Play to set up an open shot

Why use this play?

Defenses tend to forget about the initial screener. So, run this play off another screen and set up an open shot. The rolling second screener also may be open heading to the hoop.

Setting up this play is easy

Organize your player so that…

• 1 dribbling on the right side.
• 2 in the ball-side corner.
• 5 starting on the ballside block with 4 at the top of the set and 3 spaced on the left wing.

How to play

• 2 curls around 5 and sets a back screen for 4 [1].
• 4 uses the screen, which places the defense in a tough spot as 2’s defender typically has to hedge back to prevent a lob.
• Then, 5 moves up the lane and immediately after setting the initial screen, 2 uses a screen from 5 to curl back to the ball side [2].
• 5 makes the pass to 2 for an open shot as 5 rolls to the hoop [3].

Here’s a simple diagram for setting up this play

Getting the technique right for an open shot

After hedging back initially, 2’s defender now has to find a way to get over the top of 5’s screen to shut down the screen-the-screener action, which is difficult to do based on how much space there is to cover.

If 5’s defender helps defend 2 after that screen is set, 1 looks to pass directly to 5, or 2 catches and passes to 5 on the roll.