This question probably never comes up in the mind of the veteran Read & React coach. But it does come up in the minds of coaches that are new to the Read & React Offense and it’s certainly in the minds of players as they learn the system. There are lot’s of reasons that I’ve already written about in previous posts; reasons like:

1. The cut gives the passer a chance to score.
2. Every time the ball moves, the offense is putting pressure on the rim – a threat that the defense must make adjustments to – which sets up other Read & React actions.
3. Every cut makes defenders switch from guarding the ball, to guarding a cut to the basket, to a weakside position of “help”.
4. Every cut creates a “Fill the Open Spot” action along the perimeter (usually more than one) and every time a player fills an open spot, there are at least 4 scoring opportunities for the filler.
5. Every time an empty spot is filled, weakside defense must make adjustments – sometimes from a helping position to a “one-pass-away” position.
6. All of this movement (created from one pass and one cut) creates the possibility of a defensive breakdown that the offense can take advantage of.

But I want to add another answer to the file folder. And I would ask you to look at this through the eyes of a very good player – a Type 1, create-your-own-shot, or create-for-others type of player. When this Type 1 player has the ball, there’s a chance to
1. Shoot
2. Drive
3. Drive-draw defense-pass-to-an-open-teammate
4. Drive, bounce-off, and re-attack the close-out defender
5. Feed the post and Laker Cut
6. Feed the post and X-cut
7. Dribble-At a teammate
8. Dribble-At and Draft Drive the cutting teammate
9. Double-Dribble-At a filling teammate
10. Double-Dribble-At-Draft-Drive the second cutter
11. Power Dribble, hand-off, screen and roll
12. Power Dribble, keep the ball, lean in and drive
13. Reverse Dribble and use the Ball Screen to get open and score
14. Reverse Dribble, use the Ball Screen, draw defense and pass to an open teammate
15. Throw a Skip Pass if weakside sets a Pin Screen

Considering all of those options, if a Type 1 player passes and wonders why he/she is supposed to cut to the basket, here’s one more reason:

YOU’VE HAD YOUR CHANCE TO CREATE. YOU CHOSE NOT TO CREATE ANYTHING FOR YOURSELF OR YOUR TEAMMATES. SO, WHEN YOU PASS, YOU MUST GIVE UP THAT SPOT – GIVE UP THAT PIECE OF REAL ESTATE AND LET SOMEONE ELSE HAVE A CHANCE AT THAT SPOT!

Of course, you will have a chance to make a decision WITHOUT THE BALL once you’ve made your cut. And of course, you get one more chance to score ON THE CUT, but so far as creating something WITH THE BALL, you gave up your chance when you passed. If you’re not going to make a decision in the lane, fill out, and get in line on the perimeter. The ball will probably make its way back to you at a different spot where you will another chance to create with the ball.