Executing The Basketball Pick and Roll

- By Joe Haefner

The pick and roll, also known as the screen and roll, is one of the simplest plays
to execute offensively. While it may be simple to run, if executed properly, it can
be a nightmare for defenses to defend. That is why you have seen the pick and
roll trickle down from the NBA and all the way down to the youth and high school
levels. 

What Is the Pick and Roll

1. An offensive player sets a screen for another offensive player who
currently has the ball. This is also known as a ball screen. (The Pick)

2. The offensive player dribbles around the ball screen and looks to score.

3. The screener, opens up to the ball, and cuts to the basket. (The Roll)

Check out the video below. 

While the pick and roll can be executed almost anywhere on the floor. Here are
some examples: 

Wing Pick and Roll - Top SideThe

ball screen is set near the wing area
and the screener's back will face the
middle of the floor.

  
Wing Pick and Roll - Baseline
SideThe ball screen is set near the
wing area and the screener's back
will face the baseline.

  

High Pick and RollThis ball screen is

set near the top of the key.

  

Corner Pick and RollThe corner pick

and roll is set near the corner. This
can be difficult to defend, because
defenders are not used to defending
ball screens from this position.
However, you have to be careful
because defensive traps are easier to
execute in the corner as well.
  
 Flat Pick and RollThis pick and roll
is executed with the screener's back
facing the basket. It can be set near
the 3-point line or all the way in the
back court. The flat screen can be
utilized against pressure. It is also
great to utilize in transition as well.

  

A-Set Pick and RollThe pick and roll

can also be executed out of the a-set.
This is where there are two screeners
at the top and the ball handler
chooses which direction to go. You
have different options for which
screener rolls to the basket.

You can have the ballside

  
screener always roll to the basket. 
You can have the opposite
side always roll to the basket. 
You can also have a
designated roller. No matter what
side the ball handler goes to, the
same player always rolls to the
basket.

Tips For Executing the Pick and Roll

Players have literally made a hall of fame career off of the pick and roll. See Karl
Malone and John Stockton. If you use these tips below and get better at
executing the pick and roll, your team will benefit from it tremendously. 

Ball Handler Pick and Roll Tips

Ideally, you want to be able finish at the rim, make good decisions, have the
ability to blow by defenders, and pull up for the jump shot off the dribble.
However, you can still be effective without all of these abilities.

 Get low and balanced - This enables you to explode by the defender and
prevents the defense from easily knocking you off balance with a forearm or
slight bump.
 Wait for the screen - Too many times players get anxious and leave too
early. This makes it easy for your opponents to defend and can also result in an
offensive foul (moving screen) on the screener because you started dribbling
around the screen too early. It's better to be late than early when coming off of
screens.

 Fake opposite - When you fake opposite, this makes the defense play you
honestly. It will also help you set up your defender so you can run them directly
into the screen. If they still don't play you honestly, you can turn down the screen
and attack the basket.

 Attack! - Attack and be aggressive when you dribble off of the ball screen.
More good things will happen when you are aggressive and under control versus
when you are tentative. Along with attacking ball screens, this approach should
be applied to all parts of your game.

 Head up and see the floor - I see too many players tuck their chin into
their chest while attacking the basket and slam right into helpside defense which
results in an offensive foul. See and anticipate what the defense is going to do.
Great defenses will have good helpside defense versus the pick and roll. See
where the defense is going and locate the open man.

Screener Pick and Roll Tips 

Preferably, you want to have the screener be a post player who can set good
screens and has the athletic ability to roll to the basket, catch the pass, and finish
at the goal. It's always a plus if the post player can shoot from outside which sets
up the pick and pop as well. 

 Communicate - You should let the ball handler know that you are going to
set a ball screen by raising a fist and calling out the ball handler's name. 

 Sprint to area - You should sprint to the area that you are going to screen.
This will give the defense little time to react and make it more difficult for them to
defend the ball screen.

 Be stationary - To prevent an offensive foul from being called, you need to

stop moving and stay stationary as the ball handler dribbles around your pick. 

 Be big - Get your feet spread a little wider than shoulder width apart,
knees bent, and hips down. This makes it harder for the defense to move you or
nudge by you.

 Roll - After the screen is set, try to pin the defender on your back, reverse
pivot and open up to the ball, and roll to the basket. Reach up your hand in order
to give the passer a target.

 Head up and see the floor - Good defenses will have helpside defense on
the pick and roll. As you receive the pass rolling to the basket, keep your head up
so you can see if there is a helpside defender. This will help you avoid the charge
by sliding around the defender or stopping and passing to an open player.

More Options For the Ball Screen

While the pick and roll is certainly the most popular and can be one of the most
effective options when utilizing the ball screen, there are other options for the
screener and the ball handler. By understanding these options, you will be more
of a threat. These are not the only options for attacking the ball screen, but they
are some of the most effective.

Ball Handler Options 

Straight-line attackThis is when the

ball handler dribbles off the screen
and dribbles directly towards the
basket. If the defense plays behind
the screener, this option will typically
be open.

  

Attack the hedgeOne of the most

common defensive strategies is to
hedge. By attacking the hedge, this
will force the post player to make a
choice. Do they stay on you or run
back to their post player?If they
switch and you get a post player
guarding you, you can immediately
attack or back up to give yourself
some momentum to attack the bigger
and usually slower player.Another
  
option is to pass the ball to the
screener because they should have
an advantage in the post with a
smaller guard on them.Tip: When
coming off of the ball screen, it's
important to attack the defender's
shoulder and take two dribbles off of
the screen. This will often create
indecision by the player guarding the
screener which will result in more
scoring opportunities for your team.
Split the hedgeNow after scoring a
few times off of the pick and roll, the
defender guarding the screener may
get overly concerned and want to
avoid getting beat again, so they
slide way out on top of the screen
and create separation between them
and the screener. If this occurs, you
can change direction and attack the   
gap between the screener's defender
and screener. 

Turn down the screenNow you

might start to notice that the player
guarding you is starting to cheat over
the top of the screen. This is when
you fake high and drive the opposite
direction. 

  

Screener Options 

RollIf the defense switches or

hedges, the roll to the basket will
often be open for the screener. 

  
SlipIf you see your defender start to
cheat high on the ball screen, cut to
the basket before the ball handler
comes off of the screen. It's good to
mix this in order to keep the defense
honest. 

  

PopIf you have the ability to shoot

the outside shot, you open up the ball
and find an open spot along the
perimeter or high post. This is very
effective against defenses that
collapse towards the basket on the
pick and roll.