Ganon Baker’s Mastering the Ball Screen DVD

Pick & Roll Skills & Drills

Introduction

 Shots and passes that players should get out of ball screens, whether it is a pick and roll or pick
and pop
 Ball Screens can force mismatches to happen, creates help and recover situations, and
minimizes turnovers
 Creates the best shot possible using the least amount of passes
 To get the most out of ball screens you need to maximize your player’s skills
 Players need confidence and IQ
 The best point guards in the game get their team a shot off of every ball screen

Ball Screen Locations/Angles

 Sideline
 Step Up

 Straight

 High
Ganon’s 2’s

 2 Minutes to Teach
 2 Weeks to Learn
 2 Months to Master

Attack Skills

 Occupy
o So the defender cannot deny, you must get the defender below the screen. It is difficult
to attack if you get the ball below the screen.
Defender Below Screen Ball Below Screen
Defender will run into screen Takes longer to attack screen

 Foot Fight
o It is a foot race getting to and past the screen. Your foot must get there before the
defender’s.
 Foot Fight Again
o If the screener’s defender hedges high, it is a foot fight again to get around the hedger.
Attack and get to a kill spot: Elbow, blocks, or the midline.
o One trick to getting around the hedger is to grab his knee as you are turning the corner.
 Head Up
o Always keep your head on your shoulders. Don’t lean over.
 Jump Shot
o If the defender goes underneath the screen, use a jump shot.
 Two Dribbles
o Whether there is a hedge or not, you should take two attacking dribbles to create
scoring or passing opportunities. This separates you from the screen.
 Get Low
o Your shoulders must be lower than your defender, the screener, and the screener’s
defender.
o This allows you to stay on the line of attack.
Passing Skills

 Roller/Popper

 Low Block Duck In

 Weak Side Shooter

 Corners/Drift
Step-up Screen: Passing Options

Straight Screen: Passing Options

Scoring Skills

 Floater
o Deep as you can into the lane
 Step Through
o If the defender goes underneath the screen and beats you to the spot, you can make a
two-foot finish with a step through
  Jump Shot
o If there is a soft-hedge and the defender goes under the screen, take a 1 dribble jump
shot
 Pull Up
o Once past the hedge, 1 more dribble and pull-up

Attacking Tips

 Use a one foot finish for speed

 Use a two foot finish for power
 When attacking, your first choice is to get to the rim. If you can’t get to the rim, get to the elbow

Reading the Defense

 Soft Show
o Come off of the screen hard, hesitate, and then blow by
o Bounce and Go
 Hard Show/Hedge
o If the hedger goes with you, try to turn the corner or hit the pop
 Separated Show
o Split the two defenders if there is any separation between the defenders
 Under
o If the defender goes underneath the screen and there is a soft show, pull up for a shot
 Trap/Double Team
o Take two dribbles toward half-court and hit the pop

Drills for Skills

 Lucas Cone Drill: Follow

o 1st cone=screen, 2nd cone=soft hedge
o Touch the 2nd cone as you drive by

 Lucas Cone Drill: Bump

o Same as before, but put another player or coach against the ball handler bumping him
o Ball handler must take the defender below the screen
 Cone Hedge Drill
o Attack the hedge, hesitate, blow by and attack the elbow
o At the elbow make a move then attack with a lay-up, pull-up or step back shot
 Cone Split Drill
o 3 Ways to split the screen
 Crossover
 Under (between legs)
 Behind the back

 Pop Passing Drill

o Pass over the shoulder
o Pass two hand turn and face
o Extra cones keep the player focused on all passing options

 Roller Passing Drill

o Ideally it is a 2-hand bounce pass
o However, with today’s athletes you can make a one hand pass or a two hand inside pass
 One Hand Passing Drill
o Good for hitting a duck-in
o One hand passes
o Repeat drill on both sides of floor
o 4 can be a coach or player (sitting in a chair to receive pass)
  Read & React Passing Drill
o Use 2 chairs (#’s), coach picks which chair to move to so the ball handler reads whether
it is a duck-in or pop

It’s not what you do it’s what you emphasize

1. Intensity
2. Consistency
3. Persistence
4. Faith
5. Love