Paul Westhead System: The LMU Numbered Fast Break

The Paul Westhead system at Loyola Marymount: a numbered fast break run every possession, with each lane, the outlet, the first looks, later options and drills.

Paul Westhead's Loyola Marymount offense is a numbered fast break run after every make and every defensive rebound, and this guide covers the job of each number, the outlet, the three first looks, the later options for the bigs, pace and rebounding, the drills and how other breaks differ.

The Paul Westhead system is the numbered fast break his Loyola Marymount teams ran every time down the floor. Each player has a number, and each number has the same job every time down the floor. The point guard pushes the ball as fast as he can, and a player who catches his pass is expected to look for the shot.

This guide covers the philosophy, the lanes by number, the outlet after a made basket, the first three looks, the later options for the bigs, the rebounding rule and the drills. The general case for running is on fast break and transition offense.

Every number runs the same lane every time down. 5 takes it out of the net, 1 outlets and pushes, 2 goes right, 3 goes left to the block, 4 stays level with 1, and whoever catches from 1 looks to shoot.

Paul Westhead System: Run Every Time

Westhead's break is pure and simple. His players run every time down, whether the other team scored or his team got the defensive rebound. The idea is that over a whole game the running wears down an opponent that is not as well conditioned. The break is built to produce shots, and a player who catches the advance pass knows he is expected to shoot it.

Three more parts complete the system:

Offensive rebounding. Second and third shots are part of the plan, not an accident.
Man or zone. The break can be run against either defense.
Conditioning. The court work is hard on the offensive players, and the system is sold as a help to a team's fitness.

The tempo side of the choice is on basketball pace and tempo strategy. Decide that you will run every time before you teach a single lane.

The Lanes by Number

After a made basket each number has one job:

Number	Start	Job
5	Under the basket that was just scored on	Takes the ball out of the net, steps out of bounds on the right side, inbounds to 1, then trails
1	Right side, level with the foul line extended or a little higher	Takes the inbound and pushes it at top speed, passing for a score
2	Near the left elbow	Runs on a diagonal across to the right side, then races up it to a three-point spot, usually lower than the foul line extended and at times as deep as the corner
3	Left side	Races up the left side, staying wide until the foul line extended, then cuts in to the left block
4	Left elbow in the backcourt	Stays level with 1 and slightly behind him as the ball comes up, and helps inbound if needed

Paul Westhead system diagram of the LMU break after a made basket with 5 inbounding on the right side, 2 crossing on a diagonal to the right sideline, 3 sprinting the left side and 4 running level with the point guard

The made-basket start, attacking the far basket. 5 takes it out of the net, steps out on the right side and inbounds to 1 at the outlet spot. 2 starts near the left elbow, runs on a diagonal across to the right side and then up it to a three-point spot. 3 races up the left side, stays wide, then cuts in to the left block. 4 begins at the left elbow and runs level with 1, a step behind, while 1 pushes it up the floor.

The 2 and 3 start their sprints as the inbound pass is being thrown, not after 1 catches it. Give each player his number and keep it the same every possession.

Out of the Net: The Outlet

On a make, 5 grabs the ball as it comes through the net, before it can bounce, and steps out of bounds on a diagonal toward the right side. 1 has already moved to his outlet spot on the right side, and 5 inbounds to him quickly.

To slow the break, defenses often crowd the outlet man with one or two players. LMU's answer is the 5-4-1 pass.

Loyola Marymount fast break diagram of the 5-4-1 pass with two defenders jamming the outlet, 5 inbounding to 4 at the left elbow and 1 cutting to the middle for the pass

The 5-4-1 pass. X1 and X2 crowd 1 at the outlet spot. 5 inbounds to 4 at the left elbow, 1 cuts to the middle for 4's pass and pushes it up the floor.

5 throws it to 4, and 1 breaks to the middle to get it back from 4. Then 1 dribbles it up and reads the same looks as always. More ways to beat pressure on the inbound are on press break basketball. Rep the outlet until the ball is in 1's hands before the defense turns around.

The First Three Looks

One rule governs 1's passes. He passes to 2 or 3 only if he judges that the receiver is in position to score. Anyone who catches a pass from 1 looks for his own shot first.

Loyola Marymount fast break diagram of the first look, the long diagonal pass from the point guard to 3 cutting to the left block

First look, the 1-3 pass. 1 pushes up the right side and throws the long diagonal pass to 3, who cuts to the left block. 2 is at a three-point spot on the right side, 4 runs level with 1 and 5 trails.

First look, 1 to 3. The long diagonal pass to 3, who has run the left side and cut to the block. 3 takes the jumper or puts it on the floor.

Loyola Marymount fast break diagram of the second look, the pass ahead from the point guard to 2 at a three-point spot on the right side

Second look, the 1-2 pass. 3 is on the left block and not open, so 1 passes ahead to 2 at the three-point spot on the right side.

Second look, 1 to 2. The pass to 2 on the right side, who looks for the three.

Paul Westhead offense diagram of the third look with the point guard driving to the right elbow and on to the rim

Third look, the drive. Neither pass is there, so 1 takes it to the right elbow to shoot or drives on to the rim. 2 is low on the right side, 3 on the left block, 4 comes down the left side and 5 trails.

Third look, 1 drives. 1 takes it to the right elbow and shoots, or goes all the way to the rim.

The reads for a numbers advantage at the end of the floor are on how to run the fast break. Look for 3 first, 2 second and the drive third, in that order every time.

