Basketball Fundamentals - Setting Screens (Picks)
By Dr. James Gels, from the Coach’s Clipboard Basketball Playbook, @ http://www.coachesclipboard.net If you like this free page, please give us a "Like", a "+1" or a "Follow". Thanks! - Coach Gels |
A screen or "pick" occurs when an offensive player attempts to block, or "screen", a defensive player away from the man he is guarding, thereby freeing up that offensive player for an open shot or pass. Setting good screens (or "picks") is a very important fundamental part of the game. It is often assumed that players will know how to do this, but like any other important fundamental, it must be taught correctly. Screens are most helpful in freeing up a teammate against a man-to-man defense, and in out-of-bounds plays, and there are often times when you want to screen a zone defense as well. Setting good picks are basic to most offensive plays. Oftentimes, it is the screener that gets open (after sealing the defender). So setting a screen is a good way to get yourself open for a pass and shot. The "pick and roll" is still one of the simplest plays, but when done correctly, one of the most difficult to defend. The Utah Jazz's John Stockton and Karl Malone were masters of the pick and roll.
Important elements in executing an effective screen.
1. The screener must make contact with (but not foul, hold or push) the defender that he/she is trying to block. If you do not make contact, and get up tight, the defender will simply slide around you.2. Be strong. Get your feet wide and plant your feet solidly. Do not move your feet once you have established this position or you will get called for a "moving screen" (a foul). You must be stationary and not move with the defender, and you must not push the defender away. If a defender bumps into you and you are not stationary, you will probably be called for the foul.
3. Keep your arms tucked into your chest, not only to physically protect yourself, but also so the ref can see that you are not pushing with your hands, or grabbing or holding the defender.
4. The angle, or direction, of the pick and the timing of the pick are probably the most important, and most overlooked factors in setting a screen. You must have the correct angle, or position, when you set the pick. You must anticipate the direction that your offensive teammate wants to go, and then make contact with his defender in a position so that you are directly in the way of the defender, and he/she cannot get around you. If you don't get the right angle, the defender will simply slide around you. Perhaps this is best demonstrated in the diagram. In Diagram A, the screener does not make contact, and the defender slips behind. In Diagram B, the pick is too high ( a common mistake), and the defender slides behind the pick and stays with the defender. In Diagram C, the pick is too low, and the defender can fight over the screen. Diagram D shows a good pick, followed by screener "rolling" to the hoop.
5. After your teammate cuts around the screen, the screener "seals" off the screened defender and "rolls" (cuts) toward the hoop. If the defense switches the screen, often the "roller" will be open for the pass.
6. The timing of the offensive player receiving the pick. The player receiving the pick must be patient and wait for the screen from his teammate to arrive. Often, I will see a player make his cut just before the pick is "set", and the defender easily gets around it (because it never had a chance to be set). You must wait for the pick to be set, and then cut hard around it.
7. The offensive player receiving the screen must cut hard, and close to the teammate setting the screen. You must "rub off" your teammate's screen... that is, brush against him as you go by. If you don't brush close to the screen, the defender can slip through the screen.
8. Remember, there are two options on the pick and roll play... pass either to the cutter, or if the defense switches, pass to the "roller".
Types of Screens
Screens can be on-ball (when set for the ball-handler), or off-ball.|
1. Ball-screen or front screen: 2. Back-screen: 3. Down-screen: |
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4. Cross-screen or lateral screen The cross-screen can occur either on the perimeter with one guard cross-screening laterally, or sideways, for another perimeter player. Or one post player can screen away (cross-screen) for another post player. Looking at the diagram, if the cutter O3 basket-cuts, the screener pops out on the perimeter. If the cutter O3 cuts high on the 3-point arc, to O1's original spot at the top, the screener O1 should seal and slip the screen, looking for a quick pass from O2 on his/her cut to the basket. |
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5. Flare-screen This is really a type of back-screen set on the perimeter wherein the screener screens the back-side of the defender (away from the ball), and the cutter "flares" to the open spot on the perimeter for the skip pass and 3-point shot. |
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Screening Options - Reading the Defense - the Important Details
When setting a good screen, there are multiple options depending on how the defenders defend the cutter and screener. The diagrams below show all the options and we show a coach at the top with the ball, who passes to the cutter. You can use these as simple drills for teaching how to read the defender and and how to use the screen to your advantage.Lateral Down-screens
This is a down-screen set for a perimeter player. There are four options... curl, pop out, back-cut, and slip. The cutter and the screener must read the defense and choose the correct option.Curl over the screen. See diagram A. Here the defender chases over the screen, and O2 cuts hard over the screen for the pass and shot (diagram B).
