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Red Team are in a classic vert stack. Blue Team want to help the downfield defense.
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2
Blue 2 could leave the handler, but that opens up the break side dishy.
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3
Blue 3 could poach into the lane, but that opens up a short break throw to the anchor.
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4
The 'dead' space is where Red 4, 5, 6 are standing, in the middle of the stack. Blue Team don't really need to guard that area so tightly.
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5
Blue 7 already has the deep space covered.
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6
Blue 5 can look to help against any in-cuts onto the open side.
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7
Of course, this leaves the break side space open for Red 5.
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8
So Blue 4 can help over in that direction, knowing that Blue 5 can pick up Red 4 if the make an in-cut.
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9
Blue 5 can pick-up any in-cuts here.
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10
And Blue 4 can pick-up any break-side cuts.
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11
Blue 6 can stay on their man, but knows that Blue 7 is helping deep.
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12
With Blue 6 already defending this in-cut, Blue 5 doesn't need to help.
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13
As long as the Blue Team communicate and play smart, they can keep switching to pick up each in-, break-, or deep- cut.
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14
If a play does develop, Blue Team must recover and think about their man first. They aren't playing Zone, they still need to guard man-to-man.
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15
Until the mark is ready and a stack is in place, don't risk leaving your man unguarded.
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16
But if Red Team reset back to a Vertical Stack...
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17
Then Blue Team can look to help in the same way.
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18
Picking up in-cuts.
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Or break cuts.
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Or some combination.
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(1) Red Team are in a classic vert stack. Blue Team want to help the downfield defense.