If the Defense has accomplished the first two levels of defense (guarding the ball and effectively helping), then the Offense must push the defense into the third level – guarding situations.
A Defense capable of guarding the ball, protecting the rim, helping effectively, and defending situations is playing at a high level. The Offensive counter to a defense at this level is to layer multiple situations on top of one another for a full possession. This forces the defense to play at a Level Four, which is extremely demanding.
The Read & React allows the players to “hunt” and probe a Level Four defense until a scoring opportunity is found. The idea here is to change formations and attacks on a moment-by-moment basis, taking what the defense gives, and exploiting the mistakes that the defense will eventually make.
