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>> A screen, also called a ‘pick’ is a legal block set by an offensive player on the side of or behind a defender in order to free a team mate to take a shot or receive a pass. Toh Lin Sin takes a look at how an effective ‘screen & roll’ can be executed during an offensive play. creens are a very effective offensive tool when used appropriately on court. They often set the play by giving attacking opportunities to both the screener and cutter. Usually, the player who goes for the screen will be termed the ‘screener’ and the player who uses the screen will be termed the ‘cutter’.
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To properly set a screen, the screener has to observe the following key points when performing the screening stance: • Strong, balanced stance with knees bent and feet shoulder width apart. • Arms should be slightly bent and hanging from both sides. • Avoid leaning while setting a screen. • Screener to position himself perpendicular to the direction the defence expects to move. Be cautioned not to go too near the defender. Instead keep a one foot distance, anticipating where the defender will move to. Some precautions to take note are that players tend to cross their forearms in front of
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Run the defender into the screen by going shoulder-toshoulder with the screener so that the defender cannot get through.
their chest when doing a screen. This gives the player a tendency to push the defender, resulting in the referee calling for an offensive foul. After performing a good stance, the next focus of the screener will be on his timing of the screen and roll: • Read the game to decide the timing. • Make sure the defender is blocked or hindered from his defence before going for the roll. The screener often commits the mistake of rolling too early before the screen is effective. • Make a 180-degree turn and look to receive a possible pass. Figure 1.
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After the screener has done his job, the responsibility will then lie with the cutter. Some points for a cutter to take note are: • Delay the cut until the screen is set. • Take the defence away with a v-cut when the screener is on the way for a screen. • Run the defender into the screen by going shoulder-to-shoulder with the screener so that the defender cannot get through. • Read the defence. Often players are confused when to use a screen especially when the defender is already anticipating it. Basketball is fast-paced game and decision making often has to take place in split seconds. Thus it is important for the cutter and screener to know what other options are available in event of an ‘unsuccessful’ screen. For the cutter: • 45 degree screen to go in from key. • If defender is anticipating the screen and getting in position beforehand, the cutter should read this and do backdoor cuts instead (Figure 1). Figure 2.
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• Down screen at low post region. • Go for a fade-cut when defender takes short cuts. This is done by fading to the corner to receive a pass for the jumper as shown in Figure 2. For the screener: • Fake screens. The screener when going for the screen may realise that the defenders have already signalled for a switch if a screen takes place. In this case, the screener decides to do a fast change of pace and direction and rolls back towards the ball for the pass. A scenario is shown in figure 3 Figure 3. 5
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The last point to mention is that often, in many plays, screens are done by the bigger players. This is to create a mismatch in defense in order to get a better chance at the key area for the bigger centres to go for their highpercentage under basket shots. In all, teamwork and communication are the basic grounds players need in order to execute an offensive play successfully. Other than reminders from the coach, only the players themselves can resolve the problem on court by communicating and accepting the option to try. Team mates need to communicate about what they expect from each other the timing, the angle and the options for the screen.
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