NEWSLETTER #80 - 2008-09
THOUGHTS ON DEFENDING BALLSCREENS
ALVIN GENTRY - FORMER NBA ASSISTANT COACH
1. When guarding the ballhandler “hold your ground”. Don’t allow him to locate the ball below the hash mark. Be physical when guarding the ballscreener. “Hold him up”, (i.e.: Charles Oakley) - Don’t allow him to run in a straight line to set the ballscreen. The combination of both defensive concepts moves the ballscreen further away from the basket.
2. On a sideline ballscreen when guarding the ballhandler force him to use the ballscreen. A baseline drive in this situation creates problems for the defense.
3. When guarding the ballhandler, go over top of the ballscreener. The defender guarding the ballscreener hedges out far and extends himself so that xballhandler can slide under him and over top of the ballscreener. If this concept is not executed properly, xballhandler and xscreener will run into each other.
4. As xscreener hedging, you want the ballhandler to take one “big dribble” toward halfcourt as he comes off of the ballscreen.
5. Versus a sideline ballscreen set with a shooter – “pre-rotate” and leave early.
6. Anytime a ballscreen is set clearly above the NBA 3 pt. line go under the ballscreen when guarding the ballhandler.
7. Versus random ballscreens on the break “drop-n-plug”. There is no hedge. The defender guarding the ballhandler can go over or under the ballscreen.
8. He has tried to trap ballscreens but guards in the NBA are too good. Secondly, the opposite low post player “punches” in the middle of the lane under the goal, which makes the rotation very difficult to get in front of.
9. When defending ballscreens versus great players, he makes a choice of what to give up. For example, in a ballscreen situation versus the Jazz and John Stockton he wants the xballhandler to go under the ballscreen. He would rather give up a jump shot than deal with Stockton’s penetration. DEFENDING BALLSCREEN CONTINUED 10. When “icing, downing” the ballscreen, taking xballscreener and placing him below the ballscreen and in a direct line with the basket and taking xballhandler and not allowing the ballhandler to utilize the ballscreen - the xballhandler has to defend the ballhandler aggressively so that the ballhandler doesn’t drive right at xballscreener. If Xballhandler doesn’t defend the ball aggressively, the ballhandler’s pen- etration will hurt the defense badly. It is difficult to defend the ballscreen this way.
11. Versus a middle ballscreen “squeeze and go under” is a great way to defend. Anytime the xball- handler goes under the ballscreen you have to “squeeze”. If you don’t squeeze, the ballscreener has the ability to “move down” therefore allowing the ballhandler to use the ballscreen at an advantageous position – too close to the basket.
12. When guarding a high middle ballscreen with a shooter setting the ballscreen and then fading, a full rotation must take place. If a “hard hedge and recover back to your own man” happens, instead of a full rotation, the opposite defender, the defender who is opposite of the direction of the dribbler – must “stunt” dramatically as the recovery by xballscreener takes place.
LARRY BROWN
13. When xballhandler goes under the ballscreen, the ballscreener automatically turns for a re-screen. Versus the re-screen there is an “automatic trap” when defending this action.
14. In late clock situations switch all ballscreens. His primary way of defending ballscreens is to have xballhandler go over top of the ballscreen, xballscreener to hard hedge therefore allowing xballhandler to go in between xballscreener, who is hedging, and the actual ballscreen. All rotations are the same in his defensive system. A baseline drive, ballscreens, and low post traps all feature the same rotation con- cept.
15. Question to Coach Brown: “What do you mean by saying ‘I use the same rotations?” Answer: Don’t rotate Big to Big. The positions 1-5 of the defensive players involved are irrelevant. We form 2 interceptors and a goal tender through the rotation. An example of a full rotation because of a ballscreen is shown. The teaching of this is consistent and the same from day one. Because of this, the players are interchangeable and accountable.
PLEASE CONTACT MARIO MERCURIO FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 513-745-3149 - [email protected] PLAY OF THE WEEK - MAN OFFENSE 1-4 FLEX - LARRY BROWN
1 5
3 5 4 2 3 4 2
1
A B 1 passes to 2. 1 cuts off of the 1 pops to the corner. 5 goes to the UCLA screen by 4. 5 goes inside right block. 2 passes to 4. of the lane.
1 5
2 3 4
C On the catch by 4, 1 cuts off of the 5 flex screen. 5 then locates.
XAVIER MEN’S BASKETBALL - 3800 VICTORY PARKWAY - CINTAS CENTER - CINCINNATI, OH 45207 - 513-745-3149 - WWW.GOXAVIER.COM PLAY OF THE WEEK - MAN OFFENSE ZIPPER HANDOFF - DETROIT
3 2 5 3 4
4 5 1
2
1 A B
1 dribbles out as 2 cuts off of a 4 1 passes to 2. 5 cuts across the pindown. After setting the screen, lane to the right block. 2 dribble 4 spaces out. 5 blast cuts to the hands off to 3. left block
5 4
2 1 3
C
3 drives into the foul line area. 1 spaces out wide. 5 posts.
XAVIER MEN’S BASKETBALL - 3800 VICTORY PARKWAY - CINTAS CENTER - CINCINNATI, OH 45207 - 513-745-3149 - WWW.GOXAVIER.COM MAN DEFENSE DEFENDING THE CROSS SCREEN When defending the cross screen, ride the cutter high and drive the screener low.
3 3 X5 X3 5 X3X3 X2 X5 5 2 2 5
A B
3 and 5 begin to execute a cross screen. X3 and X5 prevent 3 and 5 from executing As 3 moves to set the screen, X3 "drives" the screening action because of their the screener low. As 5 moves to use 3's contact. screen X5 "rides the cutter high".
3 X3 X5 5 2
C
5 is moved by X5 up the lane above the post up position that he desired.
XAVIER MEN’S BASKETBALL - 3800 VICTORY PARKWAY - CINTAS CENTER - CINCINNATI, OH 45207 - 513-745-3149 - WWW.GOXAVIER.COM "You’re evaluated when you get hit the mouth as hard as you can be hit. Do you spit blood out and go after the guy? Or, do you put your tail between your legs? I’ve seen it handled both ways" -URBAN MEYER
XAVIER MEN’S BASKETBALL - 3800 VICTORY PARKWAY - CINTAS CENTER - CINCINNATI, OH 45207 - 513-745-3149 - WWW.GOXAVIER.COM