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Backdoor Cut

Backdoor Cut Overview

What is a Backdoor Cut?

A backdoor cut occurs when an offensive player, typically on the perimeter but can be anywhere on the court, sees their defender overplaying or denying the passing lane. The offensive player takes advantage of the overly-aggressive defender making a sharp cut behind the defender toward the basket to receive a pass for a scoring opportunity.

Backdoor cuts are often most effective at throwing off defenders when the offensive player first makes a cut fake towards the ball handler as though they’re looking for an immediate pass before rapidly changing direction and cutting behind their defender towards the hoop. This version of a backdoor cut is what we highlight here in our examples and diagrams.

When To Use A Backdoor Cut

While there are countless scenarios where a backdoor cut is a great way to create separation and offensive opportunities, they are especially effective when being covered by an overly aggressive defender. Possible scenarios where this occurs are:

  • When a defender is overcommitting to denying a potential pass from the ball handler.
  • When a defender is playing to high, in front of the offensive player.
  • When a defender’s coverage is too tight or close on the offensive player.

Backdoor cuts are also a common (often built-in by design) aspect of motion offenses or Princeton-style offenses where spacing and movement are key.

Backdoor Cut Coaching Tips

  • Involves a quick read by both the cutter and the passer, so scenarios that present opportunities to recognize when to use a backdoor cut should be practiced regularly.
  • It’s important to sell the initial cut fake to maximize effectiveness. On my teams, every backdoor cut is paired with an initial cut fake for this reason. Players are taught that flashing a target hand and calling for ball are part of the initial fake step towards the ball before reversing direction into the backdoor cut.
  • Crisp, fast passes are critical since most passes to a backdoor cutter occur in the paint and through congestion. We drill this with the passer making low bounce passes to penetrating guards from the wing and overhead passes to an extended target hand with post players. Receiving post players are not allowed to drop the ball below their shoulder when catching and shooting.

Backdoor Cut

Wing Backdoor Cut

Backdoor Cut

Post Backdoor Cut

Wing Backdoor Cut

The wing (or elsewhere on the perimeter) is almost certainly the most common starting point for a backdoor cut. In this example, we illustrate a backdoor cut that incorporates a cut fake in front of the defender towards the ball before the backdoor cut to the hoop. The cut fake helps cause defensive confusion and increases the chances of creating separation makes the cut far more likely to result in a successful scoring opportunity.

1

Cut Fake Towards Ball Handler

The shooting guard (2) makes a quick half or full step cut motion towards the ball handler. Selling this fake to the defender will make the backdoor cut far more effective. As the player makes their move towards the ball handler, they should extend a target hand and call for the ball so the defender is more likely to react and move forward (and further out of position) with the cutter.

Backdoor Cut

Wing Backdoor Cut Step 1

2

Quick Change of Direction and Cut To Basket

As the defender reacts to the cut fake, the offensive player (2) quickly changes direction and cuts back and behind the defender towards the basket making eye contact with the ball handler (1) and showing a target hand to receive the incoming pass while penetrating.

Backdoor Cut

Wing Backdoor Cut Step 2

Post Backdoor Cut

A post backdoor cut is similar in concept and execution to a wing backdoor cut with a couple of small differences. First, they tend to happen much faster since there is less court to cover so the ball handler and post player need to both read and react more rapidly. Second, the pass will need to be a strong overhead pass the majority of the time to maximize the chance of creating a scoring opportunity and minimizing potential turnovers.

In our example, our center (5) executes a backdoor cut in the low post that incorporates a cut fake in front of the defender towards the ball handler before switching up and cutting backdoor towards the basket. The cut fake step further overcommits the aggressive defender in the wrong direction, creating the separation needed to make the cutter far more likely to see a scoring opportunity.

1

Cut Fake Towards Ball Handler

The center (5) makes a quick half or full step cut motion uphill away from the basket and in the general direction of the ball handler. Selling this fake to the defender will make the backdoor cut far more effective. As the player makes their move towards the ball handler, they should extend a target hand and call for the ball so the defender is more likely to react and move forward (and further out of position) with the cutter.

Backdoor Cut

Post Backdoor Cut Step 1

2

Quick Change of Direction and Cut To Basket

As the defender reacts to the cut fake, the post player (5) quickly changes direction and cuts back and behind the defender towards the basket making eye contact with the ball handler (1) and showing a target hand to receive the incoming pass while penetrating.

The ball handler should make a strong, crisp pass (preferably overhead above defenders), hitting the cutter’s target hand extended out in front and up over their head. Try to keep things high when passing to a cutter in the low post. This will maximize the likelihood of the play resulting in the desired quick catch-and-shoot outcome without the cutter needing to drop the ball below the shoulder or forced into a dribble.

Backdoor Cut

Post Backdoor Cut Step 2

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