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Setting a pick in basketball is an important skill to master, creating opportunities for the offense to score and causing the defense to rotate and cover up. The pick and roll, also known as the screen and roll, is a simple yet powerful offensive play that involves two offensive players and can be used to create an open shot or force a defensive switch. When setting a pick, players must assume a solid athletic stance with their knees bent and feet stationary, protecting themselves and communicating the pick to their teammate. The picker's angle and timing are crucial, as they determine the outcome of the play. Mastering the pick and roll requires understanding its five distinct phases, including the setup, which differs depending on whether the defender is stationary or moving.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Body position | Hips down, knees bent, athletic stance |
| Feet | Stationary, wider than shoulder-width |
| Hands | Protect the body, do not extend towards the defender, guys should place one hand over the other and extend them down over the groin, girls should place their arms in an "X" over the collarbone |
| Back | Pointing towards the targeted area |
| Communication | Non-verbal or verbal, e.g. a fist in the air or calling out the player's name |
| Angle | Should be set so that the offensive player can come off the screen as close as possible |
| Timing | Important to set up what happens after the screen |
| Mindset | Think "curl" to create an aggressive mentality |
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What You'll Learn
The pick and roll is a simple offensive play
The pick and roll, also known as the screen and roll, is an effective offensive play in basketball. It is one of the oldest and most popular plays in the sport, and when mastered, it can make a team virtually unstoppable.
The play involves two offensive players and is designed to create an open shot or make the defence switch, which can cause a mismatch for either the ball handler or the picker. The ball handler must communicate with the other offensive player, either verbally or with a non-verbal hand signal, to set a pick for them.
The first step is for the dribbler to create separation between themselves and the on-ball defender. This sets up the defender to be screened effectively. The second step is for the screener to create as much separation as possible between themselves and their defender before setting the on-ball screen. The screener should position their body in an athletic stance with their knees bent so they can absorb the contact of the defender trying to get around.
After the screen is set, the ball handler should attack the basket, forcing the defender to switch onto them. The picker will then roll to the basket, keeping the defender on the outside. The ball handler can pass to the picker at any point, so they must be ready to catch and finish.
The pick and roll can be defended by the defence in a few ways. The screener's defender can alert their teammate of the screen, and they can either switch defenders or impede the ball handler. The success of the play lies in the agility, communication, and coordination of the offensive players.
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Setting a good pick is a difficult skill to master
To set a good pick, the player must do the following: Set their feet. Their feet cannot be moving while setting a pick or it will be a turnover. Their arms should be within their shoulders; they cannot prevent the defender from moving with outstretched arms. The player must position themselves so that the ball handler's defender must switch onto them. To do this, they need to position their body in an athletic stance with their knees bent so they can absorb the contact of the defender trying to get around.
Additionally, the picker should have their hips down and knees bent, with their back pointing in the direction they want the player using the pick to go. They should be stationary before the offensive player comes off the pick, as moving while setting a pick is an illegal screen and will result in an offensive foul. The picker should also protect themselves by placing their hands on their body and communicating the pick to the offensive player by raising their hand and calling out their name.
The ball handler must also play their part in the pick and roll. They should have a mindset of driving to score first and passing second, as this will keep two defenders on them, making the play more effective. They should also come off the screen as close as possible and get low, with their shoulders at the same height as the player setting the pick. This prevents the defender from knocking them off their path.
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The picker must be in an athletic position
Setting a good pick is a difficult skill to master, but it's important to create an open look on the pick and roll. When setting a pick, the picker must be in an athletic position with their knees bent and hips down. This position makes it difficult for the defender to nudge by them or knock them off balance.
To achieve this solid base, the picker should have their feet wider than shoulder width and their knees bent. This stance allows the picker to absorb the contact of the defender trying to get around them. By bending their knees, the picker can also lower their shoulders to the height of the player they are setting the pick for. This prevents the defender from knocking the offensive player off their path while maintaining good balance to catch and shoot or drive.
Additionally, the picker's back should be pointing in the direction they want the player using the pick to go. This angle sets up what happens after the screen occurs. The picker must be stationary before the offensive player comes off the pick, as moving while setting a pick is an illegal screen and will result in an offensive foul.
The picker should also protect themselves by placing their hands on their body. For guys, this means extending their arms down over the groin with one hand placed over the other. Girls should place their arms in an "X" shape, with each hand on the opposite collarbone to protect their chest. In both cases, hands and elbows should be kept inside the body to reduce the risk of an offensive foul.
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The ball handler must communicate with the picker
Communication between the ball handler and the picker is critical to the success of the play. This communication can be verbal or non-verbal, such as a fist in the air or another predetermined hand signal. The ball handler should let the picker know that the pick is coming and ensure they are ready to execute the play.
The ball handler should also communicate the timing of the screen. Timing is crucial to the success of the play. The picker must be stationary before the ball handler comes off the pick, as moving while setting a pick is an illegal screen and will result in an offensive foul. The picker should have their back pointing in the direction they want the ball handler to go, creating an open lane for the ball handler to drive with the defender pinned outside.
Additionally, the ball handler should communicate the angle of the screen. The angle of the picker sets up what happens after the screen occurs. The ball handler should aim to come off the screen as close as possible, with their shoulders at the same height as the picker to maintain balance and prevent the defender from knocking them off their path.
Effective communication between the ball handler and the picker is essential to executing a successful pick-and-roll in basketball. It ensures that both players are synchronised and enables the ball handler to take advantage of the open shot opportunities created by the picker's screen.
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The picker should never lean into the defender
When setting a pick, the picker must be stationary and positioned in an athletic stance with their knees bent and hips down. This makes it difficult for the defender to nudge by them or knock them off balance. The picker's back should point in the direction of the intended play, and their hands should be kept within their body to protect themselves and avoid an offensive foul.
To effectively execute a pick and roll, the picker and ball handler must communicate through verbal or non-verbal signals. The picker should let the offensive player know the pick is coming by raising their hand and calling out their name. Once the picker is set, the ball handler should dribble off the screen as close as possible.
The picker and ball handler must work together to create an open lane for the ball handler to drive with the defender pinned outside. This play is designed to create an open shot or make the defense switch, causing a mismatch for either the ball handler or picker. By mastering the skills involved in the pick and roll, teams can become virtually unstoppable.
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Frequently asked questions
Picks, also known as screens, are an invaluable offensive tool in basketball that can create opportunities to score. It involves an offensive player legally blocking a defender's path to open up another offensive player for a shot or to receive a pass.
A pick and roll is a specific offensive play that involves two offensive players. While a pick only involves one offensive player setting a screen for another, a pick and roll adds a second action, the roll, where the player who sets the pick moves towards the basket after the screen.
To set a pick, stand with your hips down, knees bent, and feet wider than shoulder width. Keep your arms within your shoulders to protect yourself and avoid an offensive foul. Point your back in the direction you want the player using the pick to go.
The ball handler should come off the screen as close as possible and get low, with their shoulders at the same height as the player setting the pick. This prevents the defender from knocking them off their path and maintains balance.
The ball handler and the picker must communicate through verbal or non-verbal signals. The ball handler can signal with a fist in the air, while the picker can raise their hand and call out the ball handler's name.
