Defense

Guard Cut

How to run Guard Cut — a defensive set you can teach frame by frame and take to your next practice.

Online Basketball Playbook · Published May 30, 2026 · 2 min read
Guard Cut — frame 1 diagram
Starting alignment (5 offense)
Guard Cut — frame 2 diagram
1 passes to 2; 1 cuts to the lane; 2 passes to 5; 5 passes to 3
Guard Cut — frame 3 diagram
1 screens near the basket; 5 screens near the lane; 4 cuts to the basket; 4 cuts to the top

Use Guard Cut to punish defenders who turn their heads after a pass — you pass, cut hard to the rim, and look for the return from your big or the skip to the weak side. If your primary cut isn't there, your bigs set sequential screens to free a cutter from the top, keeping the defense rotating and out of position.

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