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Spurs Motion Weak

In the documented Weak play, the ball handler passes ahead and cuts toward the opposite wing. Passing the ball back across the court can lead to a cut from the baseline up toward the free-throw line, using a screen from a teammate arriving behind the play.

How it runs

Pass ahead and move the ball back to the opposite wing

1. Pass ahead and cut acrossHalf court diagram, frame 1 of 4: 1. Pass ahead and cut across. 5 players, showing pass, cut.12345

1. Pass ahead and cut across

1 passes ahead to 2 and cuts across to the opposite wing. 3 waits in that side’s corner; 5 follows above the play.

Notation

  • Offense
  • Defense
  • Coach
  • Neutral
  • Ball
  • Cone
  • Cut
  • Dribble
  • Pass
  • Screen
  • Hand-off
  • Shot
  • Def. slide

A representative Weak entry ending with a receiver coming up from the baseline. The route and numbering are illustrative, not fixed across Spurs seasons. Defenders are omitted; captions state the chosen read. Spacing is illustrative.

Original CoachAssist teaching illustration, not a complete playbook. Arrows show the action from the displayed starting positions. Read each caption before advancing.

Reads and decisions

  1. If the shooter is covered, an elbow entry can lead into a handoff; post position or a ball screen can be the better continuation.

Basketball glossary

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What to emphasize

  • Original starter adaptation: coordinate the cutter and reversal before adding denial.

How to teach it

Choose current readiness, not gender or an assumed ceiling. Simplify whenever players need it.

New to basketball

  1. One idea to notice: Keep the opposite-wing cut connected with the pass back across the court.
  2. Use a manageable ball, short passing distances and a comfortable shooting range. Rehearse only one movement at a time; screening begins without contact.
  3. Let players explain or point to the open space. Stop for a short demonstration, then let them try again without a score or speed quota.

Level progressions are original coaching adaptations, not claims that a cited coach uses this exact sequence.

Tradeoffs, counters & terminology
  • Do not infer every route from the word 'Weak'; ask for the version.
Documented coaches & teams
Matching drills · steps and diagrams

Teaching level changes the lesson above, not these drills automatically. Check each drill’s players, equipment, skill and coaching adaptations before running it.

Pin Down Four Reads
Court diagram · view the drill first

Basketball glossary

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Supporting fundamental: Prepares a receiver moving up from the baseline around a screen, often called a zipper cut, to respond to the defender. It does not include Weak’s pass ahead, cut across the court and pass back to the opposite side.

A screen for a low cutter offers a curved cut, a straight cut, an outward cut or a cut behind the defender, depending on the guided defense.

4–12 players · 8–15 minutes · basketballs

Purpose

A screen for a low cutter offers a curved cut, a straight cut, an outward cut or a cut behind the defender, depending on the guided defense.

Set it up

Four players: passer, screener, cutter and guided cutter defender; a coach indicates the coverage. Use one ball and rehearse one cut at a time. Spare balls and waiting players stay outside the active routes.

Run the drill

  1. Agree on a short timed interval and begin at walkthrough pace. Use one active ball and one group in the playing area; add controlled opposition only when players understand the routes and can stop safely.
  2. The defender shows the agreed cue; the screener becomes stationary before the cutter leaves.
  3. When the defender follows behind, consider curving around the screen; if the route opens, consider the straight cut.
  4. If the defender leaves space or stands above the cutter to block the route toward the screen, consider moving outward or cutting behind the defender only when that space is clear.
  5. Pass to an available target for a controlled shot or reset. Rotate all four roles.
  6. End the repetition on a controlled finish, dead ball or coach stop. Clear the ball and landing area before restarting; rotate roles and rest within the planned interval, without extending it to reach a target.

Scoring

Optional: within a short coach-chosen timed interval, count sound decisions, controlled catches or completed defensive possessions. Stop at the planned time or sooner; no required makes, winning streak or exercise penalty. Rotate roles and allow rest regardless of the score.

Coach the details

  • These are possible reads, not guaranteed scoring outcomes.
  • The diagram’s four paths are alternatives. A sound read still counts as learning when a shot misses.
  • Use comfortable passing and shooting distances and an appropriate ball. Progress by demonstrated control, not speed: keep eyes on the play, leave stopping/landing space, and stop if a route or loose ball creates a collision risk.
  • Screens begin without contact. Establish a balanced, stationary position with the time and space required by the competition rules; keep arms in and do not lean, hold, shove or step into an approaching defender. Decline the action when legal clearance is unavailable.

Variations & provenance

  • Original CoachAssist display adaptation: these edited steps, workload limits and optional scoring are coaching adaptations, not a claim that the cited author prescribed this exact version.
  • The teaching-level selector does not automatically adapt these drills for age or ability. A coach must choose suitable roles, equipment, contact, space and progressions; simplify or defer anything the group is not ready to perform.
Give-and-Go Pass and Cut
Court diagram · view the drill first

Basketball glossary

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Supporting fundamental: Builds pass-and-cut timing before a Weak entry. This give-and-go drill is not a verified Spurs Weak pattern.

A pass and a purposeful basket cut create a possible return-pass window.

4–16 players · 5–10 minutes · basketballs

Purpose

A pass and a purposeful basket cut create a possible return-pass window.

Set it up

Four players rotating through top and wing lines, one active ball. One passer and one cutter work at a time; use a waiting player for guided defense only after the route is clear. Spare balls and waiting players stay outside the active routes.

Run the drill

  1. Agree on a short timed interval and begin at walkthrough pace. Use one active ball and one group in the playing area; add controlled opposition only when players understand the routes and can stop safely.
  2. Pass to the wing and use a controlled setup step before cutting toward the basket.
  3. The wing faces the cutter and reads whether a return pass is available.
  4. If open, lead a balanced catch and finish. If covered, keep the ball and let the cutter clear.
  5. Recover the ball before exchanging passer and cutter roles.
  6. End the repetition on a controlled finish, dead ball or coach stop. Clear the ball and landing area before restarting; rotate roles and rest within the planned interval, without extending it to reach a target.

Scoring

Optional: within a short coach-chosen timed interval, count sound decisions, controlled catches or completed defensive possessions. Stop at the planned time or sooner; no required makes, winning streak or exercise penalty. Rotate roles and allow rest regardless of the score.

Coach the details

  • A cut in front of the defender is the initial example, not permission to run through a defender.
  • A denied route can be declined; use a backdoor variation only after the coach declares that read.
  • Use comfortable passing and shooting distances and an appropriate ball. Progress by demonstrated control, not speed: keep eyes on the play, leave stopping/landing space, and stop if a route or loose ball creates a collision risk.

Variations & provenance

  • Original CoachAssist display adaptation: these edited steps, workload limits and optional scoring are coaching adaptations, not a claim that the cited author prescribed this exact version.
  • The teaching-level selector does not automatically adapt these drills for age or ability. A coach must choose suitable roles, equipment, contact, space and progressions; simplify or defer anything the group is not ready to perform.
Sources & evidence notes

The system description and source links are reviewed references. Level progressions and evaluation ideas are original CoachAssist teaching adaptations, not tested prescriptions or a named coach’s complete playbook. Supporting drills develop ingredients; they do not automatically install the whole system.

Evidence status: established. Sources support the specific claims described here, not every possible version of the system.

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