Having just returned from NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, I couldn’t help but notice the tremendous emphasis on playing pick & roll basketball on the offensive end of the floor. When we talk about advanced skill sets, being able to effectively run a pick and roll (both as a dribbler and as a screener) is something that coaches and scouts alike pay close attention to. Based on my observations, two point guards really stood out in their ability to correctly read pick and roll situations:
The Good: Darren Collison. The former UCLA Bruin and current New Orleans Hornet thrives in pick and roll situations. His decision making is second to none, and he attacks each ball screen aggressively, forcing the defending post player to really move his feet. Collison does a great job going to body on each screen and then stretching the defense with his dribble. Going into this event, I wasn’t a huge Collison fan, but watching him run the pick and roll erased all doubt about his first round draft selection.
The Improving: Jonny Flynn. Coming out of Syracuse, you can tell that Flynn didn’t play as much pick and roll basketball as someone like Collison. Flynn is an incredible athlete, whose quickness often overshadows missed reads and over dribbling. While Collison dragged the big men away from the basket, Flynn often dribbled back towards the screener and ruined the spacing that a pick and roll creates. Flynn will be an all star caliber point guard in the league. However, you can be sure that Timberwolves coaches are working with him as you read this.