{"id":2335,"date":"2026-10-22T19:34:39","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T19:34:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fastbreak.playbooktech.com\/coaches-community\/?p=2335"},"modified":"2026-10-22T19:34:42","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T19:34:42","slug":"mike-dantoni-delay-offense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fastbreak.playbooktech.com\/coaches-community\/mike-dantoni-delay-offense\/","title":{"rendered":"The D’Antoni System: Delay Options"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Few trends in basketball are more popular than 5-out offense. It is considered cutting-edge, modern and \u201cpositionless.\u201d It may be all of those things, but it is not new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike D\u2019Antoni could be considered one of the forefathers of 5-Out offense<\/a>. That portion of his playbook is often labeled \u201cDelay,\u201d and those options are what we\u2019ll explore here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delay: Same Side<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Delay begins with a pass to the center in the middle third of the court. The action can be run out of a 21 Series<\/a> or a traditional 5-out alignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the first two options, the action stays on the same side of the floor as the initial pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click the image below to view the diagrams.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Fig. 1 – Delay Step<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Delay Step<\/a><\/strong> (Fig. 1) can be part of the 21 Series package. Instead of throwing ahead to Player 2, the point guard passes to Player 5 in the middle third of the court. This triggers the Delay options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Player 1 then sprints off a step-up<\/strong> back screen from Player 2, creating an opportunity for Player 5 to hit Player 1 on a curl to the basket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If Player 1 is not available, Player 5 passes to Player 2 and follows the pass into a spread ball screen. Player 1, now behind the screen, lifts from the corner as Player 5 rolls to the basket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Free Trial: Get access to FastBreak Playbook<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Fig. 2 – Delay Inside<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Delay Inside<\/a><\/strong> (Fig. 2) is another same-side action out of the 21 Series<\/a>. Once again, the pass to the center in the middle of the floor initiates the Delay options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Frame 2, Player 1 cuts just inside<\/strong> Player 2 to set a rub screen. Player 2 loops around Player 1, creating an opportunity for Player 5 to hit Player 2 on a curl to the basket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The action presents two threats: one player cutting toward the rim and another popping out beyond the 3-point line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Frame 3, Player 5 passes to Player 1, who pops to the perimeter after setting the rub screen. Player 5 then follows the pass into a side ball screen<\/a>. Alternatively, Player 5 can execute a dribble handoff to Player 1 (Frame 4).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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