Ahmet Dedeoğlu
07-03-2008, 08:40 PM
Defending off-ball screens
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1
The defender of the cutter (xcutter) should force the cutter away from the screen, and not allow himself to be screened - keep distance from the cutter and slip the screen (often inside towards the ball). A moving defender is hard to screen. The defender of the screener (xscreener) should stand up (screen) the screener.
Screen away from the ball
The xcutter goes through the screen or, especially if the cutter is in scoring range, over the screen. Here attacker O1 passes to O2 then screens away for O3. X1, xscreener, calls "left". If xcutter X3 calls "gap", X1 takes a step back to make room for X3 to go between him and the screen, and pushes X3 through on the hip.
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2
Otherwise defender X3 goes over the screen, and X1 hedges or 'bumps' the cut until his teammate can get around the screen, then steps back. X3 tries to stay with O3, maintaining a ball-you-check position, or instead 'tucks and trails' by directly following ('caboosing') the cutter around the screen. X3 doesn't give O3 the option to fade the screen.
When in doubt, the defender of an attacker using any off-ball screen can just chase the guy down - follow the cutter as closely as possible, trailing on his outside hip. A screen defender should bump the cut as needed, but stay attached to the screener.
A coaching option is to go through on weakside screens, and around (follow) on the ballside. In some cases (e.g., two passes from the ball), the screen defender can hug a weakside screen, and the cutter defender shoots the gap looking for a steal.
Dick Bennett - The xcutter chases on screens (but can go ballside from the weakside). If you are being screened, you have no responsibility for help or vision, take care of business, chase him down. The xscreener helps in any way he can but within touching distance of his man.
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3
Downscreen
The same approach applies. If post defender X4 calls "gap", X2 makes room to go through, or if X4 goes around the screen with O4, X2 will jump out to hedge the cutter.
Defenders can switch if O4 gets hung up on the screen. They should switch back if the cutter fades to the corner. Automatic switching on all screens can be effective with 5-7 seconds on the shot clock.
Dave Smart - Get attackers to go where they don't want to go, force the cutter to make the wrong read, e.g., on a big-to-little downscreen, force the little cutter to curl (chase him out), the big has to vacate. The cutter will probably cut to the wing but that is easy to defend even without switching. Usually gap on a non-shooter (e.g., a big), forcing a flare. Switching is a solid way to defend.
coachesclipboard.ca - defend a downscreen when the cutter is one pass away from the ball by switching, tailing a cutter who is a good shooter, or going ballside when the cutter is a poor shooter.
Bob Huggins - don't chase, the cutter will curl, gap instead (third man through), then chase over or under the screen if the cutter fades.
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4
Cross-screen
X5 bodies up to the player receiving the screen to force him to go from low to high (uphill), staying attached to keep him from receiving the ball on the low block. X4 helps and tries to force 04 to the weakside. If cutter O5 does go low, the defenders switch.
Dave Smart - call "cross", xdribbler attacks the ball knowing that the attacking post players will be moving to the ball-side block and elbow, taking away space for the ball handler to drive the basket.
Dick Bennett - xscreener follows the dangerous cut and covers the basket, the xcutter makes a v-move above the screen then back down.
Bob Huggins - xscreener jams the cutter if he comes high, helping xcutter, who leads the cutter to the ball; if the cutter goes low, xcutter snaps his head, also goes under the screen, and ends up high side.
Variations
- can automatically switch where the two defenders are the same defensively
- xcutter goes low under the screen, xscreener bumps the cutter .
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5
Backscreen
When defending a player setting a back pick don't chase him - don't screen a teammate by playing too close to the screener. The defender of the screener steps out to hedge or bump the cutter as needed.
Some coaches emphasize that X3 must get ballside position, some allow X3 to fight over or under the screen. Other coaches will switch on backscreens, especially big-to-small screens, since it keeps post defenders near the basket, or when the cutter goes baseline.
Dave Smart - The xcutter can jam the cutter, force a basket cut or backdoor cut and chase, but most teams force a flare or switch on a backscreen. To switch or force the flare, the xcutter jumps to the ball. On a switch, defenders come together to prevent a slip by the screener.
Jamie Dixon - xcutter goes under the backscreen, xscreener stands up a cutter going over the top, or if X3 can crowd 3 and go the same route, that's the best way.
