Layer Eight expands upon the ball screen actions first taught in Layer Four. Some of these actions can happen randomly within the flow of the offense, while others should be starts or calls.Â
The actions and reads that should be taught in this layer include:
Step Up Ball Screen
Spider Ball Screen
Invert Ball Screen
Double Drag Ball Screen
Pistol Series Application
It is important to note that these new actions in this layer are meant to build upon what was taught in the previous layers and not replace them. They are new options players can utilize and choices or reads they can make.
Once mastery is attained, teams should begin to implement Layer Nine of our Motion Offense.
In Layer Eight, players should learn how to 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. Often, this will occur in our Pistol Series.
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.Â
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.
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:
As an entry to the offense.
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 (aka 77) 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. This is called a Stack screen by NBA teams.
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.
Within our Pistol Series, Double Drags (or 77 screens) can be utilized and paired with a variety of other actions.
Two great situations where a Double Drag can be used in Pistol are:
Pistol Chase 77
Pistol Keep 77
Step Up screens are also applicable to our Pistol Series. In Pistol Dribble Flare, the action begins with a Step Up ball screen from the wing to corner.
All of our regular ball screen reads that have already been taught apply with these types of screens.
Below are examples of how the offense can flow within this teaching layer. While every option and read available to you are not necessarily utilized here, it should give a good representation of what a possession could look like.