Tactics - Wheel movement

Tactics
Wheel movement

Coach Daniel
The "Weird" Offensive Tactic That NBA Teams Are Copying (YouTube)

In October 2024, the Memphis Grizzlies introduced to the NBA the offensive concept that on a drive, everyone moves in the direction of the drive, operating on a wheel.

The concept applies with 5-out spacing (similar to circle movement / push-pull in Read and React), but also with 4-out spacing.

See Read and React - Mike MacKay, Coach Mac..

Here 2 drives left, 1 fills behind the drive, 3 and 4 move left (slide away), pushing 5 to cut from the corner (a weakside corner cut). 4 could slide then backcut.

The slide-away by 3 is a great counter if X3 helps to stop the drive (gap help).

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To the extent possible, players should have reads and options, which for me are based on dribble-drive motion. Here
- 3 would rotate behind the drive (Euro cut)
- 4 can Euro cut or backcut
- 5 can get a kick-out pass in the corner, lift (kick up) to the wing, or cut baseline (backcut).
3 creates space for 4 who creates space for 5.

See Offence - 5-out dribble-drive motion, 5-out dribble-attack continuity, Dribble-drive outline.

Here X2 and X5 take away the relocations by 2 and 5 (sticking with their checks),

1 has a big gap to drive through (the pattern creates space for a drive), and 4 will be open on the fill-behind as his defender drops to the level of the ball.

The same principles apply on ballscreens too, Here on a standard pick and roll, 4 frequently gets a slide-away corner 3, or 1 turns the corner if X4 and X2 are occupied with the relocations by 4 and 2 and don't help at all.

On a baseline drive with 5-out spacing, the approach is pretty standard. The opposite corner holds, the wing 45 cuts, 1 stays out top, 5 fills behind.

The 45 cut is great because defenders tend to turn their head and look at the ball.

With 4-out spacing, the 5-man or a guard is in a dunker spot. Movement on a baseline drive is more unique.

5 is a big man who can shoot, so from the weakside dunker spot he backs out to the corner. 3 moves out to the wing, and 4 makes a 45 cut.

If 3 is already near the wing, he would 45 cut, see above.

If 5 cuts to the middle of the paint, there would be no room for a 45 cut.

On an outside drive, 5 also backs out to the corner, and 4 fills behind. 3 slides down to the corner (he does not automatically cut from one pass away on the strongside, he and the driver would be on top of each other)..

Here 4 drives left, and everyone moves left, including 5 out to the corner.

See Tactics - Enfield penetrate-kick spacing (a 4-man in the corner would run baseline).

Teams typically keep a non-shooting big man close to the basket.

Here 5 circles into the paint on a baseline drive. With 5 inside, they don't need a 45 cut.

On a middle drive, non-shooter 5 makes a dunker baseline cut, 3 weakside corner cuts,

There may not a lot of space for a pass or finish when 3 and 5 are both low inside, and the video shows a couple of clips with no weak corner cut, e.g. hold in the corner, or slide down and hold.

If 5 can shoot, he would continue to the corner and 3 takes the dunker spot on the right side.

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