Later Options for 4 and 5

If 3 and 2 are both covered, the bigs come into it.

Paul Westhead offense diagram of the 1-4 pass from the point guard to 4 beside him up top

The 1-4 pass. With 3 and 2 covered, 1 swings it to 4 beside him at the top of the key. 2 is low on the right side, 3 on the left block and 5 trails.

The 1-4 pass. 1 swings it across to 4 up top.

Paul Westhead offense diagram with the ball passed to 2 on the right side, 4 cutting diagonally to the right block, 5 filling and 2 passing inside to 4

Ball to 2. Once 2 catches, 4 heads on a diagonal to the right block and 5 takes the spot 4 left. If 4's defender plays behind him, 2 passes inside to 4.

Ball to 2. Any time 2 catches, 4 goes on a diagonal to the right block and 5 slides into the spot behind him. 4's defender keys the next pass. If he plays behind 4, 2 passes inside to 4.

Paul Westhead offense diagram with 4 fronted on the right block, 2 swinging it to 5 up top, 4 pinning his defender and 3 popping out from the left block

4 is fronted. X4 is in front of 4 on the right block, so 2 swings it to 5 up top. 4 pins X4 and calls for it inside, 3 pops out to a shooting spot on the left side, and 5 may shoot or hit 4 or 3.

4 is fronted. If the defender fronts 4, 2 passes to 5. 4 seals his man and asks for it inside, and 3 pops out from the block to a shooting spot. 5 has three choices:

shoot
pass to 4 inside
pass to 3

For the second wave, LMU game film shows what the team did when the first break gave no shot. Other ways to organize it are on secondary break basketball and early offense basketball.

Pace and Rebounding

Speed shows up in every rule:

The ball comes out of the net before it can bounce.
2 and 3 sprint as the inbound pass is thrown.
1 pushes the ball as fast as he can.
Whoever catches a pass from 1 looks for his shot first.

The break counts on getting a second and a third shot. Every player goes to the offensive glass, and because the break moves so fast, the defense has a hard time boxing out. Rebounding technique is on basketball rebounding fundamentals, and the fitness side is on basketball conditioning drills. Crash all five, every shot, and get back to running.

LMU Break Drills

Two drills run the whole break:

2 1/2 Cycle Drill. No defense. The team runs through each of the basic options.
5x4, two cycles. It simulates a zone defense and is used for the late options that get 4 and 5 their shots.

The other drills are named for the pass, cut or situation they rep: 5x2 and 5x3, 5-4-1 vs Pressure, 1-5 Outlet, #2 Man Shooting, 1-3 Pass, 1-4/5 Pass and 1-2-4 Cut.

Other full-court drills are on fast break basketball drills and drills to teach transition offense.

How Other Breaks Differ

Westhead's break sits in a line of numbered breaks. The numbered break grew out of Cam Henderson's break at Marshall in the late 1940s, ran through Sonny Allen's teams at Old Dominion and SMU, and reached Westhead at Loyola Marymount. Breaks in that family still differ, and coaches disagree about numbering at all.

Version	Who inbounds	Who goes to the rim	Lanes
LMU numbered break	5, every made basket	3 cuts to the left block after running the left side	2 right, 3 left, 4 level with 1, 5 trails
Post-runner numbered break	The same post every time after a score	The other post runs to the lane	2 always right, 3 always left. After a rebound by 5, 4 runs to the middle of the free-throw lane while 5 trails
Free-flow break	Anyone	Whoever is ahead	No assigned lanes. Players ahead of the ball go wide and players behind it take the middle

Both numbered breaks have a big take the ball out after a make. The reason given is that the post is usually near the basket for the rebound, so he can pull a made basket from the net and inbound it fast.

The case against numbering is aimed at youth and high school teams. Dean Smith's Carolina break and Westhead's Loyola Marymount system are its famous numbered examples, and the objections are three:

A player who just contested a shot on one side may have to run across the floor to reach his assigned lane.
Substitutions mix up the roles, and two players end up on the same wing.
Fixed lanes take away the reading of the floor.

The Showtime break is on Showtime Lakers fast break system, and how to slow a running team is on strategies for coaching against high tempo teams. Choose numbered or free-flow on purpose, then teach it the same way all season.

Questions Coaches Ask

What is the Paul Westhead system?

A numbered fast break run every time down, after makes and after defensive rebounds. Each number runs the same lane every time, 1 pushes as fast as he can, a player who catches from 1 is expected to shoot, and all five crash the boards.

How did the Loyola Marymount fast break work?

5 pulls the ball from the net and throws it in to 1 on the right side. 2 races to a three-point spot on the right, 3 races up the left and cuts to the block, 4 stays level with 1 and 5 trails. The first look is 1 to 3, the second 1 to 2, the third a drive by 1.

What is the Paul Westhead offense against pressure on the inbound?

The 5-4-1 pass. When the outlet is jammed, 5 inbounds to 4 and 1 breaks to the middle to take 4's pass.

Does the Westhead system work against a zone?

The break is described as usable against man-to-man or zone, and its 5x4 drill simulates a zone to rep the late options for 4 and 5.

Is a numbered fast break good for high school?

Coaches split. Numbered breaks give every player one job and a fixed inbound. The case against it: youth and high school teams lose players across the floor, mix up roles on substitutions and stop reading the defense.

Every diagram on this page uses the symbols on how to read a basketball play diagram. The defensive side of running is on transition defense basketball.

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