2 v 1 Driving Lane Lay-up Drill

The 2 v 1 Driving Lane Lay-up Drill provides a very specific environment for players to perfect their reads for attacking the basket. All too often players stumble and struggle to make a lay-up in fast break, transition, or broken play situations. The 2 v 1 Driving Lane Lay-up Drill looks to help players find their rhythm and make the right read more often. If you have players forcing shots, missing lay-ups and not converting on a numbers advantage, then the 2 v 1 Driving Lane Lay-up Drill is for you.

The key point why the 2 v 1 Driving Lane Lay-up Drill helps improve the choices made by players is in the first instance it provides the ball handler with an opportunity to make a read. The choices are quite simple, but are vital for the improvement of the quality and consistency of read. These are:

• If the defensive player is positioned in between the edges of the backboard; then the offensive player will be able to create enough of an angle to finish a lay-up
• If the defensive player leaves their split line position and moves outside the line of the backboard; the ball handler is to still attack the basket but only until they have drawn the defensive player towards them so they are within two arm lengths and then make the assist to their team-mate

The other point of importance that the 2 v 1 Driving Lane Lay-up Drill brings timing to the player off the ball. The offensive player filling the weak side lane will need to time their run so they arrive at the right place, at the right time. For this player similarly to the ball handler there are two distinctive reads:

• If the defender is staying in between the edges of the backboard, the ball handler will then be looking to drive to the basket for the lay-up; in this situation standing on the opposite side of the backboard only crowds the basket and if the pass is made the chances of the defender recovering a greater then if the offensive player off the ball instead flashes to the weak side mid-post area. This position will result in a high percentage shot, but also will leave the passing lane open for longer between the two offensive players
• If the defender moves to stop the driving lane of the ball handler outside the line of the backboard, then the dribbler will be looking to draw the defender and make an assist pass; in this situation, the weak side lane runner will move to the edge of the back board looking for the pass and quick shot.

The 2 v 1 Driving Lane Lay-up Drill starts with two lines at halfway on either side of the court. One line will have the basketballs and the other players will fill the role of the weak side lane runners.

One defender starts at the foul line awaiting the drill to start with the ball handler starting to dribble.

The ball handler should look to dribble down the sideline initially mirroring what happens often when the ball is pushed ahead in transition down the sideline. Once reaching the foul line extended the ball handler should look to attack the basket.

The weak side lane runner looks to time their run so they are in the best possible position to receive a pass and make a high percentage shot.

Once the repetition has finished the ball handler becomes the next defender. The defender rotates into the weak side lane runner line. The weak side lane runner moves to the ball handler line.

There are key aims of the 2 v 1 Driving Lane Lay-up Drill. The first is that the right read is always made by the ball handler and weak side lane runner. The second goal is for the offensive pair to always score from each and every possession.

The 2 v 1 Driving Lane Lay-up Drill is a very useful activity and helps players with some of the more basic tactical principles associated with fast break and transition offense.

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