| Reads & Counters | Continuity | Specials |
The "Four Down" is primary used for taking the last shot in a period; however, it can also be an effective spread offense for any team possessing a talented ballhandler. Four Down can be quickly called, visually, by the ballhandler by raising his hand and pointing all four fingers downward. Thus, it's name Four Down. Four Down is also sometimes called "Four Low" or "Four Flat."
In the basic Four Down alignment, the four non-ball handlers are deployed along the baseline with the best shooters in the corner. This alignment provides a huge open area in which the ball handler to maneuver. The ballhandler then operates in an isolated one-on-one situation similar to Dean Smith's "Four Corner" offense.
Basic Reads & Counters:
The primary option is to take the defender one-on-one on a drive to the basket or pull up for a jumper. The posts crash the offensive boards, and the corners spot up for three point shots and defensive balance.
Anytime a baseline defender steps up to help out against the dribble penetration, the ballhandler can simply make a drop pass to the open post for an easy shot.
If a wing defender sags off to help out against the dribble penetration, then the ballhandler can make a kick out pass to the shooter spotting up for an open three point shot. If the shot is not taken, the ball is returned to the ballhandler, and the Four Down action continues.
Basic Continuity:
Pressure Release Adjustment. Anytime the ballhandler is in trouble or the five second closely guarded rule is in effect, the Four Down offense adjusts by having the corners pop out to receive pressure release passes. The corner then has the option of returning the ball to the primary ballhandler or taking over the ballhandler's role. Whenever the pressure release player assumes the isolation position, the primary ballhandler then takes the open corner spot and the one-on-one isolation action continues.
Crunch Time Specials
The Four Down action affords coaches with numerous quick hitting options. Here are a couple of highly successful options that can be deployed after a timeout or as the shot clock winds down or at the end of a period.
Mid Screen
O4 or O5 initiate the mid screen action by stepping out and setting a mid screen for ballhandler O1. O1 then drives hard to the basket for lay up. If defender X1 goes behind the mid screen, O1 can pull up for an open jump shot.
If the defenders switch on the mid screen, O1 looks to feed O4 rolling to the basket or posting up against the smaller defender X1.
Anytime a wing defender sags off to help out against the dribble penetration, O1 can make a kick out pass to the open shooter spotting up for a three point shot.
Triple Base Screen
O3, O4, and O5 set stagger, baseline screens for shooter O2. This quick hitting option is best ran with four (4) seconds remaining on the shot or game clock.
NOTE: Triple Base Screen can be ran to either side.
After setting a base screen for O2, O3 continues out off O5's and O4's stagger screen for shot. If the shooter O2 is not open, O1 looks to pass opposite to shooter O3 or feed inside to O5 or O4 posting up against smaller defenders if defense switch.
Misdirection Double
The Misdirection Double is a baseline double screen set on the weakside. Ball handler O1 executes a dribble hand off with corner O2 as O3 and O5 set a double screen for O4. O3 looks to feed O4 coming off the double screen.
O3 also has the option of driving to the basket or if the defenders switch passing to O1 rolling to the basket.
