A lot of teams will have a pick and roll in their offense to give a dynamic guard some freedom to attack the defense and hopefully score. There are ways an offense can set up plays to give the ball handler even more open space to attack and create.
One of these ways is to remove the hedge defender so the offensive player can get downhill towards the basket quicker. If the defense is not able to get out and hedge, then the offense can get the ball into their best creator hands while also giving them some space to work without the defense being right in front of them.
This quick hitter tries to remove the hedge defender entirely from a high pick and roll setup. If successful the ball handler has almost an entire side of the floor to work in without a defender right in front of them.
The play starts in a 1-4 Low setup with the post players on the block and the guards in the corner. The point(1) has the ball out front. The best offensive creator should start out front with the ball in their hands. If that is the guard(2) or forward(3) then a dribble handoff might be used to switch the point(1) with one of the other guards.
As the play begins the point(1) has the ball on the right side. The opposite corner player, in this case the forward(3), is going to run along the baseline under the 2 post players and come to the ballside corner.
The guard(2) is going to run over the top of the center(5). As they approach the big(4), the guard(2) is going to stop and set a screen on the big(4). The big(4) is going to sprint off of this screen and go immediately to a ball screen for the point(1). The guard(2) screen should delay the big’s(4) defender just enough so they are unable to hedge on the ball screen. This is what is going to give the point(1) the space to attack the defense.
As the ball screen is being set, the guard(2) clears out to the corner to free up the space in the lane. The forward(3) is moving along the sideline to get into a position for a kickout 3. The big(4) is rolling to the basket. The center(5) is cutting up and around the lane to clear space for the point(1) as well as getting in a good shooting position should their defender stop and help the drive by the point(1).
As the point(1) attacks the defense off of the ball screen they have options on where they can get a good shot. The 2 guards are in each corner waiting for a kickout. The big(4) is rolling to the basket off of the pick and roll. The center is cutting up and behind the ball screen where there is normally a void after a pick and roll.
The point(1) can chose to shoot the ball or deliver a pass to a teammate for an open shot.
Conclusion
Every offensive player is moving in this play which means every defender is having to move as well. Any defender who stops or loses their defensive assignment will give the offense a chance at a wide-open shot.
This play also gives the ability for each player to be the one shooting the ball at the end of the play. This means the defense will be unable to key on any one offensive player making it harder for the defense to stop the offense from scoring.
The small to big screen followed by the big to small ball screen makes it really hard for the defense to defend the pick and roll. This little tweak can really improve the offensive efficiency in being able to create wide open shots. This concept is a good concept to have in the playbook no matter what type of team you may be coaching.
