How Paris Basketball Uses Tagging Up to Lead the EuroLeague in Offensive Rebounds

How does Paris Basketball use “Tagging Up” to slow down their opponent’s transition while generating more offensive rebounds?

Paris Basketball emerged on the scene in their first season in the Euroleague. After an incredible season in the Eurocup last season where they only lost 1(!) game, Tuomas Iisalo has moved onto the Memphis Grizzlies with Tiago Splitter taking the reins as Head Coach. Despite adding a new coach, what is remarkable is how Paris have kept the same principles of play that brought them so much success.

Half-way through the EuroLeague season, Paris Basketball are securing 39.9% of offensive rebounds and are first in offensive rebounding at 12.6 rebounds per game.

So how do they do it? Tuomas Iisalo used tagging up with his teams in Germany, and brought the concept over to Paris. Simply put, it is a strategy where all 5 offensive players go to the high side of their match up on the shot attempt.

With all the 3PT shots being taken in the modern era, naturally there are longer rebounds. This strategy coupled with the fact that Paris take the most 3PT shots per game in the EuroLeague, allows them to more consistently be in optimal offensive rebounding positions. 

You can see the video below – an example of Paris’ tagging up even when it does not result in an offensive rebound. Even when not generating the rebound, it allows your players to be in an effective position to slow down kick-aheads and apply instant full-court pressure.

Paris Basketball’s Tagging Up Technique in Action

You can see the video below – an example of Paris Tagging up where it does not result in an offensive rebound. The principles are the same.

As soon as the shot goes up, the 3 players circled tag their match-up, being as physical as possible to try and push them as close as possible to their own basket. You can see this below…

Lo (only non-shooter for Paris not circled) could have done a better job tagging up and getting to Howard’s high side. Note that the purpose of tagging up is to slow down transition offense, not necessarily to grab offensive rebounds. Offensive rebounds are more a by-product of this principle, rather than the primary intention. 

By tagging here, Lo is in position to slow down the advance of the ball and reduce kick-aheads. 

 

Transition Defense Benefits of Tagging Up

The other players sprint back to create a wall and shrink the attacking lanes for the offense. 

When Tagging Up Leads to Offensive Rebounds

Here is a clip where Paris get the offensive rebound from tagging up:

 

Why Tagging Up Is So Effective for Paris Basketball

The tagging up strategy works particularly well for Paris Basketball for several reasons:

1. Three-point volume – Paris takes more three-pointers than any other team in EuroLeague. Threes naturally create more long rebounding opportunities. 
2. Player positioning – By positioning players on the high side of their matchups, they’re in a better rebounding position. The black/white of tagging removes the gray area of just asking your players to crash.  
3. Dual-purpose approach – The strategy simultaneously improves transition defense while creating more second chance opportunities to win the possession game. 
4. Complete clarity – All five players understand and execute their roles in the tagging up system. 

 

How Your Team Can Implement the Tagging Up Strategy

Coaches looking to implement tagging should focus on:

1. Teaching players to identify and tag the closest opponent when a shot goes up. Tag who guarded you on the shot attempt, NOT your regular match-up. 
2. Practicing the technique of pushing opponents toward the basket, especially when in the paint (“scrumming”)
3. Emphasizing the primary goal of slowing down opponent transition opportunities
4. Understanding that increased offensive rebounds will come as players commit to their tags vs lagging or moving back to their own basket.

 

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