Motion Offense:
Ball Screens

Types of Ball Screens:

Drag Screen

Players have the option to begin an offensive possession with a drag screen.
A drag screen normally occurs in semi-transition when the trailer (#5 in most cases) sets a ball screen for the ball handler (#1 in most cases).
All ball screen reads can be utilized within this action, which are detailed in a section below.
Players off the ball can engage in circle movement on the drive after the ball screen is set. They can also set off ball screens, such as flares, on the weak side to engage the defense.

Follow

Players have the option to begin an offensive possession with a follow.
A follow occurs when a player passes the ball to a teammate and they follow their pass with a ball screen.
There are two options to decide who can set follow ball screens:
- 1. Who sets follows can be role-defined, or only certain players should set these screens as dictated by the coaches.
  2. It can be open-ended and everyone is able to set follows.
All ball screen reads can be utilized within this action, many which are detailed in a section below.
Players off the ball can engage in circle movement on the drive after the ball screen is set. They can also set off ball screens, such as flares, on the weak side to engage the defense.
It is important, especially at the lower levels, that we don't become overly reliant on setting ball screens within our offense.

Step Up

Players can set a Step Up ball screen. These can occur in a two types of situations:

Players can set a Step Up ball screen randomly within the offense. The screen should be set from the corner to the wing if the ball is on the wing. This is similar to our Pistol Dribble action.
With very advanced teams, players can set a Step Up ball screen when they are escaping from the lane and filling back to the perimeter after a cut to the rim.

We can decide to allow anyone to set a Step Up ball screen or role-define who is able to complete this action. All of our regular ball screen reads that have already been taught apply with this type of screen. Circle Movement rules also apply on the drives from the ball screens.

Random Step Up

Escape Step Up

Spider

A Spider is a ball screen set near the half court line or in the back court to help relieve pressure on the ball handler.
Spider ball screens are not only great to combat pressure, but also to get your best ball handler going downhill with much of the entire half court to operate.
Spiders can be set as entries to our offense. It's important to note that after a Spider, if there's no advantage, #5 can roll into another offensive entry like an Away Screen or Rip Screen.
All of our regular ball screen reads that have already been taught apply with this type of screen.

Invert Ball Screen

Invert ball screens are when smaller players set the ball screen for bigger players.
This is effective since most defenses are trained to guard same-sized or big to little ball screens well, but don't practice little on big ball screens as much.
These can be completed in the following situations:
- 1. As an entry to the offense.
  2. Within the flow of the offense.
All of our regular ball screen reads that have already been taught apply with this type of screen. Circle movement also applies on drives.

Double Drag

Double Drag screens can be set in our offense. They can be set in three situations:

Both screeners coming from the perimeter and using a Double Drag to enter into the offense.
Both screeners coming from the perimeter and using a Double Drag within the flow of the offense.
The second screener using a Step Up ball screen turning the original perimeter ball screen into a Double Drag.

In Double Drag screens, players follow our normal ball screen reads. However, with two ball screeners the best option is for one of the screeners to roll to the basket and the other screener to pop to the perimeter.

Finally, the order of screeners in a Double Drag can be mixed up to confuse the defense as noted in the diagrams below.

Double Drag Option #1

Double Drag Option #2

Double Drag Option #3 - "Step Up Double Drag"

Wedge Empty

A Wedge screen is a low ball screen set for the point.
This screen should be set around the nail.
The goal is to clear out one side of the floor and create an empty side, so #3 would pop to the perimeter after setting the screen.
#5 can engage in a DHO with #1 or set a pass and follow ball screen for him.
All DHO and/or ball screen reads could be used here.

Necessary Reads and Key Teaching Points:

There are many reads that players can make within ball screen action, whether it's a drag screen, follow screen, or any other similar type of action.
Both the screener and the ball handler have several reads at their disposal. Some screener reads that can be taught are:
- - Pick and Roll: Used when a screener is strong in the post or wants to attack the basket. This also works well against teams who overplay the ball handler coming off the screen.

- - Pick and Pop: Used when a screener is an outside shooting threat. Also works well against teams who sag in the lane or are in drop coverage with ball screens.
  - Slip: Screeners should slip to the rim vs. teams who switch.
  - Ghost: Used against teams that switch or have a great ball screen coverage we'd like to blow up. The screener fakes the screen to create confusion. See Layer Nine for more teaching points.
  - Short Roll: A short roll is another ball screen read the screener can make. Short rolls happen when the ball screener rolls to the rim, but stops short to button and fill to an open spot. This action should be used against teams that high hedge or trap ball screens.
  - Quick: A Quick is another read a screener can make when setting a ball screen. In a Quick, the screener sets an away screen or down screen after setting the ball screen. This is used to punish the defense for bumping the roller or high hedging the ball screen.
  - Blade Cut: Used vs. teams that trap or high hedge. In the diagram below, if #3's man helps on the roll he can flash to the high post.

Pick and Roll

Pick and Pop

Slip

Ghost and Pop

Ghost and Slip

Short Roll

Quick

Blade

Some reads that we should teach the ball handler are:
- - Turn the Corner: Ball handlers should turn the corner after clearing the ball screen and attack the lane downhill if the defender goes over the top of the ball screen and there's an open path to the lane.
  - Pull-Back Attack: Ball handlers should use this read against teams that high hedge or trap ball screens. The ball handler uses a retreat dribble when the trap or hedge comes. When the trapping or hedging defender recovers back to their man, the ball handler should attack his back with the dribble.
  - Push Through: Ball handlers should use this read if there is a gap between the screener and their defender. This usually happens on a switch or when a hedge or trap defender extends too wide or too early. The ball handler should push the dribble through the gap to attack the opening.
  - Reject: Ball handlers should use this if a defender is overplaying or trying to "blow up" the ball screen. It can also be used if defenders are caught sleeping or over-anticipating the ball screen action. On a reject, the ball handler simply doesn't use the screen and drives the opposite way.
  - Snake: Ball handlers can use the snake dribble to maintain an advantage and keep the defender on their back.

Turn the Corner

Pull-Back Attack

Push Through

Reject

Snake

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Motion Offense:Ball Screens