A Practice Plan for Triangle Post Entries and Handoff Counters

Build the triangle before allowing a shot

In the first block, the offense cannot shoot until the wing, corner, and post are all visible to each other. This simple rule prevents rushed wing jumpers and teaches the corner player to arrive with purpose. The post player also learns to seal while the pass angle is forming, not after the ball has already stalled.

Use a coach or manager as the low defender at first. They should front, sit behind, and dig from the corner in separate reps so the passer sees one problem at a time.

• If the post is fronted, reverse to the high post instead of forcing the lob.
• If the corner defender digs, the corner cuts behind the help.
• If the wing is denied, the guard must stay available for the return pass.

Make the return pass a trigger

The return pass should not feel like a reset. It tells the weak-side big to flash, the guard to follow the ball, and the wing to hold spacing long enough for the handoff lane to open. If players treat the return pass as failure, the next action starts late.

Run the drill with a five-second limit after the return pass. The offense must enter a high-post catch, handoff, or reversal before the count ends. This keeps the triangle from becoming a slow standing set.

Use handoff counters only after the post read is honest

A high-post handoff works because the defense has already respected the post touch. If the post entry is skipped every time, the handoff becomes a predictable dribble exchange. Require two honest post-feed reads before the handoff counter can score.

When the handoff is switched, the big should seal immediately and the guard should keep the dribble alive. When the defender trails, the guard turns the corner and the corner spacer must stay low until the help commits.

• Score one point for a clean post touch before any handoff score.
• Stop the rep if the corner lifts before the post catches.
• Have the post call switch, trail, or gap before passing back.