Above you'll see the basic trap we want to run with Viper. I've had a lot of success with this press in the past, often resulting in turnovers that become easy layups.

The Plan:

We're going to herd the ball towards the sideline as the opposing team brings it up court by applying pressure, and then trap either just before or just beyond half court. Correctly corralling the ball against the sideline, forming a proper trap near half court, and making quick rotations when the trap is sprung are the keys to success here.

Here are the positional responsibilities for the play.

Before inbound:

The 1 does its best to deny the opposing PG the ball on the inbounds.
4 is there to deny any others in the area, but stays at FT line extended.
2 and 3 hopefully follow their wings upcourt, if the wings stay behind, 2 and 3 should come slightly beyond half court and wait. 5 gets all the way down court and locates at the foul line of the basket we are defending.

After the inbound, leading to the trap:

1 gets in a position to force the ball up either sideline.
4 helps them in this until 1 is in position to jockey the ball up the sideline on their own, and then peels off to mid-court, staying in line with the ball if they can.
2 and 3 continue up with the wings until the ball handler is about 1/3 of the way up the court. If the ball is on their side of the court, the 2 or 3 should aggressively attack the ball, setting a trap with the 1.
5 and the opposite wing should wait in their current positions until the trap begins.

The trap:

1 and whichever wing forms the trap with them should make sure that the only way for the ball-handler to escape is to go backwards.
The players in the trap should form a bracket against the sideline, feet touching and their bodies forming and 'L' shape. Front, to mid-court, and the sideline should all be cut off. Keep your hands high, moving frantically, anticipating trying to tip a pass, and DO NOT REACH IN.
As the trap is sprung, the weak-side wing and the 5 must rotate. 5 rotates to the wing on the side the trap was sprung, looking to pick off any lob to that wing.
The weak-side wing (2 or 3) rotates hard to cover 5's position / the paint.
4 plays the middle, covering up and down the court.
The three players not involved in the trap form what I call a 'Stealing Triangle' which will be a part of ALL the traps we run, in presses, man-to-man full and half court defenses, and zones. These players are properly spaced, with hands up, and are ready to rotate ON THE PASS. Anticipate and be the first to react!

If broken:

If the defense breaks the trap, we yell 'FIRE', and match up man to man as quickly as possible.
Things can get frantic here, but if we react and fill the lane quickly, and the last two close out to shooters, we should be fine and maybe even forced a rushed, contested shot that we are ready to rebound!

Presses

Viper Press