The key to a successful early push is a team's ability to make the transition to offense and bust out faster than the opponent can make a defensive transition and get back. If executed to perfection early push usually ends up with an easy shot off an out numbered situation. However, gaining an out numbered player advantage is not the only benefit from an early push. Easy baskets and/or defensive fouls are also a result of the defensive players not having enough time to set up, and often end up out of position unable to make a play. Easy baskets and defensive fouls off player mismatches are another benefit to the early push, since the defensive players do not have ample amount of time to assume their desired matchups.

Basically, early push is a three lane attack with court balance and spacing being crucial. The ball is outletted or inbounded to a specific point guard O1 who in turn pushes the ball up the court on a head up, hard dribble. The player O4 inbounding the ball or making the outlet pass assumes the trailer position. The shooting guard O2 and quick forward O3 break out to the wings, running wide lanes. The post O5 runs the middle lane on a fly route or doubles back to become the secondary outlet against full court pressure.

Early push execution demands that players assume and carry out definite assignments and responsibilities on every break. This will allow players to become specialist in their assigned roles and will keep the court balance by preventing two players assuming the same position on a break during a game. Except for the post and trail positions, interchange player roles after they master their primary role.

Player Roles & Responsibilities:

Point Guard - best ball handler
Right Wing - most accurate long range shooter
Left Wing - best all around player
Post Fly - strong forward or post
Inbounder/Trail - best defensive rebounder

Basic Action - Pass Ahead

Basic action begins with a quick but safe outlet or inbounds pass to point O1 on the move. O1 immediate looks up the court to pass ahead to shooters O2 or O3 sprinting out on wings or to O5 flying down middle. When O1 cannot pass ahead, O1 advances the ball on a hard dribble. Shooters have green light to shoot any open shot since the defense is at a big rebounding disadvantage during transition.

Basic Action - Dribble Penetration

Once point O1 crosses half court, O1 looks to "Pound Cake" the ball directly inside to O5 or to pass to wing O2. Trailer O4 down screens for O3 on weakside. When O1 passes to O2, O1 screens away for shooter O3. If O2 is unable to feed post O5, O2 makes a reversal pass out to O3 coming off O4's and O1's tandem down screens.

Variation: Weakside Back Screen Action (Lob)
Variation: Mid Screen Action
Dribble Penetration Action to Left Side.

Basic Action - Pressure Release

If/when the inbounds pass to point O1 is contested or doubled team, post O5 doubles back receiving the secondary inbounds pass from O4. O5 then looks to hit O1 on diagonal cut. O2 and O3 fill outside lanes while O4 and O5 trail.

Option 2: Both Primary and Secondary Outlets Denied (Lob)

Phase Two: Early Flow