mid-range scoring option. The 1 v 1.5 Wing Attack Drill provides a building block in developing a players understanding about how these mid-range scoring opportunities unfold and what their options are.

The 1 v 1.5 Wing Attack Drill starts with an offensive player (One) in the wing position.

There are then two defenders (Two and Three) that take part in the drill. The first defender (Three) starts in front the basket. Three (3) starts with a basketball. The 1 v 1.5 Wing Attack Drill begins with Three (3) passing the ball to One (1) and then closes out to the offensive player.

The Offensive player One (1), and the defender Three (3) are now in a live one on one situation.

The second defender (Two) starts behind the backboard and once Three (3) begins to close-out, then Two (2) fills the split line help position.

In the 1 v 1.5 Wing Attack Drill Two (2) once in the split line help position can be active, but never leave the keyway. This is what makes the 1 v 1.5 Wing Attack Drill such a unique and rewarding activity for improving a team’s offensive output from opportunities created from the perimeter. The progression of the drill will see the offensive player attempt to beat Three (3) in the closeout. If this happens then the offensive player must deal with help defence defending the keyway. This will promote the development by the individual on scoring from the mid-range.

Points of Emphasis

The types of skills which need to be developed and practiced in building competence by the offensive player in creating and dealing with possible scoring options include:

• Jab Step, one dribble jump shot
• Shot Fake, one dribble jump shot
• Pass Fake, one dribble jump shot
• Jab Step, two dribbles jump shot
• Shot Fake, two dribbles jump shot
• Pass Fake, two dribbles jump shot

Instead of a jump shot, other scoring moves such as practicing a jump stop and floater from the edge of the keyway especially when the drive is towards the base line will be viable. Another skill such as using a step-back may also be beneficial in helping as offensive player develop a good scoring opportunity.

Offensive players can also use secondary moves to beat the help defender such as a jump stop, shot fake and step through so they work their way to the basket by having to beat both defenders, not just make an open lay-up as depicted in less effective drills.

Variation

Once offensive players become capable of readily making scores with the 1 v 1.5 Wing Attack Drill, then the second defender (Two) can start to be allowed to be more active in defence. While still providing some opportunity for the offensive player, the split line defender (Two) can be allowed to extend their help defence to outside the keyway. Have Two (2) not engage until the offensive player has made at least one dribble, or the defender will simply cheat and end up providing no opportunity for a scoring outcome by the offense.

The 1 v 1.5 Wing Attack Drill looks to provide an opportunity for the offense to score in a game like scenario. Many offensive players will struggle with this concept, as they will often practice in the context of shooting from the perimeter or laying the ball up within the key. By using the 1 v 1.5 Wing Attack Drill players will become better at scoring using some very simple offensive skills, but in a pressure situation.

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