Bob Huggins - on a backscreen, snap your head, find and meet the screen (arm out, hand into his chest), then step through inside.
Dick Bennett - xcutter chases, but can go ballside from the weakside, xscreener helps in the direction the cutter is going, they won't hit the screener as quickly as you think.
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6
Backscreen (continued)
Jack Bennett - The xscreener must step out and help (show) then recover to his man (early help, early recovery), he can't let a single screen become a double screen by getting in the way. If you switch much, it takes away your match-ups.
coachesclipboard.ca
1) Ride the cutter off the screen (shown) - if the cutter is a good shooter, xcutter gets into his top shoulder and does not allow him to go ballside of the screen. Xscreener protects the basket, stays away from the screen so he can help if xcutter gets caught, but is ready to close out quickly if the screener steps out and can shoot.
2) Go ballside - cutter is a poor shooter, xcutter jumps to the ball and gets into a denial position, xscreener protects the basket, especially if the cutter fades the screen for a pass and drives the basket.
3) Switch - best strategy when the cutter and screener are similar size, the safest because it protects the basket. Very effective late in the shot clock, and can keep bigger defenders near the basket. To prevent a slip by the screener, xcutter jumps to the ball to get inside position on the screener, and xscreener must wait before switching out.
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7
Flare screen
coachesclipboard.ca - If O1 is a shooter, go over the screen, force him to the basket. X3 sags off O3 to protect the basket in case O1 goes to the hoop, but can't sag too far in case O3 slips. X1 gets into the body of O1 and 'rides' him off the screen, or trails O1 over top and regains position on the other side.
If O1 is a poor shooter, go under the flare screen. X3 jumps to the ball to give space for X1 to slide underneath the screen. X3 does not have to sag because O1 will not be able to get to the basket, but jumps far enough to prevent O3 from slipping directly to the basket. X1 moves below the screen and recovers to the cutter with a good close-out.
If O1 and O3 are similar size, switch. X1 gets level with and inside the screener to prevent a slip, X3 also prevents the slip by getting directly below the screener, but then quickly recovers out to O1 when X2 is in position.
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8
Flare screen (continued)
Alvin Gentry - the xcutter chases the cutter over the screen, the xscreener zones up towards the ball to prevent a curl cut or a slip to the basket by the screener
Herb Brown - the xcutter bodies up to the cutter and fights over the screen; the xscreener tries to help by screening the screener or by faking at the cutter to hold him up, but must also be aware of the screener trying to slip to the basket.
Basketball Highway - the xcutter must ride over the top of the back pick, the xscreener helps and hedges the shooter long enough for xcutter to recover; if xcutter gets completely hung up, xscreener must switch, and xcutter must seal the screener rolling to the basket.
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9
UCLA screen
Bob Huggins - defend a UCLA cut by going between the screener and xscreener.
Jamie Dixon - xcutter goes laneside, xscreener stands up the cutter.
Basketball Highway - the xcutter stays in front of the cutter, the xscreener may bump the cutter then recover, optionally the defenders switch if the cutter goes behind the high post screen.
Larry Brown - the xscreener stays attached to a UCLA screen (plays behind the screener), makes it small, not bumping his own man.
Hoop Tactics - if the cutter goes behind the high post screen, the defenders switch; when the cutter goes in front of the high post screen, the defenders do not switch.
Herb Brown - xcutter bodies up and rides the cutter over the screen if he is a low-post threat, or takes a short-cut below the screen to take away a single or double weakside screen.
Detroit Pistons - xscreener contact shows.
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10
Staggered screen
The cutter defender (X2) tucks and trails (tail on a dog), the screen defender furthest from the ball (X4) protects the basket from any slip cut, and closest screen defender X5 protects a quick pass, bumping the cut and permitting X2 to catch up. An option is to trap on the catch with X5, especially if O2 is a great shooter. The defender of a cutter who can use either a single or double screen must force the cutter in one direction, then trail.
Variations
- X2 trails the first screen, goes under the second or switches on it (Herb Brown)
- switch up the line, so X2 takes O4, X4 takes O5 and X5 takes O2
- if the xcutter has established helpside position, he goes ballside of the first screen, tails the second (BC Coaches Clipboard)
- X2 goes ballside of both screens if he wants the cutter to fade.
