Hammer and Nails Transition
See Also -
Category : Offense motion
PlayName: 2-guard 4-out-1-in motion
O1 & O2 are guards.
O3 is a swing man, either a forward or guard depending upon the situation.
O4 & O5 are power forwards.
Although these are the ideal starting positions, I realise that because we play man-to-man defense, things rarely work out this way. It is for this reason that we nominate which position we will fill as the ball crosses half-court.
O5 rebounds and starts the break by passing to the outlet O2 ... who should be screaming "OUTLET!"
O1 cuts to the middle (yelling,"MIDDLE!") to receive the pass from O2. If O1 does not get the ball, he should continue through to fill the right-hand lane and O2 should dribble to the middle.
In this example, O3 runs wide on the left. O4 trails in the left-hand trailer lane. If O4 happened to beat O3 to the outside lane, O3 would fill a trailer lane.
Our rule is whomever gets there first gets the lane. Outside lanes must be filled first.

Hammer and Nails Transition
NOTE: WHERE YOU GO IN THE BREAK DEPENDS ON THE POSITION YOU FILL AT THIS POINT.
The positions in the diagram are relative to O1, the ball handler in the middle. The other players must call out the positions as they fill them:
O3 - "HAMMER LEFT!"
O2 - "HAMMER RIGHT!"
O4 - "NAIL LEFT!"
O5 - "NAIL RIGHT!"
The object of this secondary break is to "Hammer" the ball inside and "Nail" the shot.
The wing position is our "Hammer" the low-post position is our "Nail".
As you can see from the diagram, you will end up in a 1-2-2 set with two low-posts. You can work out how you transition into your offense set from here.

Hammer and Nails Transition
Transition to Strong-side Play -
The key for our point guard, O1, to start the secondary break is when he sees three or more defenders in front of him.
In this case he is dribbling toward the strong-side in our offense.

Hammer and Nails Transition
Transition to Strong-side Play -
Another key that we are starting our secondary break is that O3 can "hit the baseline" and pop back out to receive the ball at the wing. In effect, he "V" cuts. However, this is not necessary. He may just receive the ball on the wing and await developments.
O1 passes to O3 and screens away.
O4 cuts to the basket and fills the strong-side low-post position if he does not get the ball.
O2 is doing a "V" cut on the weak-side.
O5 screens down for O2 then goes to the low-post.
O3 is looking at O4 cutting to the basket.
THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE SECONDARY BREAK IS TO HAMMER THE BALL INSIDE!

Hammer and Nails Transition
Transition to Strong-side Play -
O3 squares-up and looks for his jump shot if in range.
O5 is rebounding the weak-side.
O3 still looks to get O4 the ball at the low-post. If he cannot, O3 passes to O2.
O2 is coming off the double-screen and looks for his jump shot or to pass inside.

Hammer and Nails Transition
Transition to Weak-side Play -
O1 dribbles and/or passes to the weak-side.
O2 can do a "V" cut to get open on the wing if he has time.
O4 always goes to the strong-side low-post.
O3 walks into mid post ready to pop out to the guard spot to help swing the ball.
O5 cuts down the lane to post low.

Hammer and Nails Transition
Transition to Weak-side Play -
O5 has cut to the basket and posted-up.
O2 looks at O5. If O5 is not open, O2 passes out to O1 who has remained at the weak-side guard spot.
O1 then looks inside for O5 again.
Now we're in our weak-side offense.

Hammer and Nails Transition
Transition to Weak-side Play -
If nothing is on, we swing into our regular weak-side motion offense.
O1 passes to O3 who has done a "V" cut through the elbow to get open.
O5 runs the baseline when O1 passes to O3 and pops out behind the screen set by O4.
O3 passes to O5 for the 15'-18' jump-shot.

