Entry Pass

An entry pass in basketball is a pass delivered from the perimeter into the post area, typically targeting a post player who has established position near the basket with their back to the rim. This fundamental offensive pass serves as the catalyst for post-up offense, initiating scoring opportunities through interior play and creating threats that force defensive collapses and rotations. The entry pass represents one of the most important yet technically challenging passes in basketball, requiring precise timing, angle recognition, and the ability to deliver the ball through tight defensive windows into scoring position. The mechanics of executing successful entry passes involve reading defensive positioning, identifying optimal passing angles, and delivering accurate passes that arrive at ideal catching positions for post players. Passers must evaluate whether defenders are fronting the post, playing behind, or three-quarter fronting, then select appropriate entry techniques for each situation. Against fronting defense, lob passes over the top or bounce passes through gaps may be required. Against behind defense, direct chest passes work effectively. Against three-quarter fronts, passes to the high side away from the defender create optimal catch positions. The timing of entry passes critically impacts their success rate and the scoring opportunities they create. Passes delivered too early arrive before post players have established proper sealing position, allowing defenders to disrupt or intercept them. Passes delivered too late miss optimal windows when post players have created maximum separation from defenders. Elite passers and post players develop synchronization through experience and communication, with post players sealing precisely when passers are ready to deliver and passers releasing balls exactly when receiving windows open. Entry pass angles determine whether passes can successfully navigate defensive pressure and arrive at advantageous catching positions. Direct straight-line passes often travel through defended space where alert defenders can deflect or intercept them. Passing from angles that create separation between defenders and passing lanes increases success probability. Moving to create better passing angles before attempting entry passes demonstrates advanced offensive understanding. Passers who remain stationary and attempt entries from poor angles create unnecessary difficulty. Historically, the entry pass was fundamental to basketball offense as post play dominated offensive strategy for decades. Teams built their offenses around feeding the ball into skilled post players, with entry passes serving as primary offensive actions. The Triangle Offense, used by the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers during their championship dynasties, emphasized entry passes as initiating actions that created scoring opportunities through post play and subsequent ball movement. This historical importance established entry passing as an essential basketball skill. The decline in post-oriented offense in modern basketball has reduced entry pass frequency, though not eliminated its importance. As basketball has evolved toward perimeter-oriented spacing and three-point shooting, fewer possessions feature traditional post-ups requiring entry passes. However, teams that can effectively enter the ball into the post maintain offensive diversity that prevents defenses from solely focusing on perimeter defense. Entry passing remains particularly valuable against mismatches and when defenses overplay perimeter actions. Coaching entry passing involves teaching recognition of defensive positioning, selection of appropriate passing techniques, and execution of accurate deliveries. Players learn to read whether post defenders are fronting, behind, or three-quarter fronting, then select corresponding entry techniques. They practice various entry pass types including chest passes, bounce passes, lob passes, and overhead passes, developing proficiency in each. Drill work simulates defensive pressure and requires accurate entries against contest. Defending against entry passes represents a key defensive priority when opponents attempt post-ups. Denying entry passes eliminates post scoring opportunities before they develop, forcing offenses into alternative actions. Defenders employ various techniques including fronting to prevent direct entries, active hands in passing lanes to deflect attempts, and aggressive positioning that discourages passers from attempting entries. Help defense must position to intercept lob passes when primary defenders front, creating coordinated defensive schemes. The entry pass as an assist opportunity means successful entries that lead to post scores count as assists for the passer. This statistical recognition validates the entry pass's importance and impact on team offense. Players who excel at entry passing contribute to team success through this playmaking ability, even if they don't score personally. The ability to consistently deliver quality entry passes makes perimeter players more valuable and complete offensive threats. Entry passes into different post positions require adjusting techniques and angles based on court location. Entries to the low post near the basket typically feature bounce passes or direct passes from wing positions. Entries to the high post around the free throw line allow more direct passing angles and involve less defensive pressure. Entries from the top of the key versus from wing positions create different angles and defensive challenges. Understanding these location-specific considerations optimizes entry passing success. The physical characteristics of post players receiving entry passes affect optimal delivery locations and techniques. Taller post players with longer arms can catch passes at higher release points, making lob entries more viable. Stronger post players can secure catches despite physical defensive pressure. Quicker post players can flash to the ball and create receiving windows through movement. Passers must understand their post players' strengths and deliver entries that maximize those attributes. Entry passing in specific offensive systems reflects different strategic emphases and tactical approaches. Motion offenses use entry passes as triggers for cuts and movement, with the post touch initiating coordinated offensive actions. Princeton-style offenses emphasize entries to high post players who become playmaking hubs. Isolation-oriented systems use entries to create one-on-one post scoring opportunities. Understanding how entry passes function within broader offensive systems helps players execute them with appropriate purpose. Fake entry passes serve as effective misdirection tools that manipulate defensive positioning and create alternative opportunities. Pass fakes into the post can draw defensive help, opening perimeter shooting opportunities or driving lanes. Repeatedly faking entry passes can cause defenders to relax their denial, creating eventual successful entry opportunities. These fake entries demonstrate how the threat of entry passes creates value beyond actual completions. The communication between passers and post players facilitates successful entry passes and offensive coordination. Hand targets show passers where post players want to receive the ball. Verbal calls communicate readiness to receive entries. Eye contact ensures synchronization between sealing and passing timing. This communication reduces turnovers and creates cleaner scoring opportunities from entry situations. Entry passes that lead to defensive collapses create kick-out opportunities for perimeter shooters, demonstrating how post entries benefit entire offenses beyond just post scoring. When defenses help on post players who receive entries, kick-out passes to open perimeter players generate high-quality three-point attempts. This inside-out offensive approach, initiated by entry passes, has been fundamental to basketball offense for generations. Practicing entry passes involves drills that simulate game-realistic defensive pressure and positioning. Two-on-two drills with perimeter passers and post players against defenders teach reading defensive positions and executing appropriate entries. Progressive difficulty adds more defenders and defensive variations. Film study of successful entry passes provides visual learning about angles, timing, and techniques. Repetition builds the experience and instinct required for consistent success. The risk-reward calculation of attempting entry passes affects decision-making about when to enter versus when to skip or reverse the ball. Entry passes carry higher turnover risk than perimeter passes due to defensive pressure and congested passing lanes. Passers must judge whether entry opportunities are sufficiently open to warrant attempts or whether alternative actions provide better risk-reward profiles. Smart decision-making reduces turnovers while maintaining appropriate offensive aggression. Entry passes in transition present unique opportunities when post players establish position before defenses fully organize. Quick entries to posting players during early offense can create easy scoring chances against recovering defenders. However, post players must establish position quickly, and passers must recognize and exploit these windows before they close. This transition entry timing requires alertness and quick decision-making from both passers and post players. The evolution of entry passing reflects broader basketball trends toward positionless play and versatile skill sets. Modern basketball features more players capable of both passing entries and receiving them, creating tactical flexibility. Wings who can post smaller defenders receive entries traditionally reserved for traditional big men. Playmaking big men who receive entries at the high post can initiate offense like point guards. This versatility expands entry passing applications beyond traditional post-up offense. In contemporary basketball, entry passing remains a valuable skill that creates offensive diversity and exploits specific matchup advantages. While less frequent than in previous eras, well-executed entry passes still generate efficient scoring opportunities and force defensive adjustments that benefit overall offense. Players who develop elite entry passing skills enhance their value and their teams' offensive capabilities. As basketball continues evolving, the entry pass will maintain its place as a fundamental offensive weapon available to teams that value interior play and offensive variety.