giveandgo

Giveandgo, commonly written as give-and-go or give and go, is a basic basketball offensive action in which a player with the ball passes to a teammate and immediately moves to receive a return pass. After catching the ball, the original passer looks for an open scoring opportunity, often finishing with a layup or mid-range jumper. The play relies on precise timing, space, and quick decision making, and it can be executed from the perimeter or in the post.

To execute, the ball handler passes to a teammate and makes a quick, sharp cut toward the basket or away from the ball. The teammate, aware of the cut, passes back as the cutter approaches the rim; timing and spacing are critical to prevent defensive transitions. Players may fake a pass or use a dribble handoff to disguise the return pass.

Historically, give-and-go is one of the oldest plays in basketball and is widely used in both amateur and professional play. It is a staple in many offensive schemes and is taught at youth levels as a foundational skill. Variants include the give-and-go with a screen, the pass-and-cut, and the backdoor cut variants.

Defenses defend by pressuring the ball, denying the return pass, and using help defense to trap the cutter. Against aggressive help, timing becomes critical; well-timed give-and-go can exploit over-rotations or weak ball pressure. Against aggressive man-to-man defense, teams may use zone or switch to disrupt the cut.

Although simple, the give-and-go remains effective in modern play, especially in fast-break situations and with players who have good outside shooting or passing ability. It can lead to free-throw line drives or open shots when executed with pace and precision.