Defending the Pick and Roll
By Coach JC


Always try to disrupt the offense. Pressuring the ball makes dribbling and passing more difficult, and increases the chances of an offensive mistake.

To defend the pick and roll at the wing or centerfield, here are some tactics:

  • Trap the dribbler and go over the screen
  • Hard show and go over
  • Pinch, squeeze, or push up and under or through
  • Trap and aggressivly switch the rescreen
  • Show and go under
  • Stop the dribbler and go over
  • Jump out to stop the ball and go through
  • Hug the screener and go under
  • Jump and trap the dribbler early before the screen can be set
  • Defend the roll man with a big-to-big rotation Note: On the weak side make sure to cover the top, elbow, and box.
  • Switch pick and roll - you can always switch equal size players
  • Short-clock situations - switch regardless of size


  • I think the most difficult play to defend in all of basketball is the Pick and Roll.
    Here are some options to defend against the Pick and Roll.




       
        

    High Pick And Roll (Quick Slip)

    Step 1
    X5 zone up.
    X1 fights over the screen.
    01 dribbles to the elbow for a shot or passes to 02 at wing.
    05 rolls to the basket.

    Rotation: X5 helps and recovers then quickly picks up 05.
    Weakside players help and recover and stay with their individual opponents.


        

    High Pick And Roll (Trap)

    Step 2
    X1 and X5 trap 01.
    01 reverse the ball to 05.




        

    High Pick And Roll (Rotation)

    Step 3
    05 reverse the ball to 01 and down screens for 03.
    X5 steps back and lets X3 go through the screen to assume a denial position against 03.
    X2 takes 02 at wing.



        

    High Pick And Roll (Hug)

    When 05 sets a screen for 01.
    X5 hugs 05 and allows X1 to cut behind him.
    The "HUG" is another option to help X1 get back quickly to 01.



        

    High Pick And Roll (Step Back Get Through)

    When 05 sets a screen for 01.
    X5 steps back and lets X1 to go through.



        

    High Pick And Roll (Stop Penetration)

    X1 fights over the screen.
    X4 zone up and stop 01 to go all the way to the basket.
    If 04 rolls to the basket X4 takes him.
    X5 stays with 05.
    X3 goes over the screen to deny the ball.


        

    High Pick And Roll (Repicks)

    Step 1
    X1 goes over the screen.
    X5 hedges and recovers.


        

    High Pick And Roll (Rescreen)

    Step 2
    X5 steps back. X1 goes under the screen.



    Note: On the repicks the dribbler's defender goes over the first screen. On the rescreen he goes under. Typically the second screen is solid, so X5 zones up and plays centerfield to prevent 05 from rolling to the basket and/or stops 01 from shooting or penetrating.

        

    High Pick And Roll (Reverse Pass)

    Step 1
    X1 goes over the screen.
    X4 stops 01 at elbow.


        

    High Pick And Roll (Reverse Pass)

    Step 2
    Rotation: 01 reverse the ball to 04.
    04 is an excellent shooter.
    X4 rotates to 04 and contests the shot.
    X1 stays with 01 by denying the pass.
    Players X2 and X3 assume a pass denial against 02 and 03.



        

    High Pick And Roll (Shooter)

    Step 1
    01 is a good shooter.
    X1 fights over the screen and traps 01 with X4.
    04 rolls to the basket and X5 rotates to pick up 04.
    05 pops out.


        

    High Pick And Roll (Shooter)

    Step 2
    01 passes to 05.
    X4 closes out against 05.
    X2 assumes a pass denial against 02.


        

    High Pick And Roll (Transition Offense)

    Step 1
    Player 04 inbound the ball to 01.
    01 dribbles up the court and passes to 03 at wing then cuts to the ballside corner.
    04 screens for 01.



        

    High Pick And Roll (Transition Offense)

    Step 2
    04 sets a pick for 01.
    X1 goes over the screen.
    03 reverse pass to 01 at top of the key.
    Quickly, 05 comes out to ball screen for 01.

    Note: 01 likes to penetrate to the basket.


        

    High Pick And Roll (Transition Offense)

    Step 3
    01 goes all the way to the basket.
    X1 fights over the screen.
    X5 follows 01 to the basket to block the shot.
    X2 helps and recovers to 02.
    X4 assumes a pass denial against 04.



        

    High Pick And Roll (Transition Offense Top)

    Step 1
    05 inbound the ball to 01.
    01 advance up the court.
    05 ball screens for 01 at top of the key.
    X1 goes under the screen.
    X4 zone up.


        

    High Pick And Roll (Transition Offense Top)
    Step 2
    01 reverse the ball to 05 at top of the key.
    05 passes to 03 then ball screens 03 and rolls to the wing.
    03 drives to the elbow for a shot.
    X5 closeout against 03 to contest the shot.
    X3 takes 05.


        

    High Pick And Roll (Last Seconds of the Game)
    X1 must go over the screen to prevent 01 from shooting or penetrating.
    X5 zone up to stop 01 and if 05 rolls to the basket X5 quickly takes 05.
    X2 and X3 stay with their opponents by denying the ball.



        

    Wing Pick And Roll (Dive)

    X1 goes over the screen.
    X5 hedge and recovers and rotates against 04.
    X4 takes 05.


        

    Wing Pick And Roll (Slip Follow)

    05 back screens 01 and rolls to the basket.
    X5 takes 05.
    X1 goes over the screen.
    X2 shows and recovers against 01.


        

    Wing Pick And Roll (Fade)

    05 ball screens for 01 and fades toward the ballside wing.
    X1 goes over the screen.
    X5 hedge and recovers against 05.



        

    Wing Pick And Roll (Switch)

    Step 1
    05 sets a solid screen against X1.
    01 dribbles over the top.
    X5 switch with X1 and pushes 01 uphill.

    Note: Communication is a must in this situation, X5 has to shout saying “Switch”.



        

    Wing Pick And Roll (Switch)

    Step 2
    X5 switch again by taking 05 and X1 back to 01.


        

    Wing Pick And Roll (Drive)

    04 back screens X2 and rolls into the lane.
    X5 rotates to 04 and X4 stops 02 from going to the basket.


        

    Wing Pick And Roll (Trap Corner)

    05 back screens for 01 and rolls to the basket.
    X4 rotates to 05.
    X3 takes 04.
    X2 drops to the middle of the box guarding 02 and 03.
    X1 and X5 trap 01 at corner.



        

    Wing Pick And Roll (Pop Out)

    05 back screens for 1 and pops out to the ballside wing.
    01 passes to 05.
    X2 closes out to 05.
    X3 moves to the top of the key.


        

    Wing Pick And Roll (Pass Release)

    Rotation:X2 closeout on the pass release against 05.
    X5 takes 05.
    X3 closes out on 03.
    X4 fronts 04 at low post.


        

    Wing Pick And Roll (Transition Offense Switch)

    Step 1
    04 sets a pick against X5.
    X4 switch with X5 and takes 05.


        

    Wing Pick And Roll (Transition Offense Switch)

    Step 2
    X1 goes over the screen and pushes 01 up the hill.
    X4 takes 05.
    X5 takes 04 inside the box.



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