Ghost

What is it

Ghost cuts are reactions to drives to the basket that exploit off-ball defenders loosing attention to or having to help off of the player they are guarding. Two main variants based on the spot the cut is coming from – either cutting from the wing (45) or from the baseline

Options

Wing cuts to the basket (45) if the defender stays but looses sight OR defender helps on

• Post entry and penetration (example)
• Baseline drive, when wing helps helper to the corner (example)
• Pick & Pop to the top of the key (example)
• Short roll pass on a wing ball screen (example)
• Dribble at (example)

Corner cuts to the basket (Ghost) if the defender stays but looses sight OR defender helps on

• Middle drive (example)

Examples

Clips showing a variation of the ghost cut in which the player cuts from the wing (the 45).

Clips showing several variations of the ghost cut including from the wing and the corner

How we might teach it

Clip showing how to teach off-ball cutting using advantage games 1v1, 2v2 and 3v3