50–55 Transition is a full-court drill that combines a 5-on-0 primary break with a 5-on-5 live possession. It is designed to rehearse your transition philosophy under game-like pressure while reinforcing quick decision-making, spacing, and execution of offensive concepts in both primary and secondary break situations.

Setup & Organization

Split the team into two groups: one offensive unit and one defensive unit. Use the full court with five offensive players on the baseline. One forward begins by tossing the ball off the backboard to simulate a rebound. He secures the rebound and throws an outlet to the point guard cutting back (“banana cut”) to receive the ball. Wings sprint wide to the deep corners, and the rim runner sprints directly to the front of the rim. The ball handler pushes the ball up the sideline or looks to pitch ahead quickly for a transition score.

Step-by-Step Progression

1. The drill starts with the offensive unit running a 5-on-0 break. The point guard receives the outlet, wings fill wide, and the rim runner sprints the lane. The goal is to find a quick score within 4–6 seconds. This could be a pitch-ahead three, a pass to the rim runner, or a direct drive.

2. After the make, the designated inbounder immediately takes the ball out of the net (not behind the backboard) and inbounds to the point guard, who banana cuts back to receive it. Players fill lanes as before and advance down the floor.

3. At half court, the waiting defensive unit picks up live, and the drill transitions into a 5-on-5 possession. From here, the offense can flow into one of its installed entries or free play, depending on the coach’s instructions.

4. After this live possession, the groups switch roles, with the defensive unit becoming the offensive unit to repeat the sequence.

Scoring

Standard game scoring is used (twos worth two, threes worth three). A shooting foul counts as two points. To increase pressure, a two-turnover maximum for the entire drill can be enforced; exceeding it resets the team’s score to zero. Coaches may emphasize offensive scoring or defensive stops depending on practice goals.

Coaching Points

Stress speed and precision—no wasted dribbles, no overpassing. The goal is to score quickly in transition before the defense is set. Rim runners must sprint hard to the basket every time. Inbounders must take the ball out cleanly and quickly without letting it hit the floor. Encourage players to recognize when the first great shot is available and take it rather than searching for the perfect possession. Defensive units must communicate and match up quickly as the offense flows into live play.

Variations

Require the offense to use a specific entry after the primary break to rehearse set actions. Run with alternating sides of the floor to balance spacing and habits. Increase difficulty by limiting the number of passes in the 5-on-5 portion or by setting a time limit for the offense to score. For advanced groups, allow quick runouts after defensive rebounds in the live segment to simulate secondary transition pressure.