Getting over top of ball screens is a mentality as much it is a physical ability. When players are expected to fight through ball screens; it may be one of the hardest actions to defend when considering how much ball-pressure is tightly officiated. Going to share a few tactical guidelines that I’ve applied in the past, covering time spent along the way as an assistant in addition to my own philosophy as a head coach at the high school level.
RULE #1: DON’T GET REJECTED
Worse case scenario is scheming to force any ball-handler to use the ball screen and get beat opposite putting the defense in an immediate disadvantage. So either upon closeout or while already guarding a live-dribble; a defender’s stance should be slid to the reject side forcing the ballhandler to use it.
RULE #2: EAT THE SPACE
Typically, the objective for every guard offensively navigating a ball screen is to run their defender into the screen. On the opposite side of the matchup defenders are looking to do it’s best to avoid being screened. Common coaching terminology instructs players to get skinny or throw the leg, which sometimes I think can overcomplicate the mission.
The amount of space between ballhandler and defender is often the indicator for how likely the screen can successfully create separation. The defender has to minimize that amount of space – without fouling – to reduce the potential impact of the screener. Mechanically, I am a fan of encouraging players to use their hands to apply ball-pressure. Subtle pushes to an offensive player’s hips while dribbling can be the difference between earning an angle or having to momentarily retreat. Take the fight to the ballhandler and win the spacing battle.
RULE #3: CAN’T DIE ON THE SCREEN
Better offense beats better defense. Sometimes the offensive player does a better job setting up the on-ball defender to earn separation using the screen. If, that happens, don’t die on the screen.
Unless coaches are schematically calling for switches, the on-ball defender should have the mentality to fight despite of a screen and re-connect with their original matchup. Too many times players use the screen as an excuse by either running into it or bailing on the recovery to re-connect. Now, do I like the idea of keeping 2 on the ball for a longer period of time? Of course not. Skilled guard with IQ and vision will possibly pick that apart. But, this goes back to why I believe fighting through ball screens are a mentality as much as a physical capacity. If you give players the out to call for switches then more often than not the inch becomes the mile in regards to taking the fight to the screen and staying matched up.
RULE #4: RUN TO LEVEL AND ABSORB THE CONTACT TO CONTEST
If you are committing to re-connect then it will take a physical approach or geometrical. Told you that I’m not opposed to utilizing some hand-to-hip combat in order to mitigate an offensive advantage.
The screener’s defender is responsible for slowing down or standing up the ballhandler for a moment to allow the on-ball defender to recover. It is during that time, the on-ball defender has a decision to make:
- Take an angle to beat the ballhandler to a spot
- Slight hand to hip hopefully slowing down the ballhandler
The goal is to level off the ballhandler to get back chest-to-chest, or at minimum absorbing the drive shoulder to chest forcing the offensive player to take a contested shot preferably falling away from the rim. This means preventing the drive to continue their momentum towards the rim. Coaches will use open/close the gate referring to a defenders hips. Players need to close the gate and prevent further depth on the drive.
FOR MORE BALL SCREEN DEFENSE AND ALL OTHER THINGS DEFENSE
If you don’t already, give Coach Mike Jagacki a follow or check out some of his video content produced covering all things defense. The highlight below covers a couple of the aforementioned guidelines.
Coach's Climb 