Ahmet Dedeoğlu
05-31-2008, 01:44 AM
Man-to-Man Defense - Defending screens
You must have a plan for defending against screens. Of utmost importance is communication between defenders and calling out the screens before they are actually set. Coaches differ on the best way to defend screens. No matter how you do it, you must have a plan, practice it, and make sure all players understand.
Inside post screens should be switched, since you usually do not end up with a size-quickness mis-match here (see below). On outside perimeter screens, you must decide whether you want to switch these screens, try to fight over them, or slide through (under) them. Switching on the outside could occasionally lead to size and quickness mis-match, especially if a post player steps outside to set a screen for a guard.
On-ball screens (Pick and Roll).
See Diagram G below. Coaches differ on how to defend ball-screens. Rather than switching, you can try to fight over the screen rather than switching, especially if there is a "big-little" mismatch... but your screened defender may not get over the screen, and then the ball handler is left open to shoot or penetrate. The important teaching point in fighting over a screen is that the screened defender should "step-over" the screen by extending his/her leg (on the side of screen) around the screener's leg.
You could simply switch ball screens, especially if no size or quickness advantage is given up. The screened defender could slide under, or slide through the screen (between the screener and the screener's defender). But you may give up an open three-point shot, as the ball-handler may shoot the outside shot, rather than dribbling around the screen. This is not a problem if the ball-handler is outside his/her shooting range.
You can fake a switch and have the X1 defender "show" over the top of the screen, stopping dribble-penetration and forcing O3 farther outside. Forcing O3 outside allows X3 the spacing to fight over the top of the screen. Then X1 must recover quickly back to his man. This is just another example of "help and recover". But you risk getting beaten by the pass from O3 to the screener O1 (as O1 rolls off the screen).
We prefer to "jump switch" on-ball screens. In diagram G, X1 sees the screen coming and yells "screen, screen, screen!" As soon as the screen is set, X1 jumps above the screen right into the ball-hander's path, switches, and prevents the dribble move around the screen and contains the ball. Sometimes X1 will make the mistake of not getting above the screener, and he/she gets beaten by O3 off the dribble. This furthermore opens the passing lane for the pass to O1. The screened defender (X3) must fight hard to cover the screener O1 by stepping over and around O1's leg and aggressively having a hand up, denying the pass. If O3 throws the pass over the top to the O1, this should be picked off by our inside helpside defender. You could teach the screened defender X3 to step under the screener O1 (instead of over), as this may be easier, but then you are more vulnerable to the bounce-pass off the pick and roll.
Several important points on the jump-switch...
1. The three remaining defenders must be ready to give help if O1 rolls off the pick inside and gets the pass over the top.
2. X1 must jump out, stop and contain the dribbler.
3. The jump-switch works well even if the ball-handler is within shooting range and is a good shooter.
4. We also jump switch the hand-off screen (weave screen).
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Outside Lateral Screens
It is easy to switch these screens and usually a mis-match does not occur. The interesting thing is that since our wing defender (X3) is in helpside, there really in no-one to screen (diagram H). It becomes more of an exchange. When O3 moves out to the top, we switch, and have X1 take O3. Notice (diagram I) that our X3 defender in helpside, doesn't even need to move on the switch, since the ball is on the opposite wing and she/he just says in the paint in helpside.
If our weakside wing X3, for some reason, is not in helpside and gets screened (diagram J), we switch this screen. The screened defender X3 drops a step or two back just before the screen arrives ("steps under") and avoids getting sealed outside by the screener... a "step under and switch".
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Inside Post Screens
As stated above, it is best to switch inside screens. Here you are usually not giving up a size or quickness advantage, and switching gives us the best chance to deny the pass into the low post.
When defending inside, lateral post screens, the screened defender always "steps under" (takes a giant step back toward the baseline) - diagram K.
If the cutter goes low (baseline side), the screened defender gets an arm bar up and stays with her/his man (no switch)... "step under and stay" (diagram K2). The key is... the defender getting screened must step back toward the baseline before the screen actually arrives.
