What Is A Pick And Roll In Basketball? Many coaches overlook crucial details when instructing their players how to perform the screen and roll.
These minor details can consequence in your team losing many points each game.
Once you understand how to run the pick and roll and correct a few flaws, your team’s pick and roll will be much more effective, resulting in more scoring opportunities.
So, What Is A Pick And Roll In Basketball? Here, I’ll clarify what a pick and roll are in this article.
What Is A Pick And Roll In Basketball?
Let’s start with a basic understanding of how the pick and roll work before delving into more detail.
The pick and roll (as well known as the’screen and roll,’ ‘on-ball screen,’ or ‘ball-screen’) is a play in which an offensive player sets a screen for a teammate with the basketball.
- An offensive player who does not have the basketball sets a screen for the player who does have the basketball.
- The basketball player reads the defenders but also dribbles off the screen, looking to attack as well as generate a shot for themselves or for another teammate.
- Following the screening, the screener rolls to a rim in an attempt to catch the basketball as well as finish inside.
That’s all there is to it.
How to Perform the Ideal Pick and Roll
To start making the pick and roll simple and easy for your advanced players to learn, I’ve broken it down into seven simple steps.
The first three steps concentrate on screen preparation, which is the most crucial component of the pick and roll. If this isn’t done correctly, the pick and roll will almost certainly fail.
The final steps concentrate on the pick-and-roll execution. The offensive players must read the defense and ensure correct decisions on the basis of how the screen is protected.
Let’s go over these steps in greater detail…
Dribbler Creates Distinction
The first step in executing an appropriate pick and roll is for the passer of the ball to create separation from the on-ball defender.
This positions the on-ball defender to be effectively screened.
If the on-ball defender is just too close, they can easily lock on again and towpath over the screen without even being put at a disadvantage.
The dribbler should move through it or jab the step if they haven’t used their dribble to create this separation.
If they’re dribbling, a quick jab as well as crossover or even inside dribble will cause the on-ball defender to take a step back in order to prepare to defend the drive.
You can read more about how to improve crossover quickly in this article.
Screener Separation creates a screener separation
The screener should create as much separation as potential between them and their defender before establishing the on-ball screen as the second step to a beneficial pick and roll.
We reduce the screener’s defender’s ability to assist the dribbler by generating separation until setting the screen.
Without adequate assistance, the dribbler is frequently open for a shot or will be assaulting a defender who is still shuttering out on the basketball.
The Appropriate Screening Angle
The angle at which the screen is set is unquestionably the most crucial component of the pick and roll, but it is frequently overlooked by coaches.
If you only remember one thing from this article, make it the angle at which your players set on-ball screens.
It’s one of those minor details that can have a big impact on the court.
So, what is the proper screening angle?
Players should place the screen on the on-ball defender’s back hip.
This forces the on-ball defender to fight through the screen, leading the dribbler to the basket.
Consider a pick and roll near the top of the key…
Most of the players I see at the youth level arranged the screen with their backs to the sideline.
This is ineffective because it enables the on-ball defender to fall under the screen and quickly re-establish position.
This screen should be set up with their backs to the corner of the court.
This makes it challenging for the defender to get under the screen, giving the dribbler a significant advantage once attacking the paint for a scoring opportunity.
Contact is made by the screener
The screener must make contact once setting the screen as the final step in preparing for the pick.
This necessitates them locating the on-ball defender, focusing on the proper angle, and then making contact as they set a powerful screen.
As this screen is being set, the entire focus should be on creating a solid screen. I see a lot of players set poor screens because they are too focused on getting the ball rolling quickly.
Making contact when going to perform the pick and roll is advantageous because it leaves no space for the defender to maneuver around the screen.
If the screen is established a step off and there is extra space, the on-ball defender has a much easier time dropping their shoulders and beating the stationary screen.
This rule also prohibits young players from establishing a screen in an area rather than seeking out one of the defenders, which can be a major issue for young teams.
Off-screen Dribbler Attacks
Once the screen is properly set, it is up to the dribbler to peruse the defense and utilize the screen.
Dribbling off the screen requires the dribbler to drive shoulder-to-shoulder by the screener and use at least 2 dribbles to exploit mismatches and observe how the defense reacts.
The dribbler must be attacking-minded!
While we don’t expect the dribbler to drive as well as shooting each time they use a screen, attacking forces the defense to rotate and opens up space for other offensive players.
Players can take an evident pass or shot if it appears sooner. However, in most cases, two dribbles are preferable.
a. screening Screener rolls to the rim After the on-ball defender has battled past the static screen, the screener must cut to the basket in the hopes of catching a pass and scoring inside.
Best Dribbler Decision
The pick-and-roll concludes with the dribbler reading the defense and making the correct decision.
This could include attacking the rim, passing to a roll player, or dribbling in and kicking the ball out to outside shooters as well as players cutting to the rim.
