Defending Screens

Defending Screens

by American Sport Education Program

chapter from Coaching Basketball - Technical and Tactical Skills

Setting a screen (also referred to as setting a pick) is a move by an offensive player to position him- or herself to block the path of a teammate's defender in order to set up an advantage for the teammate. Defensive players want to avoid screens whenever possible. The best way for defensive players to do this is to always be in motion when offensive players approach them to set a screen, because it is much more difficult to screen a moving target.

PROPER DEFENSIVE POSITIONING
Screens that are set off the ball are often successful if the defender is playing too close to his or her offensive player or if the defender is not moving to avoid the screen. To effectively play off-the-ball defense, players must first understand the concept of strong side (or ball side) and weak side (away from the ball). In addition, they must always maintain a ball–you–man triangle (as shown in figure 4.6 on page 103), which will be discussed in detail in chapter 6. Players should strive to maintain an open stance when they are on the weak, or help, side because this will help them see the offensive player attempting to set a screen. When a defender is in good help position, it is much more difficult for the offense to set the screen because the defender is able to see the screen and react accordingly. The defensive player should position in a defensive stance with the feet shoulder-width apart, the knees bent, and the player's weight evenly distributed on the balls of the feet. The player should keep the back straight and the head positioned over the support base, slightly behind the knees and over the waist.

When screens are set on the ball, defenders need to be in a good defensive position (as discussed in "Defensive Positioning" on page 94). The defensive player should position in a defensive stance with the feet shoulder-width apart, the knees bent, and the player's weight evenly distributed on the balls of the feet. The player should keep the back straight and the head positioned over the support base, slightly behind the knees and over the waist. This basic on-the-ball defensive position will allow the player to either fight over the top of the screen, slide through, or switch (as discussed later in this section).

COMMUNICATING WITH TEAMMATES
When playing defense against the screen, teammates must communicate with each other and must alert a teammate when a screen is about to be set. They must also be ready to help if a teammate is screened until the teammate is able to recover. The defender on the offensive player who is setting the screen must communicate to the defender being screened by calling out the direction of the screen (e.g., "screen left" or "screen right"). The defender on the screener should also communicate how the screen will be defended (e.g., "through," "over the top," or "switch"). These methods are discussed later in this section. Tactical skills for defending the screen will also be discussed further in chapter 6.

PROPER FOOTWORK
A defender must be able to move quickly in any direction to effectively defend a screen. To do this, a defensive player must be in a well-balanced defensive stance (as discussed previously), allowing the defender to move quickly to fight over the top of the screen, slide through the screen, or switch on the screen.

Fighting Over the Top
Fighting over the top of a screen is a defensive technique used when the defender must stay with a good shooter. When the screen is being set, the player who is defending the screener must yell, "Get over" and step in the direction the offensive player is going in order to fake the switch. This will make the cutter go wider and give the player being screened a little more time to fight over the top of the screen. In this move, the defender being screened must work to first get the foot over the screen by taking a big step on the top side of the screener, followed by the rest of the body.

Sliding Through
Sliding through the screen is a defensive technique used when defenders can afford to give the opponent a little room, either because the opponent is out of his or her shooting range or the opponent is not a particularly good shooter. In this move, the defender being screened drops back, below the screen, and slides through between the screener and the defender's teammate to regain defensive position on the cutter. The defender must have quick feet on the slide through in order to stay with the cutter. Once again, the player defending the screener must communicate by yelling out, "Screen right" or "Screen left." This player should also yell, "Through" to help pull the defender being screened through and should step back to make room for the teammate to slide through.

Switching
Switching on a screen is a defensive technique used when the defensive players involved with the screen are of equal size and ability. Switching is not effective, for example, when a guard and big forward are involved with the screen, because they could end up guarding an offensive player who is much quicker or much bigger than them. In this move, the player defending the screener must communicate "Screen right" or "Screen left" and then yell, "Switch." When the player being screened hears "Switch," the player must aggressively pick up the screener on the ball side and must anticipate the roll to the basket or a cut outside for a quick pass and shot.