Wisconsin Screen Roll Replace

Wisconsin does a great job of utilizing the “screen roll replace” action in their offense. It’s one of the simplest ways to get a post up because of the way it moves the defense around the court. This is especially effective when you have bigs who can stretch the floor and shoot. If you don’t have two bigs who can shoot, try using a guard as the “replace” or “lift” man.

In these clips, you will see how Greg Gard uses Micah Potter & Nate Reuvers to get easy baskets. The first two show the screen roll replace with a duck in and a post up from the wing pass. In the last two clips, you will see a back screen being set as the final action to get the post up.

Watch how the passers always look inside and the patience displayed throughout the possessions.

Milwaukee Bucks Drop Coverage

The Milwaukee Bucks were ranked 3rd in the NBA in ball screen defense. They allowed only 0.825 Points Per Possession (PPP) largely due to their drop coverage. The Bucks use analytics more than most teams in the NBA and have said the toughest shot to consistently make is a contested mid-range jumper. So in their drop coverage, the on-ball defender will always go over the screen, while the screener defender will always “drop,” or stay within 10 feet of the basket. By defending ball screens in this manner, they are protecting the 3-point line and the rim, only allowing contested mid-range jump shots. Here is a clip featuring several drop coverages.

Damian Lillard Ball Screens

Before the NBA suspended play this season, Damian Lillard was leading the league in Points Per Possession (PPP) coming off ball screens. He averaged 1.138 PPP, while the next best in the league was 1.087 PPP (Chris Paul and Giannis Antetokounmpo). Notice how he reads and probes the situation and acts accordingly. Here are a few ways Damian Lillard attacked ball screens.

Florida "Short Roll" Ball Screen

In the 2007 National Championship, the Florida Gators dominated the paint with Joakim Noah and Al Horford. However, they found success utilizing a “short roll” in their ball screen offense when Ohio State did not come out to defend the perimeter. Al Horford scored 10 of his 18 points in this action and proved to be the difference maker to claim back-to-back championships. Here is video featuring four of these actions.

Dayton Flow Offense

Here is a look at a few options out of Dayton’s “Flow Offense.” Anthony Grant did a fantastic job of taking these NBA concepts and using an athlete like Obi Toppin. Notice the spacing and continual player and ball movement.

Virginia Post Double

Virginia is one of the best in college basketball at doubling the post. Their pack line defense allows them to have easier rotations and make relief from the double team nearly impossible. Here are a few clips along with some teaching points of what they look to do.

A FEW KEY POINTS

1. The double team can come from any position. Many teams will designate a certain position to go double, while others will base it off of scouting and double off of a non-shooter.

2. The double team will always go trap on the HIGH side and take away the middle and cross court passes. The on-ball post defender will defend the LOW side and take away the baseline.

3. Any STRONG side defenders will stay with their man. Some coaches will allow these players to dig on the post, but more often these players will face guard their man to take away any easy inside out passes to the same side of the floor.

4. The weak side defenders will rotate into the HIGH HOLE & LOW HOLE.

5. HIGH HOLE will closeout to any shooter that receives a pass from the post player

6. LOW HOLE will take away any cutters to the rim.

7. The double team remains until the ball handler DRIBBLES or PASSES, at which time the players rotate back to their original assignments.

Here is an example of high hole and low hole positioning.

The double team is effective in creating chaos, but the real magic happens when the post player tries to make a play out of it. As this is happening, the defenders are already rotating back to their assignments, baiting the post player to make a pass. This creates a lot of turnovers and contested shots.

Maryland End of Game Set

Maryland executed this great set at the end of the game to take the lead @ Michigan.  As the ball is entered into the post, Maryland is able to keep great spacing on the floor.  Anthony Cowen Jr. takes his man to the weak side of the floor to clear out any help side defense.  Because he changes his speed, his defender must honor him as a cutter, which takes him out of his help side responsibilities.  Darryl Morsell relocates to the corner to give Michal Cekovsky room to make the pass.  Kevin Huerter does a fantastic job of setting up his man and exploding off the down screen set by Joshua Tomaic.  Huerter gets his feet set and makes a great shot to take the lead.  Unfortunately for Maryland, they would foul on the next possession and lose to Michigan on a pair of free throws.  

*Another option is for the 4 to slip the screen if the defense tries to take away the shot at the top of the key.  

Purdue High/Low BLOB

Purdue executed a simple BLOB two times in their game vs. Northwestern on February 1, 2017.  In the video below you will see the high/low action with Caleb Swanigan & Isaac Haas.  With two dominate bigs, Purdue is able to execute the timing perfectly and get position under the basket for an easy shot.  (There are two BLOBs in the video and a diagram below).

#DefenseWeek - 5 Spot Closeout

5 SPOT CLOSEOUT

This is a great defensive closeout drill that also works on explosiveness to level off, shooting, and conditioning.  Anytime we run this drill we expect our players to pay great attention to the details through fatigue.  Here's how the drill works:

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#DefenseWeek - Man in the Middle Closeouts

MAN IN THE MIDDLE CLOSEOUTS

This is a simple closeout drill that not only focuses on proper closeouts and on-ball defense, but it also allows offensive players an opportunity to focus on ball security and passing.  

The drill begins with 2 passing the ball to 1.  x1 immediately closes out to 1 as if he were a shooter.  In our pack line defense we always want our players to closeout with an angle to take away a baseline drive.  After x1 traces the ball and practices jumping up/back, 1 will pass the ball to 2 and then become the "new x1."  He will proceed to closeout to 2 and the rotation will continue as such.  Make sure to rotate your players from right wing, to top, to left wing, so that they get an opportunity to practice at various spots.  Below are some teaching points and a diagram of the drill.

TEACHING POINTS

1. Sprint to closeout into 3-4 short, choppy steps.
2. Closeout with angle to take away baseline drive.  
3. Make sure to have high hands.  One or two hands is up to you as a coach.
4. Keep legs loaded; ready to move and explode on dribble penetration.
5. Encourage offensive players to be strong with the ball and make game like passes.

POINTS OF EMPHASIS

1. Perform each skill at game speed.
2. Expect lots of communication & voice pressure.
3. Practice from different spots on the floor (corners, wings, top).

Make sure to follow @CoachWingreen & #DefenseWeek on Twitter to see various insights and drills of our pack line defense!

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Wisconsin "Wheel" SLOB

Here is a great sidelines out of bounds play executed by Wisconsin out of the timeout to win the game.  Coach Gard had two options coming out of the timeout and the play was executed to perfection.  Take a look at the video clip and diagram below.