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1
The defender of the cutter (xcutter) should force the cutter away from the screen, and not allow himself to be screened - keep distance from the cutter and slip the screen (often inside towards the ball). A moving defender is hard to screen. The defender of the screener (xscreener) should stand up (screen) the screener.
Screen away from the ball
The xcutter goes through the screen or, especially if the cutter is in scoring range, over the screen. Here attacker O1 passes to O2 then screens away for O3. X1, xscreener, calls "left". If xcutter X3 calls "gap", X1 takes a step back to make room for X3 to go between him and the screen, and pushes X3 through on the hip.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
2
Otherwise defender X3 goes over the screen, and X1 hedges or 'bumps' the cut until his teammate can get around the screen, then steps back. X3 tries to stay with O3, maintaining a ball-you-check position, or instead 'tucks and trails' by directly following ('caboosing') the cutter around the screen. X3 doesn't give O3 the option to fade the screen.
When in doubt, the defender of an attacker using any off-ball screen can just chase the guy down - follow the cutter as closely as possible, trailing on his outside hip. A screen defender should bump the cut as needed, but stay attached to the screener.
A coaching option is to go through on weakside screens, and around (follow) on the ballside. In some cases (e.g., two passes from the ball), the screen defender can hug a weakside screen, and the cutter defender shoots the gap looking for a steal.
Dick Bennett - The xcutter chases on screens (but can go ballside from the weakside). If you are being screened, you have no responsibility for help or vision, take care of business, chase him down. The xscreener helps in any way he can but within touching distance of his man.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
3
Downscreen
The same approach applies. If post defender X4 calls "gap", X2 makes room to go through, or if X4 goes around the screen with O4, X2 will jump out to hedge the cutter.
Defenders can switch if O4 gets hung up on the screen. They should switch back if the cutter fades to the corner. Automatic switching on all screens can be effective with 5-7 seconds on the shot clock.
Dave Smart - Get attackers to go where they don't want to go, force the cutter to make the wrong read, e.g., on a big-to-little downscreen, force the little cutter to curl (chase him out), the big has to vacate. The cutter will probably cut to the wing but that is easy to defend even without switching. Usually gap on a non-shooter (e.g., a big), forcing a flare. Switching is a solid way to defend.
coachesclipboard.ca - defend a downscreen when the cutter is one pass away from the ball by switching, tailing a cutter who is a good shooter, or going ballside when the cutter is a poor shooter.
Bob Huggins - don't chase, the cutter will curl, gap instead (third man through), then chase over or under the screen if the cutter fades.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
4
Cross-screen
X5 bodies up to the player receiving the screen to force him to go from low to high (uphill), staying attached to keep him from receiving the ball on the low block. X4 helps and tries to force 04 to the weakside. If cutter O5 does go low, the defenders switch.
Dave Smart - call "cross", xdribbler attacks the ball knowing that the attacking post players will be moving to the ball-side block and elbow, taking away space for the ball handler to drive the basket.
Dick Bennett - xscreener follows the dangerous cut and covers the basket, the xcutter makes a v-move above the screen then back down.
Bob Huggins - xscreener jams the cutter if he comes high, helping xcutter, who leads the cutter to the ball; if the cutter goes low, xcutter snaps his head, also goes under the screen, and ends up high side.
Variations
- can automatically switch where the two defenders are the same defensively
- xcutter goes low under the screen, xscreener bumps the cutter .
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
5
Backscreen
When defending a player setting a back pick don't chase him - don't screen a teammate by playing too close to the screener. The defender of the screener steps out to hedge or bump the cutter as needed.
Some coaches emphasize that X3 must get ballside position, some allow X3 to fight over or under the screen. Other coaches will switch on backscreens, especially big-to-small screens, since it keeps post defenders near the basket, or when the cutter goes baseline.
Dave Smart - The xcutter can jam the cutter, force a basket cut or backdoor cut and chase, but most teams force a flare or switch on a backscreen. To switch or force the flare, the xcutter jumps to the ball. On a switch, defenders come together to prevent a slip by the screener.
Jamie Dixon - xcutter goes under the backscreen, xscreener stands up a cutter going over the top, or if X3 can crowd 3 and go the same route, that's the best way.
