4 Out Motion Game with Screens

Today's post is about a few of the little details that go into effective screening action, and a few of the things that we harp on day in and day out.

The most important detail is the concept of who decides what kind of screen will be set. In Canada's motion, the person closest to the baseline leads the action and will either call "Come get me." or "Use me." That person closest to the baseline has to determine which screen will create the biggest advantage for the team, and then communicate it with her teammates.

Sometimes this is determined by a player's offensive strengths. If that player is a good shooter, they may want to call for a down screen from the top player (Krysten, come get me!) to try to get free on the perimeter. If they see their teammate in the swing spot is a good shooter, they might go set a flare screen. (Use me Elyse, use me!) A lot of our best cutters like to set flare screens for our shooters so that they can be second cutters and get open flashing to the rim.

Sometimes you can pick and choose your screens based on your teammates' strengths, but other times you may have to set a particular screen based on how the defense is playing you. If the defender on the girl closest to the baseline is sagging off in the paint, then we don't want to call for a downscreen because the screener will have no space to roll to. In this case the player should go and set a flare screen for her teammate at the swing spot. If the defender is playing tight to the player on the baseline, then there is good spacing for a down screen.

After the players start to understand why setting a particular screen is the right thing to do, you have to iron out the details of how to correctly set the screen, and how to use the screen.

The first detail that cannot be overlooked is that you have to be a cutter first. If you pass the ball and want to set a screen, you have to make your defender play you honestly before you go to set one. By cutting first you begin to add some unpredictability.

We say "quick to set, slow to use" Which is a bit misleading. What we mean is that you want to get to the spot quickly, and we want the player using the screen not to rush through the decision making process. Once the screen gets there, you have all the time in the world to make your read. Once you do make your read though, your pace should jump right back up again as you and the screener explode on your cuts.

Those are the main points that you'll hear coming from the Burridge Gym on any given morning.

Tyler