ICING BALL SCREENS
The more and more ball screens become prevalent in high school basketball the more details and attention coaches are going to have to use to defend it. One philosophy used in the NBA is called “Icing” the dribbler, “Forcing down” or commonly called “Blue”.
In the traditional sideline ball screen action the defender guarding the dribbler will get on the high side of his man, and force him away from the screen – towards the sideline. The “Shower” or defender guarding the screener will be “soft” in a straight line between the dribbler and the basket. If his man rolls he is already there. The on ball defenders job is to force him into the shower essentially creating a double team.
The help defenders are zoned up and ready to rotate into the basketball when the ball is passed out of the ball screen action.
A key is not to rotate off of a shooter, rather stunt at him, allowing his defender to recover. If you’re defending a non-shooter you always must rotate towards the basketball.
If you don’t want to fully implement this into your philosophy it might be a great call to use at the end of shot clocks (if you have one) or end of quarters or halves. Steal a couple possessions and it might win you a game.
Positives
1) Take the offense out of their rhythm
2) Prevents ball reversal and offensive movement
DRAG SCREENS
Drag screens are ball screens set in transition by the trailing big. Most transition defensive philosophies focus on getting to the 1) Getting to the paint 2) stopping the ball 3) rotating to a offensive player
Positives of Drag Screens
1) The defensive big is trying to get back and protect the paint so there is no one to show on the screen
2) While the defense is trying to do the 3 things above they are put in scramble if there is immediate penetration in during the secondary break
FLAT OR DOWNHILL SCREENS
The traditional ball screen is set with the screeners feet to the sideline whether it’s on the wing or top of the key. In the NBA there are almost ZERO sideline screens set anymore. Almost everything is downhill. What I mean by that is the screener’s back is at an angle where the dribbler can come off the screener, shoulder to hip and be attacking the rim – not having to turn the corner on the shower and then attack.
2 ways the screen can be set
1) the screener will come on top of the basketball – great way to relieve ball pressure
2) The dribbler will take his defender into the screener – a great way to teach this is having your dribbler make a dribble move a the point of the screen as if he is trying to go by his defender
Remember when setting on ball screens or pindowns to:
1) Sprint to Screen – this creates separation from your defender so they cannot show on the ball screen or help on the curl
2) Sprint to separate – the first step after setting a screen, when done correctly can create enough separation for catch and finish at the rim or pop
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Mike Lee Basketball Services trains thousands of middle school through NBA players each year in their skill development training, camps and coaches clinics. The owner, Mike Lee, has also been a Nike Girls Skills Academy instructor and the assistant director for the Stephen Curry Skills Academy. Recently the company has authored 7 skill development DVDs and created miSkillz Online Basketball training. To host an event in your city or learn more please email mike@mikeleebasketball.com.
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