The following 6 items are from Tom Spitznagel, an exceptional official from Portland, Oregon. Incorporating these correctly will help you become a very good partner on a 3-man crew, and help make sure that calls are made correctly as a crew:
1. On a drive from the C side to the basket, the T needs to be able to step in and make a call if both the C and L get straight-lined. This often happens around the low block across the key. The same thing happens on rebounds, and is why the T needs to stay home and not cheat back on the shot. Close when you make this call, and you'll look a lot better when you have to make it.
2. On a full-court press, the C has foul line to foul line responsibilities. Be aggressive from the C if help is needed on a block/charge across the way. In addition, you need to pick up travels if the offensive player is surprised by a defender as he turns and starts a dribble while breaking a press. Getting that travel before contact helps you and your partner who is stuck with a block/charge call that can be avoided if the travel occurs first and the C gets it.
3. “Sneak a peek” on 3’s. Lead should help mark corner 3’s in a transition situation. It’s OK to glance if it is easy and convenient to help out partners on 3’s. Ensure it is correct for the crew.
4. If there is nobody in your area as the C, take the on-ball defender. You’ll be helping your partner at the spot where the most can go wrong and hurt the crew, but understand it’s still his primary.
5. As the L, don’t let your eyes slip above the FT line. Most of these calls (<50%) you make from there are wrong; most made below the FT line are right.
6. Center/Lead can help out with 10 second call in backcourt if they can see the shot clock/big picture view. It takes a lot of guts to do this, but the shot clock can be your biggest ally in countering the "fast-count" claim coaches always make when it's called.
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