Motion Offense:
Screening

Types of Screens:

Down Screen

Down screens can occur in three types of situations:

As an auto, players can be taught that after they make a wing to point pass they can down screen as another option to pass and cut (taught in Layer One).
As players become more advanced, they may set down screens outside of the passing auto.
As an auto on a drive, DHO, or Pistol Series.

Auto Down Screen

When a player passes from wing to point, they can set a down screen as an auto.
Down screens should be set in the area indicated by yellow shading on the diagram to the left. Ideally, the down screen is set inside the 3 point line, in line with the top of the free throw lane block.
The screener and cutter must read how the defense is guarding them and take action accordingly. All screen reads are detailed in a section below.

Delay Down Screen

More advanced teams within Motion don't need to wait for a pass to auto a down screen. Instead, they can set it within the flow of the offense.
To avoid both sides of the floor from setting down screens at the same time and compromising our spacing, we can use the Delay concept. Within Delay action, #5 (or whoever is occupying the point) can auto which side engages in action by turning and facing that side. In the diagram to the left, #5 autos the right side into action by turning to that side as indicated by the yellow marking on the court showing which side he is facing.

Away Screen

Away screens should be set when the wing's defender is guarding them inside the 3 point line. Away screens can occur in three types of situations:

As an auto, players can be taught that after they make a point to wing pass they can away screen as a option.
Randomly within the flow of the offense.
Away screens can also be used as an entry to start the offensive possession.

Auto Away Screen

When a player passes from the point to the wing, they can set an away screen as an auto.
Away screens can also be set randomly within the flow of the offense by more advanced teams.
Away screens are best set in the alley, or the area shaded in the diagram between the elbow and the wing.
The screener and cutter must read how the defense is guarding them and take action accordingly. All screen reads are detailed in a section below and are the same as down screen reads.

Entry Away Screen

Away screens can be set as an entry to a Motion possession.
This is a great way to get the action started and to auto other Motion actions.
If #5 pops to the top of the key and receives an entry pass from #1, this could auto Delay actions as detailed in more advanced layers.

Rip Screen

Rip screens are back screens. They are also reads that players should make when setting an away screen. If the wing's defender is denying them outside of the 3 point line, the screener should change the angle of the screen and turn it into a rip screen.

Rip screens can be set in three situations:

As an auto, players can be taught that after they make a point to wing pass they can rip screen as another option.
Randomly within the flow of the offense.
Rip screens can also be used as an entry to start the offensive possession.

Auto Rip Screen

When a player passes from the point to the wing, they can set a rip screen as an auto.
Rip screens can also be set randomly within the flow of the offense by more advanced teams.
Rip screens are best set along the 3 point line.
The screener and cutter must read how the defense is guarding them and take action accordingly.
Cutters can back cut, tight cut, or fade when using the screen. The screener should cut opposite of the cutter.
Due to how the defense is being played and considering the reason for setting a rip screen, generally the cutter moves towards the basket with their cut and the screener pops back to the 3 point line.

Entry Rip Screen

Rip screens can be set as an entry to a Motion possession.
This is a great way to get the action started and to auto other Motion actions, especially ones detailed in later layers.
If #5 pops to the top of the key and receives an entry pass from #1, this could trigger Delay actions as detailed in more advanced layers.

Flare Screens:

Flare screens can occur in five types of situations:

As an auto, players can be taught that after they make a wing to point pass they can receive a flare screen as another option in our offense.
Within our Delay series.
As players become more advanced, they may set flare screens randomly within the flow of the offense.
As an auto on a drive, DHO, or Pistol Series.
As an entry into our offense.

Flare screens should be used to open up shooters. They also exploit pack line and switching defense teams. It's important to know our personnel when calling for and setting flare screens, as not every player should be on the receiving end of this action due to their skill sets.

Auto Flare Screen

When a player passes from wing to point, they can receive a screen as an auto.
Flare screens should be set inside the 3 point line around the elbow, as indicated in the area in yellow. The screener generally should have his back to the corner when setting the screen.
The screener and cutter must read how the defense is guarding them and take action accordingly. All screen reads are detailed in a section below.

Delay Flare Screen

More advanced teams within Motion don't need to wait for a pass to auto a flare screen. Instead, they can set it within the flow of the offense.
To avoid both sides of the floor from setting flare screens at the same time and compromising our spacing, we can use the Delay concept. Within Delay action, #5 (or whoever is occupying the point) can auto which side engages in action by turning and facing that side. In the diagram to the left, #5 autos the right side into action by turning to that side.

