Newsletter #315

The Spain pick and roll action was introduced several years ago by Spain's national team.  Instead of a two-player pick and roll, it involves three players - the ball-handler, the screener and a shooter.

It's a high pick and roll set at the middle of the floor by a post player, who then also receives a back-screen from a guard (shooter) - a "screen the screener" action.  The other two players occupy the corners.

See the diagrams.  O1 gets a ball-screen from O5 and dribbles around that screen.  Meanwhile, O2 back-screens for O5 (diagram 2).  O5 rolls to the hoop, using the back-screen, and O2 pops out to an open spot on the arc.  The ball-handler can attack with the dribble (diagram 3) or shoot a pull-up jump-shot, or he can pass to O5 rolling inside, or to O2 for an open 3-point shot, or to O3 in the corner.

This action is difficult to defend.  O5 could be open on the roll cut.  But if the X2 defender helps on O5, then O2 (your shooter) will be open for the 3-point shot.  With the confusion created by the extra screen, O1 can often attack with the dribble. The "Wolverine" play and video below also shows a Spain pick and roll.