Reading Your Defender: Coming Off a Screen

Screens are an integral part of a fluid and consistent offense.   A screen is only as effective as the person setting the screen and the one using it.

Today lets simply look at the one using the screen.  Many young players and even some older ones simply run off a screen without paying any attention to anything the defense is doing.

Each defender has a tendency to maneuver around a screen.  Whether it is through personal preference or coaching people like to do the same thing over and over, especially if they have had some success with it in the past.  Some go over, some go under, and well some just decide to run right through the screen.

Keeping your defender in your peripheral vision will allow you to make the correct movement off the screen as a counter to what your defender does.

The first two moves can be used while playing a motion offense while the third is used when trying to run a set.

Scenario 1:  The Defender Trails on Your Back

Your Move:  Curl the screen staying tight to the screener.  This will allow for a short jump shot or the defender of the screener will have to help and the screener will flair for an open jumper.

Scenario 2:  The Defender Jumps the Screen Over the Top

Your Move: Flare away from the ball providing an angle for a skip pass and then a wide open shot or drive to the hoop.  The screener should then pop directly to the ball.

Scenario 3:  The Defender is on Your Back but you are trying to run a set play

Your Move:  Make a slight curl off the screen back to the ball but then a straight cut to the wing.  Make sure to meet the ball.   As you catch the ball square up to the hoop at the same time, triple threat.  On this move its also good to keep contact with your defender and vary your speed.  For example, you make contact half way through the cut and slow down then explode out of the cut to the wing to catch the pass.

These three moves should get you some more open shots and probably some more playing time.  Its little things like reading screens correctly that separate average players from good players and coaches notice these things.

HoopSmart

TJW