INTRODUCTION

In this section, you are going to learn how teams use actions to create advantages on purpose.

An action is a set of pre-planned movements designed to:

- create gaps
- force help
- put the defence in a position where they must choose

Actions are often called plays, but they are not meant to be followed blindly.

They are organized ways to create the same advantages you already understand.

You already know the building blocks:

- drives
- cuts
- screens
- pick and roll

An action is simply a way to put those building blocks together so the offence doesn't have to start from zero every possession.

For example:

- Pick and roll is a simple action
- It creates a 2-on-1
- The defence must help
- An advantage appears

Actions don't replace decision-making.

They set up better situations to make decisions.

Actions help teams:

- create advantages without guessing
- force predictable defensive reactions
- get into the paint faster
- generate easy shots more often

Good actions don't tell you what to do.

They help you see what the defence is giving you.