ATO. After Time-Out

What: A full set run out of a dead-ball timeout, full 5-on-5. Goal: counter the defense's expectation. Brad Stevens is the patron saint.

Core principles

• Defense expects something. Counter their expectation. Best ATOs run from a non-traditional alignment.
• Have ATOs by score situation: down 3, down 1, tied, up 2.
• Best ATO actions hide the action behind a decoy. First cut is the misdirect, second cut is live.
• Keep your set count low. 3-4 ATOs you're great at >> 10 you're average at.
• Scout your matchups in the timeout. Hunt the worst defender. ATO is when the staff earns their pay.

ATO patterns

1. Horns-into-flare

1-4 high horns alignment. PG dribbles to a side. Weakside elbow big sets a flare for the strongside elbow big. Strongside big pops to the slot for the open three. Stevens classic.

2. Twist (double drag into pop)

Two trail bigs run twin drag-screens for the PG. PG splits the screens, second screener pops to the top for a catch-and-shoot. The twist of the screeners is what gets the open look.

3. Floppy-into-stagger

2 / 3 under the basket on opposite blocks. PG signals: 2 floppies off a single, 3 floppies off a stagger. Read the better matchup, the late screen kills the switch.

4. Pistol (early ball-screen out of the timeout)

Out of the huddle, immediate side ball-screen between 1 and 5. No setup. Defense often hasn't communicated coverage yet. Fast hitter.

5. Stevens "elevator"

Two bigs at the elbows. Shooter cuts under the basket, comes up between them, the bigs close the elevator doors. The shooter pops out of the gap for a wide-open catch-and-shoot. Devastating when it works.

6. Decoy + back-screen

Misdirect cut to the strong side, weakside back-screen action for the lob. The defense is already turned the wrong way. Big spike at the rim.

How to defend ATO

• Pre-call coverage in your huddle before the play hits.
• Switch all screens unless scout says specific.
• Top-lock the best shooter. Force the second option.
• Identify the inbounder even though it's not technically inbounding. Often the play runs through whoever the timeout-passer was.
• Communicate the alignment. "Horns!" "Box!" — the call sets the rotation.

Scout requirements

1. What ATO do they go to down 3 late?
2. What ATO do they go to tied with last shot?
3. Their favorite quarter-end 2-for-1?
4. Do they ATO immediately or burn 8 seconds setting up?

See also

• systems/special-situations/blob.md
• systems/special-situations/slob.md
• systems/special-situations/_principles.md