Bob Huggins - on a backscreen, snap your head, find and meet the screen (arm out, hand into his chest), then step through inside.
Dick Bennett - xcutter chases, but can go ballside from the weakside, xscreener helps in the direction the cutter is going, they won't hit the screener as quickly as you think.
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6
Backscreen (continued)
Jack Bennett - The xscreener must step out and help (show) then recover to his man (early help, early recovery), he can't let a single screen become a double screen by getting in the way. If you switch much, it takes away your match-ups.
coachesclipboard.ca
1) Ride the cutter off the screen (shown) - if the cutter is a good shooter, xcutter gets into his top shoulder and does not allow him to go ballside of the screen. Xscreener protects the basket, stays away from the screen so he can help if xcutter gets caught, but is ready to close out quickly if the screener steps out and can shoot.
2) Go ballside - cutter is a poor shooter, xcutter jumps to the ball and gets into a denial position, xscreener protects the basket, especially if the cutter fades the screen for a pass and drives the basket.
3) Switch - best strategy when the cutter and screener are similar size, the safest because it protects the basket. Very effective late in the shot clock, and can keep bigger defenders near the basket. To prevent a slip by the screener, xcutter jumps to the ball to get inside position on the screener, and xscreener must wait before switching out.
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7
Flare screen
coachesclipboard.ca - If O1 is a shooter, go over the screen, force him to the basket. X3 sags off O3 to protect the basket in case O1 goes to the hoop, but can't sag too far in case O3 slips. X1 gets into the body of O1 and 'rides' him off the screen, or trails O1 over top and regains position on the other side.
If O1 is a poor shooter, go under the flare screen. X3 jumps to the ball to give space for X1 to slide underneath the screen. X3 does not have to sag because O1 will not be able to get to the basket, but jumps far enough to prevent O3 from slipping directly to the basket. X1 moves below the screen and recovers to the cutter with a good close-out.
If O1 and O3 are similar size, switch. X1 gets level with and inside the screener to prevent a slip, X3 also prevents the slip by getting directly below the screener, but then quickly recovers out to O1 when X2 is in position.
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8
Flare screen (continued)
Alvin Gentry - the xcutter chases the cutter over the screen, the xscreener zones up towards the ball to prevent a curl cut or a slip to the basket by the screener
Herb Brown - the xcutter bodies up to the cutter and fights over the screen; the xscreener tries to help by screening the screener or by faking at the cutter to hold him up, but must also be aware of the screener trying to slip to the basket.
Basketball Highway - the xcutter must ride over the top of the back pick, the xscreener helps and hedges the shooter long enough for xcutter to recover; if xcutter gets completely hung up, xscreener must switch, and xcutter must seal the screener rolling to the basket.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
9
UCLA screen
Bob Huggins - defend a UCLA cut by going between the screener and xscreener.
Jamie Dixon - xcutter goes laneside, xscreener stands up the cutter.
Basketball Highway - the xcutter stays in front of the cutter, the xscreener may bump the cutter then recover, optionally the defenders switch if the cutter goes behind the high post screen.
Larry Brown - the xscreener stays attached to a UCLA screen (plays behind the screener), makes it small, not bumping his own man.
Hoop Tactics - if the cutter goes behind the high post screen, the defenders switch; when the cutter goes in front of the high post screen, the defenders do not switch.
Herb Brown - xcutter bodies up and rides the cutter over the screen if he is a low-post threat, or takes a short-cut below the screen to take away a single or double weakside screen.
Detroit Pistons - xscreener contact shows.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
10
Staggered screen
The cutter defender (X2) tucks and trails (tail on a dog), the screen defender furthest from the ball (X4) protects the basket from any slip cut, and closest screen defender X5 protects a quick pass, bumping the cut and permitting X2 to catch up. An option is to trap on the catch with X5, especially if O2 is a great shooter. The defender of a cutter who can use either a single or double screen must force the cutter in one direction, then trail.
Variations
- X2 trails the first screen, goes under the second or switches on it (Herb Brown)
- switch up the line, so X2 takes O4, X4 takes O5 and X5 takes O2
- if the xcutter has established helpside position, he goes ballside of the first screen, tails the second (BC Coaches Clipboard)
- X2 goes ballside of both screens if he wants the cutter to fade.