To be a good offensive basketball player, you have to keep moving with or without the ball, to get open for shots for yourself or to set up your teammates for a basket. The most common ways to get open are by using dribble penetration, setting picks or cutting to the basket. When cutting to the basket, it's important that you go with a purpose and clear out if you don't get the ball so that you don't crowd the key for your teammates.
Step 1
Set your defender up by using a jab step. Get your defender going in the opposite direction of your cut by making a hard jab step with your outside leg. For example, if you want to cut to the right, make a jab step with your left foot and vice versa.
Step 2
Step in front of your defender when making your cut to the basket. After getting your defender going away from the basket, cut in front of his chest so that he is trailing you across the lane. This way your teammate will be able to lead you with a pass and you'll be in position to catch and shoot before your defender can get back in front of you.
Step 3
Continue through the lane and out to the perimeter if you do not receive a pass. When making cuts, it is important that you do not crowd the key by staying inside. You should fill and replace open positions on the perimeter so your teammates can continue cutting to the basket. For example, if you make a cut from the top of the key, one of your teammates on the wings should rotate up to fill the spot you just vacated and you in turn should replace the wing player on the perimeter so that you keep the floor balanced with an equal number of players on each side.
Step 4
Cut backdoor by walking your defender out to the perimeter before planting on your outside leg and making a quick cut to the basket. Backdoor cuts are more effective when timed to coincide with a fake pass from a teammate. As you are breaking toward the perimeter, your teammate fakes a pass. When the defense reacts in anticipation of a steal, plant your outside leg, pivot and cut back toward the basket. Remember to continue through the lane if you do not receive a pass.
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