Point Flare Screen

If #5 is a good shooter, we can enter the possession with a Point Flare.
This action can also happen within the flow of the offense if a shooter occupies the point spot.
All normal flare screen reads are applicable.

Strong Action

Strong Action is a double staggered screen off the ball.
Strong Action can occur as an entry, coach call, or within the flow of the offense.
Whenever a down screen is being set it can turn into a double staggered screen with a quick extra pass ball reversal.
The reads that players can make within Strong Action are detailed in a section below.
To set the best staggered screen within Strong Action, the first screener must set an effective down screen. The second screener should clean up the first screen. This means they should be a step or two below or above the first screener, depending on which way the cutter's defender went around the first screen.

Ricky

Ricky screens are simply re-screens, or a second screen for the same player on top of the first screen. Ricky screens can happen in a variety of situations:

Ball Screens
Down Screens
Flare Screens
Away Screens
Rip Screens
DHOs
Get Action
Pistol Series
Any other combo screening action

Ricky screens are best used against teams that are tagging a good scorer or switch off ball screens. Ricky screens create confusion for the defense and force them to defend multiple actions strung together.

Below are some examples of Ricky screens. Please note that the examples below are only a few actions where Ricky screens can be effective, as they work with any type of screening action. Ricky screens can also be used within our sets as well.

Rip Ricky

Away Ricky

Flare Ricky

Down Ricky

PNR Ricky

DHO Ricky

Get Ricky

Pistol Dribble Ricky 001

Pistol Dribble Ricky 002

Twist

A Twist screen is when players interchange before setting their screen.
There are a few reasons to set a twist screen:
- 1. To confuse switching teams.
  2. To get shooters or scorers into the spot within the screen where they receive the screen and are a cutter.
  3. To mask screen actions that we are trying to set..
Players simply interchange before engaging in the screen action. The more the interchange looks like a screen (think Ghost screen) the more effective it'll be.
Below are some examples of twist screens.

Twist Down

Twist Flare

Twist Away

Twirl

A Twirl screen is a screen where the cutter who received an initial screen turns their cut into a second, immediate screen.
Twirl screens are used for several reasons:
- 1. To confuse the defense.
  2. To attack switching defenses.
  3. To mask actions, making them harder to guard.
Below are a few examples of Twirl screens.

Twirl Down

Twirl Flare

Twirl Away

Teaching Screens:

Effective screening is hard to teach but essential to running a quality offense. Through our teaching, we must hold players accountable to setting good screens and making the right reads. Some major teaching points in our screening game, regardless of the types of screens we're setting, are:

Screens must be legal and utilize proper technique. Coaches will teach this when instructing players on screening.
Screeners need to hunt bodies and make contact on their screens.
Cutters must use screens by waiting for the screener to pop their feet and then running their defender into the screen. Cutters have to connect with screeners and touch the screen before making their reads. We are not looking for players to simply interchange, leaving gaps open between the cutter and the screener making it easy for the defense to navigate through.
Most screen read options are the same regardless of the type of screen that is being set, with a few exceptions.
As with basic cuts, it's important that cutters make a late cut deep into the lane and through the NBA charge circle in order to be open. All cuts have to be scoring cuts at game speed.

There are several important steps that need to be completed in order for screens to be impactful:

The screener must communicate the screen both verbally and physically. They should say "screen" and call out their teammate's name that they're screening for. They must also raise their fist in the air to indicate to their teammate that a screen is coming.
The screener has the first right of refusal. This means that the intended target of the screen must not use the screen until the screener pops their feet. First right of refusal also means that the screener has the right to slip the screen or set a ghost screen before popping their feet.
After the screener pops their feet, the cutter now dictates the action. The cutter must read the defense and move accordingly.
Finally, after the cutter makes their decision the screener must second cut in a direction opposite of cut made by the person they screened for.

Screen Reads and Second Cutting:

Down Screen, Away Screen, and Rip Screen Reads

Tight Cut and Pop:

A tight cut is a basic curl screen. We use the term tight cut to emphasize how closely the cutter should curl around the screener.
A tight cut should be made when a defender is trailing a cutter over the top around the screen.
After the cutter makes a tight cut, the screener should pop back.
Tight cuts can be used in just about any type of screen we set within our offense.

