Kemal Serhat Kahraman@coachinaddition
J.B Bickerstaff & Detroit Pistons 2025-26' Playbook Trailer: Using Duncan Robinson in Transition
Today's basketball, every single coach got different rules for transition shoots: some coaches want minimum 2 passes, some coaches want to inside-outside before the shoot, some of them want to elbow to elbow dribbling before the 3, etc. but in generally, these shoots are not created with your transition plan, if the team is not a high-level transition team. They were created by opponent's defensive transition choice. But this is different. Detroit got a 3 Point specialist and coach J.B. Bickerstaff makes something different. Today, I collected Coach J.B. Bickerstaff's adjustments for Duncan's early 3 for the Trailer of Pistons Playbook. Let's look more closely at Pistons' Transition
I) Early Peja
So, Duncan Robinson is a big threat and I'm sure every video coordinator writes to his page in hand-outs: "Find him on the open court immediately!" Okey, this is expected and prevents his early open 3s, but like every defensive adjustment, we got a counter here. Early Peja with Duncan Robinson. Peja action includes Rip+DHO, and it's so effective against half court defenses, too. So, we got an unbalanced Transition defense here, it's gonna work, obviously.
II) Decoy Step
I said in the first paragraph, opponent teams try to find him on the open court, and they match up with him immediately, so if they run back well, Detroit couldn't create an open 3 for Duncan Robinson easily. We all know, in transition, backdoors cause so much trouble for defense, because help is not ready and coaches don't want to allow any inside-outside for early shaken to cause any mismatches. For this reason, that cut follows his match-up, that's certain. With Decoy Step, Duncan creates a long close-out without breaking his balance, and enough time to open 3's.
III) Feed Duncan Robinson on the open court
Guys, they don't want to give that 3 to him, so first defensive-runner matches up with him -45' or corner spot-and he can use that mismatch-or first two match up with him in miscom teams-.Also, if there is a rim runner, you'll find the rim easily.
IV) Brush Cuts
This is not related to Duncan Robinson. A brush cut is the most effective action in transition, and if it is not create any possession, it gonna fix the spacing. There is no other option there. I think it's the most valuable action for transition teams, and every coach must teach Brush cut to their team.
V) Drag with Brush Cut
Like a Zoom(Euroball) action, it's perfect move to activate your weakside corner player.
That's it, yes, one more trailer from another Transition adjustment from the NBA. I am a Transition coach, and want to share good Transition details of teams except the playbooks, with single posts for more focus, like Mazzulla's, and like today's.
Tomorrow, full playbook.
