Fast Break

The Fast Break is an offensive strategy in basketball. In a fast-break, a team attempts to move the ball up court and into scoring position as quickly as possible, so that the defense is outnumbered and does not have time to set up.

In a typical fast-break situation, the defending team obtains the basketball and passes it to a faster player who sets up the fastbreak. That player (usually the smaller point guard) speed-dribbles the ball upcourt with several players trailing on the wings. He then either passes it to another player for a quick basket, or takes the shot himself. Recognition, speed, ball-handling skills and decision making are critical to the success of a fastbreak.

Fast breaks are often the result of good defensive play such as a steal or a block, where the defending team takes possession of the ball while the other team has not adjusted.

If the fastbreak did not lead to a basket and an offensive rebound is obtained and put back quickly, this is called the secondary break.

Some teams rely on the fastbreak because of their speed, notably the 1980s Showtime Los Angeles Lakers and the present Phoenix Suns. A few great players leading the fast break are Magic Johnson, Jason Kidd and Steve Nash, because of their great decision-making.