If the cutter goes high (over the screen), then the defenders switch... "step under and switch" (diagrams L and L2). Again, the screened defender always steps-under (toward the baseline) just before the screen arrives.
The danger with any inside lateral post screen is for our screened defender to get pinned inside. This should not happen if the screened defender "steps under" the screen. After stepping-under, she/he can easily get into the ½ fronting position from the baseline side.
Again the rules for defending lateral inside post screens are:
The screened defender always steps under before the screen arrives.
"Low cut" (the cutter goes low) = step-under and stay.
"High cut" (the cutter goes high) = step-under and switch.
We also "step under and switch" when defending inside post screens on baseline out-of-bounds plays.
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Down-screens
We defend down-screens by following in the cutter's footsteps, as we chase around the down-screen, and do not switch. This is similar to how we defend the curl cut, where we chase the cutter and do not switch.
See the two diagrams below. Why not just switch the down-screen? - as the X2 defender is in perfect position to pick up the cutter O4 coming around the screen, and X4 is in good position to take the screener O2. Two problems could arise. First, after the switch, you could have a big-little mismatch. Second (see the diagram to the right below), the cutter may read this switch and instead flare out to the short corner for the pass and open shot, as X2 is caught inside. So we believe it is better not to switch this screen and instead aggressively chase around the down-screen.
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Back-screens
We switch back-screens. See the diagrams below. As O2 cuts backdoor, X4 will yell out the screen and switch, and prevent the pass inside to O2. Very importantly, the screened defender X2 must quickly step in front and around to get inside position on the screener O4, and avoid getting pinned outside. This is usually not too difficult if X4 calls out the back-screen to warn X2 that it is coming.
After this switch, you may have a big-little mis-match and these defenders will want to switch back at the first opportunity... which may be during the next perimeter pass, especially if the pass goes weakside.
A back-screen could also happen on the perimeter… e.g. a wing-to-point back-screen (as in our "Kentucky plays). Again, we switch this. X1 takes the screener O2. X2 is in helpside and can stay there, unless the ball is skip passed to O1 after the back-screen.
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You must have a plan for defending against screens. Of utmost importance is communication between defenders and calling out the screens before they are actually set. Coaches differ on the best way to defend screens. No matter how you do it, you must have a plan, practice it, and make sure all players understand.
Inside post screens should be switched, since you usually do not end up with a size-quickness mis-match here (see below). On outside perimeter screens, you must decide whether you want to switch these screens, try to fight over them, or slide through (under) them. Switching on the outside could occasionally lead to size and quickness mis-match, especially if a post player steps outside to set a screen for a guard.
On-ball screens (Pick and Roll).
See Diagram G below. Coaches differ on how to defend ball-screens. Rather than switching, you can try to fight over the screen rather than switching, especially if there is a "big-little" mismatch... but your screened defender may not get over the screen, and then the ball handler is left open to shoot or penetrate. The important teaching point in fighting over a screen is that the screened defender should "step-over" the screen by extending his/her leg (on the side of screen) around the screener's leg.
You could simply switch ball screens, especially if no size or quickness advantage is given up. The screened defender could slide under, or slide through the screen (between the screener and the screener's defender). But you may give up an open three-point shot, as the ball-handler may shoot the outside shot, rather than dribbling around the screen. This is not a problem if the ball-handler is outside his/her shooting range.
You can fake a switch and have the X1 defender "show" over the top of the screen, stopping dribble-penetration and forcing O3 farther outside. Forcing O3 outside allows X3 the spacing to fight over the top of the screen. Then X1 must recover quickly back to his man. This is just another example of "help and recover". But you risk getting beaten by the pass from O3 to the screener O1 (as O1 rolls off the screen).