Down - Tight - Pop

Away - Tight - Pop

Rip - Tight - Pop

Fade Cut and Dive:

A fade cut should be made when a defender tries to go under the screen.
After the cutter uses the screen and fades, the screener should dive to the rim. In a way, a good effective dive can also serve as a sort of second screen if they get in the way of the cutter's defender on the second cut.
Fade cuts can be used in many of the screens we set within our offense.

Down - Fade - Dive

Away - Fade - Dive

Back Cut and Pop:

A back cut can be made if the defender tries to overplay and deny the cutter over the top of the screen.
After the cutter makes a back cut, the screener should pop back.
Back cuts can be used in just about any type of screen we set within our offense.

Down - Back Cut - Pop

Away - Back Cut - Pop

Rip - Back Cut - Pop

Slipping Screens:

When teams switch screens, an effective way to combat this is to slip. Screeners can also slip if their defender is trailing behind them as they are setting a screen.
The screener can quickly pop his feet and slip or v-cut into a slip. They can also screen their own man before slipping.
When a screener slips, the intended screen target can hold in their spot or can make a straight cut.
Slips can be used in just about any type of screen we set within our offense.

Down - Slip

Away - Slip

Rip - Slip

Straight Cut:

A straight cut is when the cutter cuts straight towards the ball when using a screen.
This type of read is done mostly when we are trying to get into Zoom Action. It can also lead to a quick shot if a shooter is open.
The screener can pop back to the 3 point line or slip to the basket depending on the read.

Flare Screen Reads

There are several different reads that players should know how to make while setting and using flare screens:
- 1. Fade and Pop: The cutter should fade when the defender runs into the screen or goes under it. Generally, the screener should dive in this situation.
  2. Fade and Reverse: On a fade cut the screener can also step out to the perimeter to reverse the ball.
  3. Tight Cut and Pop: The cutter should tight cut the flare screen when the defender chases them over the top of it. In this situation, the screener should pop.
  4. Slip: A screener can slip the screen before setting it vs. teams that switch or if their defender is trailing behind them as they set the screen.

Fade and Dive

Fade and Reverse

Tight Cut and Pop

Slip

Ghost Screens

Ghost screens should be used against teams that switch screens or have a really good screen coverage that we want to blow up. They create confusion since the defense thinks a screen is happening, but it's not actually set. Ghost screens can occur in two types of situations:

Any type of off ball screens.
Ball screens.

There are several teaching points that are important to setting effective Ghost screens. They include:

The screener needs to sprint towards his intended target. They should communicate the screen both verbally and physically like they would in any other screening situation.
When the screener gets close to their teammate's defender, they should reach out and make slight contact with the defender. For example, as they approach they should reach out and touch the defender's shoulder or back. This will make the defender believe an actual screen is being set.
The screener should not set the actual screen, as a Ghost screen is a fake screen. Right before they set the screen, they should open up and sprint past the screen. They can do so by slipping to the rim or sprinting into a cut similar to a fade or a pop.
The intended target can act as if they are receiving the screen by making a straight cut or driving like they are using a ball screen, or they can hold in place.

Below are some examples of Ghost Screens being set:

Ghost - Ball Screen - Pop

Ghost - Ball Screen - Slip

Ghost - Flare

Strong Action Reads

Strong Reads:

There are several different reads that players should know how to make while completing a Strong Action:
- 1. Straight Cut: A straight cut is simply the cutter using both staggered screens. This is best used if the defender on the cutter gets caught on the screen or goes under one or both of them.
  2. Tight Cut: A tight cut should be used if the defender on the cutter is trailing behind them on both screens or only the second screen.

3. Back Cut: A back cut should be used if the cutter is being top locked or denied on the high side.

4. Celtic Action: Celtic Action occurs when the cutter tight cuts the first screen of the stagger or back cuts the first screen. When this happens, the second screener in the stagger should set a down screen for the first screener.

5. Shake Action: Shake Action occurs after a cutter uses both staggered screens and makes a straight cut or a tight cut after the second screen. When this happens, the first screener sets a flare screen for the second screener.

Strong Straight Cut

Strong Tight Cut

Strong Back Cut

Celtic Action

Shake Action

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Motion Offense:Screening