I loved this article that ran in USA Today during this past year’s NBA Playoffs where some off the NBA’s best screeners broke down their craft. There’s really good stuff in here from Washington’s Marcin Gortat and Cleveland’s Tristan Thompson. This is definitely a good one to share with your post players.
Beyond taking the physical beating, the ball-handler and screener must have a connection with both players understanding where and when to set the screen. Does the screener want to force the defender over or under the screen? Timing and chemistry are essential. “You have to force the opposing guard to trail behind the ball-handler,” Cleveland’s Tristan Thompson explained. “If you have the defender trailing behind the ball-handler, you’ve done your job creating separation.”
For more on the pick & roll:
-Steven Adams: The art of the roll (LINK)
-How Mike D’Antoni took the ‘pick’ out of the pick & roll (LINK)
-Randy Bennett (St. Mary’s) clinic notes (LINK)