We prefer to "jump switch" on-ball screens. In diagram G, X1 sees the screen coming and yells "screen, screen, screen!" As soon as the screen is set, X1 jumps above the screen right into the ball-hander's path, switches, and prevents the dribble move around the screen and contains the ball. Sometimes X1 will make the mistake of not getting above the screener, and he/she gets beaten by O3 off the dribble. This furthermore opens the passing lane for the pass to O1. The screened defender (X3) must fight hard to cover the screener O1 by stepping over and around O1's leg and aggressively having a hand up, denying the pass. If O3 throws the pass over the top to the O1, this should be picked off by our inside helpside defender. You could teach the screened defender X3 to step under the screener O1 (instead of over), as this may be easier, but then you are more vulnerable to the bounce-pass off the pick and roll.
Several important points on the jump-switch...
1. The three remaining defenders must be ready to give help if O1 rolls off the pick inside and gets the pass over the top.
2. X1 must jump out, stop and contain the dribbler.
3. The jump-switch works well even if the ball-handler is within shooting range and is a good shooter.
4. We also jump switch the hand-off screen (weave screen).
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Outside Lateral Screens
It is easy to switch these screens and usually a mis-match does not occur. The interesting thing is that since our wing defender (X3) is in helpside, there really in no-one to screen (diagram H). It becomes more of an exchange. When O3 moves out to the top, we switch, and have X1 take O3. Notice (diagram I) that our X3 defender in helpside, doesn't even need to move on the switch, since the ball is on the opposite wing and she/he just says in the paint in helpside.
If our weakside wing X3, for some reason, is not in helpside and gets screened (diagram J), we switch this screen. The screened defender X3 drops a step or two back just before the screen arrives ("steps under") and avoids getting sealed outside by the screener... a "step under and switch".
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Inside Post Screens
As stated above, it is best to switch inside screens. Here you are usually not giving up a size or quickness advantage, and switching gives us the best chance to deny the pass into the low post.
When defending inside, lateral post screens, the screened defender always "steps under" (takes a giant step back toward the baseline) - diagram K.
If the cutter goes low (baseline side), the screened defender gets an arm bar up and stays with her/his man (no switch)... "step under and stay" (diagram K2). The key is... the defender getting screened must step back toward the baseline before the screen actually arrives.
If the cutter goes high (over the screen), then the defenders switch... "step under and switch" (diagrams L and L2). Again, the screened defender always steps-under (toward the baseline) just before the screen arrives.
The danger with any inside lateral post screen is for our screened defender to get pinned inside. This should not happen if the screened defender "steps under" the screen. After stepping-under, she/he can easily get into the ½ fronting position from the baseline side.
Again the rules for defending lateral inside post screens are:
The screened defender always steps under before the screen arrives.
"Low cut" (the cutter goes low) = step-under and stay.
"High cut" (the cutter goes high) = step-under and switch.
We also "step under and switch" when defending inside post screens on baseline out-of-bounds plays.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Down-screens
We defend down-screens by following in the cutter's footsteps, as we chase around the down-screen, and do not switch. This is similar to how we defend the curl cut, where we chase the cutter and do not switch.
See the two diagrams below. Why not just switch the down-screen? - as the X2 defender is in perfect position to pick up the cutter O4 coming around the screen, and X4 is in good position to take the screener O2. Two problems could arise. First, after the switch, you could have a big-little mismatch. Second (see the diagram to the right below), the cutter may read this switch and instead flare out to the short corner for the pass and open shot, as X2 is caught inside. So we believe it is better not to switch this screen and instead aggressively chase around the down-screen.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Back-screens
We switch back-screens. See the diagrams below. As O2 cuts backdoor, X4 will yell out the screen and switch, and prevent the pass inside to O2. Very importantly, the screened defender X2 must quickly step in front and around to get inside position on the screener O4, and avoid getting pinned outside. This is usually not too difficult if X4 calls out the back-screen to warn X2 that it is coming.
After this switch, you may have a big-little mis-match and these defenders will want to switch back at the first opportunity... which may be during the next perimeter pass, especially if the pass goes weakside.
A back-screen could also happen on the perimeter… e.g. a wing-to-point back-screen (as in our "Kentucky plays). Again, we switch this. X1 takes the screener O2. X2 is in helpside and can stay there, unless the ball is skip passed to O1 after the back-screen.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]