Pick and Roll

The on the ball screen, commonly referred to as a Pick and Roll, has been used for years in professional basketball. John Stockton and Karl Malone, of the Utah Jazz, are often recognized as the two who ran it the best, but the Pick and Roll was used effectively by many players long before them. And, it has been used effectively by plenty of players since them, but Stockton and Malone continue to be the standard bearers on how to execute the Pick and Roll.

For years the Pick and Roll was virtually ignored in amateur basketball, except in 2on2 and 3on3 games on the playgrounds. However, in recent years, it has become more in vogue in amateur basketball and you tend to see it used quite a bit now, whether in set plays or in motion offenses. Why it was ignored, I’m not entirely sure, however I do know many coaches were afraid of bringing players together making it easy for the defense to trap with a double team on the ball. I have talked to many college coaches through the years about their reluctance to use the Pick and Roll and I know many were afraid of the trap, but I also got the feeling that many were uncomfortable with their ability to teach it.

The on the ball screen is being used more and more because it can be a very effective offensive play. When properly executed, it can put tremendous pressure on the defensive team. It has become such a commonplace that you see the 2 man game being run from the wings, from the middle, in the corners, from the elbow of the key. You even see bigs screening big, smalls screening small, as opposed to the usual big screening on small. The Pick and Roll also is used often to just change sides of the floor, not trying to really score off of it.

Similarly to the off the ball screen action, it is amazing to me how often the Pick and Roll is poorly executed. Why? I’m not sure, as it is one of the most basic plays in basketball. The play is very simple; the player with the ball receives a screen on their defender from a teammate. The dribbler drives off the screen and the screener either rolls to the basket ( Pick and Roll) or fades for a jump shot (Pick and Pop).

The Pick and Roll is used in 2 ways:

1. One way is a definite attacking offensive play looking for a jump shot for the dribbler, a drive to the basket for the dibbler, or a pass to the screener who either rolls to the basket, or pops out (fades) for a jump shot.

2. The second way the on the ball screen is used is to just move the ball from one side of the floor to the other, using it as a decoy while the offense is really trying to attack elsewhere.

There are a lot of similarities in the execution of the on the ball screen and the off the ball screen. In both, the screener needs to set a good screen. In both, the player receiving the screen should set up the defender, be patient, and come off the screen at the proper angle, brushing shoulders with the screener.

In the attacking Pick and Roll, if to be run effectively, the player with the ball has many responsibilities.

1. The ball handler should start close enough to the basket so when the screen is set and they dribble off of the screen, they are a threat to shoot the ball. If there is no threat to shoot, then the ball handler’s defender can just go under the screen and catch up with the dribbler on the other side off the screen, and nothing really happens.

2. The dribbler needs to set up the defender guarding him. This may be done by taking a jab step, or a dribble away from the direction that the screen is coming from; the idea behind this is to give the screener the time and the angle to set a good screen.

3. As the dribbler comes off the screen, they should brush the screener’s shoulder. Doing this does not allow the dribbler’s defender any space to slide through.

4. If the dribbler’s defender does get screened, the dribbler needs to be a threat to shoot the ball effectively. If he’s not a threat to make that shot, then the defender can just go under the screen and not be penalized.

5. If the dribbler is a “bona fide” threat to shoot, then the defender has to go over the screen. If this happens, then the dribbler needs to be able to turn the the corner and drive to the basket.

6. If the screener’s defender steps out to help, either on a show or a double team, the dribbler should attack them by driving at their outside hip. Normally, the screener’s defender is a bigger, slower player. The dribbler should have a mind set of attacking the slower defender just like if a slower player was trying to guard a quicker player out on the floor. If the dribbler sees the defender stepping out…. attack! The dribbler actually has an advantage because the screener’s defender is moving laterally, while the dribbler is moving forward. If the defender opens up at all, then there is a path for the dribbler to drive into.

7. If the screener’s defender steps well out, the dribbler should work to be able to cross over dribble and split the screen, going between the defender and the screener. The one thing the dribbler should not do is succumb to the showing defender and dribble away from the basket. Put pressure on the defense.

8. If there is a switch, a double team, or a hard show, the dribbler should be ready to pass the ball to the screener as he rolls to the basket, or pops out for a jumper.

The screener’s responsibilities are not nearly as complicated, but their role is terribly important because without a good screen, the play really breaks down.

1. The screener should go over and make a sincere effort to screen the ball handler’s defender. Go to the defender, on balance, with a wide stance, ready to move a bit laterally. Make contact with the ball handler’s defender at the proper angle. That angle should always lead to a path to the basket, not away from the basket. Let’s repeat, make contact. The screener should not stop short of the defender and end up “screening air”.

2. As the screener makes contact with the ball handler’s defender, the screener should pivot and roll to the basket, looking for a pass from the dribbler. Or, after making contact, the screener may fade away (pop) for a jump shot. The screener should also be aware that if they feel their defender leaving early, or getting too high, they have the option of slipping the screen. By slipping the screen I mean the screener, as they feel their defender out of position, stops short of the screen and cuts to the basket. This action is particularly effective versus double teams or hard shows.

There are some mistakes that players make too often in the execution of the Pick and Roll.

• The dribbler becomes too impatient and starts too early with the dribble. This makes it difficult for the screener to set a proper screen. If a defender is moving, a screener has to be careful about setting a moving pick, and committing an offensive foul. Remember ball handler, “better late than early”!

• The screener stops short of the defender and ends up not screening the defender.

• The screen’s angle is not a proper one. The angle of the screen should be where the dribbler is a threat to go to the basket. Often the screen is set where the dribbler is actually going away from the basket. This puts no pressure on the defense; the dribbler’s defender can just go under the screen.