INTERMEDIATE POWER PLAYS

*5C. Crease Cross-Pick - "Point Drag"

• The point player passes to the weak-side shooter, which triggers the strong-side crease player to cut the middle. 

• If this crease player is wide open they may receive a pass, otherwise the ball is passed back to the point player who begins to drag toward the strong-side shooter, who seals the high defender on their side. 

• The point player may also shoot if wide open coming around the seal (Option #2), but the strong-side crease player who cut the middle should now also be setting a cross-pick on the weak-side crease player (being careful to stay out of the crease), who cuts around the pick and is the primary option on this play (Option #1); otherwise the weak-side shooter may also be open if the off-ball help defender overcommits (Option #3).

• Variation

  • Instead of sealing the ball-side high defender, the strong-side shooter seals the off-ball high defender; preventing them from giving adjacent help to the crease player coming around the cross-pick.
    

*5D. Crease Cross-Pick - "Shooter Drag"

• The point player passes to the strong-side shooter, which triggers the weak-side crease player to cut to the middle. 

• If this crease player is wide open they may receive a pass, otherwise the ball is passed back to the point player, who then passes it to the weak-side shooter, who drags into the soft spot. 

• The weak-side crease player who cut should now also be setting a cross-pick on the strong-side crease player (being careful to stay out of the crease), who cuts around the pick and is the primary option on this play (Option #1); otherwise the strong-side shooter may also be open if the off-ball help defender overcommits low (Option #2).  

• *Note:  Both of these plays also work well against a Diamond defense.