Open vs. Closed Looks: Off-Ball Help on Verticality and Elbows

In this sequence, the crew faces a collapsing defense as White 25 drives into a crowded paint. While the Lead (L) and Center (C) are in standard positions, the nature of the drive and the defender's "wall up" creates closed looks for both, obscuring the point of contact. This play perfectly illustrates the principle that proximity does not equal primary; despite being furthest from the play, the Trail (T) maintains an open look at the offensive player's leading elbow. By staying engaged and working down with the play, the Trail identifies the excessive contact to the defender's face, leading to a correct offensive foul and a subsequent upgrade to a Flagrant 1. This is a masterclass in why officials must have an "opinion" when their partners are screened out.

Play BreakDown

Stop the clip at 4:50 when white 25 gets the ball above the 3pt line. Look at the crews set up. Not very many competitive match ups. We should feel a drive to the basket coming with most defenders on the opposite side of the floor. Start the clip. White 25 begins to drive as the defenders start to collapse in the paint from both sides. This is the only competitive play and we now have 3 defenders. Each position should maintain an open look to be able to help out on this drive. L is in a dependable position closed down, C has a dependable position, T is working down with the play to stay engaged and have an opinion.

At the basket after splitting two green defenders, we have green 22 who jumps and walls up vertically. We then have offensive initiated contact by white 25 with his left leading elbow to the face of the defender. Both Lead and Center have closed looks. Trail is the only one that can help on this play and correctly comes up with an offensive foul. Which is then upgraded to a F1 foul for excessive contact about the shoulders.

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