How Paris Basketball Dominates Offensive Rebounding: Tagging Up
How Paris Basketball Uses Tagging Up to Lead the EuroLeague in Offensive Rebounds
Paris Basketball has burst onto the scene in their first season in the EuroLeague, bringing their elite offensive rebounding approach with them. After an incredible season in the EuroCup last season where they only lost 1(!) game, they got a new coach and added a few new pieces but have kept the same team and pretty much the same offensive rebounding system as last year.
If you google Paris Basketball offensive rebounding statistics you will see links to articles that say:
“Paris grabs an impressive 39.9% of offensive rebounds”
“Paris ranks first in offensive rebounding with 12.6 per game.”
“Paris also ranks near the top in other categories this season, including ranking third in average rebounds (37.0), third in three-pointers made …”
But these elite offensive rebounding numbers are no accident. They come from a deliberate strategic approach that sets Paris Basketball apart from their competition.
How do they do it? They “tag up”. A strategy coach Tuomas Iisalo used last season and continues to use with the Memphis Grizzlies this season.
What Is Tagging Up in Basketball?
What is tagging up? Simply put, it is a strategy where all 5 offensive players go to the high side of their match up when the shot goes up. With all the 3PT shots being taken in the modern era, there will be longer rebounds. This strategy coupled with the fact that Paris takes the most 3 point shots per game allows them to be in offensive rebounding position.
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 will tag the closest player, and try to push them as close as possible to the basket.
Lo could maybe have done a better job getting to the high side of Howard, but it’s important to understand that while Paris leads the EuroLeague in offensive rebounds, the primary purpose of tagging up isn’t just to secure offensive boards – it’s to slow down transition offense. The increased offensive rebounding numbers are actually a strategic by-product of this defensive approach. Therefore, tagging up is more of a transition defense system than a strategy to secure second second chance scoring opportunities.
Here, you can see Lo is in position to guard the ball and stop the potential 2-on-1 fast break opportunity. Good tag-ups effectively slow down transition opportunities and easy kick-aheads.
Transition Defense Benefits of Tagging Up
The other players sprint back to create a wall and shrink the driving 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:
- Three-point volume – Paris takes more three-pointers than any other team in EuroLeague, creating more long rebounding opportunities
- Player positioning – By positioning players on the high side of their matchups, they’re in a better rebounding position
- Dual-purpose approach – The strategy simultaneously improves transition defense while creating more second chance opportunities to win the possession game
- Team commitment – 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 a similar approach should focus on:
- Teaching players to identify and tag the closest opponent when a shot goes up
- Practicing the technique of pushing opponents toward the basket, especially when in the paint (“scrumming”)
- Emphasizing the primary goal of slowing down opponent transition opportunities
- Understanding that increased offensive rebounds will come as players commit to their tags.
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