Hammer and Nails Transition - Progression A - 3-on-0
You can use the following Progressions (Break-Downs) in teaching this transition offense.
O3 rebounds the ball off the backboard and throws an outlet pass to O2. O3 starts up the inside lane.
O1 cuts to the top-of-the-key area.
O2 passes to O1.
Alternately, O3 fakes the pass to O2 (he's not open) and hits O1 at the top-of-the-key with the first pass.
It is very important for juniors to understand that, in a controlled secondary break, they must either be at an outlet area or at the top-of-the-key, depending upon which side of the court the ball is rebounded.
Points of Emphasis
1) O3 throws an over-head pass.
2) Outlet man, O2, yells, "OUTLET!".
3) Middle man, O1, must go to the top-of-the-key in case of secondary outlet.
4) Middle man, O1, yells, "MIDDLE!".

Hammer and Nails Transition - Progression A - 3-on-0
O1 calls "MIDDLE!" as he passes half-court, dribbles toward the top-of-the-key listening for the "HAMMER!" call.
O2 runs wide to foul-line extended and three-point line area. O2 yells, "HAMMER RIGHT!" as he crosses half-court.
O3 trails in the inside lane and yells, "Nail Right!" as he crosses half-court.
O1 passes to O2. O2 passes to O3 cutting to the basket. O3 either lays-up or does low-post move.
You could have them play 2-on-1 back the other way. The man that took the shot, O3 in this case, being defense.
Points of Emphasis
1) O2 stays wide! He should be running in the outside lane (~ 3'-5' from each sideline).
2) O3 should stay behind the first pass to the wing, then cut hard to the low-post.
3) Go as fast as possible, but under control.

Hammer and Nails Transition - Progression B - 4-on-0
The middle man needs to be able to successfully recognise which side the Nail is on and pass to the Hammer on that side. Good practise in calling the positions.
O4 rebounds and over-head passes to the outlet on his side, O2. O4 becomes the Nail.
O1 cuts to the middle for the pass from O2.
O1 dribbles hard up the middle.
O2 fills the Hammer Right lane.
O3 has no other responsibility other than to fill the Hammer Left lane as fast as possible.
Points of Emphasis
1) Overhead pass on outlet.
2) Outlet man yells, "OUTLET!"
3) Middle man yells, "MIDDLE!"
4) All players call their positions as they pass half-court.

Hammer and Nails Transition - Progression B - 4-on-0
All players must call their positions as they cross half-court.
O1 must recognise which side the Nail, O4, is on and get the ball to the Hammer on that side. Same as Progression A from this point,
O1 passes to O2, who looks for O4 cutting down the lane.
Points of Emphasis
1) Call the "Hammer", "Nail" and "Middle" positions.
2) O3 must get to a rebound position.
3) The middle man stays back as safety.

Hammer and Nails Transition - Progression C - 4-on-2 or 3
The next step is for the middle man and the "Hammers" to be able to recognise :
1) when to attack in a traditional fast-break
- 3-on-1
- 3-on-2
2) when to wait for the Nails.
- 4-on-3
- 5-on-4
The key is how many defensive men are back. Against 1 or 2 defense, we attack quickly.... if 3 or more are back we go into the Hammer and Nails transition and from that into our offense proper.
Same as progression B, but add defenders as shown. Continually change from:
1) 2 to 3 defenders against 4 offense and 2) 2 to 4 defenders against 5 offense
See if the offense adjusts correctly.

Hammer and Nails Transition - Progression D - 5-on-5
Controlled Scrimmage -
Coach passes to O3. Defenders 1,2 and 3 must try to stop the break any way they can. O4 and O5's men (the X's) must touch the baseline before running back on defense to simulate a two step head start for the offense.

Hammer and Nails Transition - Progression D - 5-on-5
Controlled Scrimmage -
Offense runs Hammer and Nails as previously described.
If the offense scores, they get to do it again back the other way.
If the defense forces a turn-over in play or gets a rebound, they Hammer and Nail back the other way and try to score. If they score, this original defense gets to stay on offense and do it again.
If the turn-over goes out-of-bounds, the other team gains possession and they start over.
Play only stops when a basket is scored or the ball goes out-of-bounds.