Often a ball handler will have a preferred side that they prefer to attack and are more proficient when doing so. Often if they are a right-handed player they will be most efficient attacking to their right (and vice versa for a left-handed player). However, that is not always the case, as sometimes a right-handed player will attack best when they move to their left.

It is important that a team’s “scout” identifies not only which hand a player shoots with but also with which hand they prefer to dribble.

“Weak” is simply a defensive scheme where an offensive player is forced to penetrate on their non-preferred. It can be used very effectively with an on-ball screen.

The defender must move to one side to prevent the dribbler moving in that direction. The defender must not allow the offensive player to drive straight either, so the defender needs to be “on the hip” of the offensive player.

The screen defender steps off the screen and moves so that they are in a position to pressure the dribbler (when they move in the direction the defence is forcing them).

In “Weak”, it may involve forcing the offensive player to use the screen (dribble towards the screen) or it may force them to dribble away from the screen. The determining factor is that the defence does not allow the offensive player to move in their preferred direction.

If they are moving in the direction of the screen, the defender should go over the screen. If they were to go under the screen it would allow the dribbler to change direction and return to their preferred hand.

In whichever direction the dribbler is forced to move, a perimeter player on that side (e.g. x2) may “help and recover” (or “stunt”) to put additional pressure on them.

The key to this strategy being successful is for the on-ball defender to move quickly into a position that does not allow the dribbler to move to their preferred hand.