When executing a pick and roll most of the emphasis is placed on the ball handler but the responsibilities of the screener are just as important. Here are seven tips to be followed when setting an on ball screen.

1. Always sprint to set the screen. Getting there before the defender will eliminate an effective hedge.
2. Jump stop and straddle the near leg of the ball handler’s defensive player.
3. Once the screen is set remain stationary until the ball handler has cleared. Don’t stick a knee out and get an offensive foul
4. If you want to draw a foul on the ball handler’s defender, set the screen on your heels. This will ensure that even the slighest contact will knock you off balance without having to “flop.”
5. When rolling, point your chest to the ball and roll hard to force a defensive adjustment or rotation.
6. If both defenders go with the ball handler pop back for a jump shot.
7. If your defensive player commits too early then slip the screen and dive hard to the basket.

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If you watched Kansas and North Carolina play yesterday in the Elite 8 you know that Kansas closed out the game with a 12-0 run to win the game and advance to the Final Four. How did they do it? In the last eight and a half minutes of the game they switched from the man to man defense that they had been playing the whole game to a zone defense (Triangle and 2). Carolina never scored off their offense again.

Today’s posting is a very small excerpt from an eBook sold on Hoopskills.com called Zone Busters, which is the definitive work on zone offenses and zone quick hitters. Regardless of what type of zone defense your opponents play, even if it’s a Triangle and 2, this book has an offensive attack that can absolutely destroy it!

Offensive Fronts

While there are many different zone defenses, all of them can be categorized into one of two types: zones with a one-defender front and zones with a two-defender front. When facing teams with a one-defender front, such as a 1-2-2 or a 1-3-1, it is usually best to use an offense that begins with a two-guard attack. Against defenses that use a two-guard front, such as a 2-3 or a 2-1-2, it is usually best to start off with a one-guard attack. Using this strategy allows you to create driving and shooting gaps right from the beginning.

If you want to see the other 9 important concepts to consider when attacking the zone click on the link below!

Zone Busters – 18 Proven Zone Offense Strategies and Plays That Will Bust Any Zone Defense.

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It’s hard to accurately estimate how many games I have watched the last couple weeks. The Men’s NCAA Tournament, the Women’s NCAA Tournament, and theMen’s NIT have kept me pretty much glued to the television. It wasn’t too long ago when most teams used the pick and roll set as a quick hitter or in a need to score situation but now it seems to be a primary staple in every offensive game plan.

According to Ted Anderson of Andale High School, there are six main responsibilities for the ball handler when executing a pick and roll:

1. Catch the ball and square up to the basket
2. Fake away from the direction of the screen
3. Wait for the screen to be set and prepare to read the defender
4. Dribble off the screen with his shoulder at hip level of the screener.
5. Take two hard dribbles off the screen – and go somewhere – don’t waste them
6. Read the defense and make the proper play

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1. Turn the corner when the screener’s defender backs off and doesn’t hedge.  Should drive low and tight and get into the paint.
2. Hesitate and go when the screener’s defender executes a soft hedge before returning to his own man. At the level of the screen, hesitate slightly while keeping both eyes on the rim. The key is to make the hedge man relax and then drive by him.
3. Split the hedge which may be the most under-utilized part of offensive ball screening. After clearing the screen low and tight, explode right between the hedge and the on ball defender. Keep the dribble below the knees since you will be in traffic.
4. Fake the split then inside/out dribble to the paint.
5. Reject the screen. Fake into the screen and explode the opposite way
6. Stop and shoot behind when the on ball defender goes behind the screen. Shot must come from directly behind the screen.
7. Re-screen when screener’s defender shows a big, flat hedge. Drive over the screen, then crossover and use the screen again. Screener turns to the inside on second screen getting you even closer to the basket.

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The other night I was watching a game and saw the same play over and over again and what looked like it was just random was really a set play.  I call it the baseline drive and fill and it’s really a great play.

Where this play is really great is if you have a post player who is really good from 15 feet and in.  Here’s how it works:

The wing player has the ball on the same side as his post player.  He drives the ball hard to the baseline on purpose with one intent.  He wants to create a double team.  If he drives into the post players defensive man it is natural for that player to want to stop the ball while the initial defender won’t stop trying to play defense.  The post player then goes right where the wing player originated from and has a wide open 15 footer.  That’s where the drive and fill comes from because the wing player drives and the post player fills his spot for the shot.

This is a great play to run when the shot clock is running down because the defense is already anxious to get the play over with and will want to double team the ball.  If no help comes then the wing player should just go to the basket for a layup or short jumper.

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