Cutter pops back and out. Diagram C shows the screened defender X2 stepping under the screen. O2 sees this, steps back and pops out to the arc for the pass and 3-point shot.
Cutter back-cuts. Diagram D shows the screened defender X2 overplaying the cut, denying O2 and preventing him/her from going over the screen. O2 reads this and makes a quick back-cut to the hoop for the pass and lay-up.
Screener slips the screen. Diagram E shows the screener's defender X1 jumping out over the screen and overplaying the cut. The screener O1 reads this, slips the screen, and makes a quick cut to the hoop for the pass and lay-up.
Inside Down-screens
This is a down-screen set near the low block. Again, we have the same four options... curl, pop (or "flare"), back-cut, and slip. The cutter and the screener must read the defense and choose the correct option. Diagram F shows the down-screen with our high-post player screening down for our shooter O2, and coach has the ball at the top.Curl over the screen. See diagram G. Here the defender chases over the screen, and O2 curl-cuts hard over the screen for the pass and shot.
Cutter pops - flares toward the corner. Diagram H shows the screened defender X2 stepping under the screen. O2 sees this and pops out (flares) toward the corner for the pass and shot.
Cutter back-cuts. Diagram I shows the screened defender X2 overplaying the cut, denying O2 and preventing him/her from going over the screen. O2 reads this and makes a quick back-cut for the pass and lay-up.
Screener slips the screen. Diagram J shows the screener's defender X5 jumping out over the screen and overplaying the cutter O2. The screener O5 reads this, slips the screen, and makes a quick cut to the hoop for the pass and lay-up.
Back-screens
Back-cut. Here O5 sets the back-screen for O2 (diagram K). O2 back-cuts around the screen for a pass and lay-up. After screening, O5 pops out to the arc and could also get the pass.Slip option. If the X5 defender switches on O2, the screener O5 reads this, seals X2, and slips the screen for a pass inside and a lay-up.
If nothing else, the back-screen is often a great way to get defensive mis-matches in the low post, or on the perimeter.
Flare-screens
A flare-screen (diagram M) is really a back-screen set by one perimeter player for another with the cutter going away from the ball.Cutter goes over the screen. See diagram N. Here the defender is caught by the screen, and O2 cuts hard over the screen for the pass and 3-point shot.
Cutter steps back and pops. Diagram O shows the screened defender X2 stepping under the screen. O2 sees this, steps back and pops out for the pass and shot.
Screener slips the screen. Diagram P shows the screener's defender X2 jumping out over the screen and overplaying the cutter O2. The screener O2 reads this, slips the screen, and makes a quick cut to the hoop for the pass and lay-up.
See also: Pick Drills
Helpful DVDs:
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Creating Mismatches: Pick-and-Roll and Screening with Dave Smart, Carleton University Head Coach; Canada's National Men's Basketball Assistant Coach. This unique DVD on screening introduces the concept of "selling opposite" as a big part of screening success. Coach Smart discusses screening terminology, different types of screens and benefits of this offensive tool in this presentation. The advantage in screening goes to the offense by implementing the down screen, back screen and on ball screen. The back screen gives the cutter an opportunity to basket cut, back cut or flare. Cutters are taught to cut "shoulder to hip" when accepting a screen and... (more info) Price: $39.99 
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The Complete Guide to Ball Screening with Ben Braun, former University of California Head Coach; 1997 Pac-10 Coach of the Year, 2003 Naismith National Coach of the Year award finalist; 1999 NIT Champions. This outstanding video takes one of the oldest, and least understood, arts in basketball and displays in-depth coverage of the multiple plays and options that can be run off of ball screens and the pick & roll at any level of play. These drills highlight the perfect moments to take advantage of the defense when they are most vulnerable by creating confusion and forcing mismatches to improve scoring opportunities. Multiple screenplays will force defenses... (more info) Price: $39.99
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