A great quick hitter is simple to execute but really hard to defend. Concepts like screen the screener can be really hard to guard. Screening the ball screener is another concept that puts the defense into bad defensive positions. Putting these two actions together will have the defense scrambling to figure out what exactly they should be doing.
These actions are hard to defend but the offensive movements are simple and easy to execute. There is little moving parts and not a lot for players to get confused on what to do. The simple offensive movements give this play the ability to be run from the youth levels all the way up through college and professional games.
The offense is putting the defense at a disadvantage right from the start. At each step of the play the offense is looking to score. They are attacking but waiting until the defense has a breakdown and then getting the easy basket off of that breakdown.
If the defense can scramble good enough, then the back screen will happen at the end to free up an offensive player cutting straight to the basket. This is the most likely shot but the offense has opportunities to score all along the play.
This play starts out in a standard 4-out 1-in set. The point(1) has the ball. The center(5) is on the ballside block. The center(5) is the main player of the play. The center(5) should be adjusted to your team on who you want to be getting the ball at the end of the play.
The play starts with a simple downscreen from the big(4) to the center(5). As the screen is being set the center(5) needs to sprint out from the block up to the top of the key. The screen and sprint is designed to create as much space as possible between the center(5) and their defender. This created space is what puts the defense into a scramble mode making the following parts easier to execute.
The center(5) sprints up off the block and sets a ball screen to the point(1). The point(1) comes off the ball screen and is looking to get the defense focused on them and chasing the ball. The initial downscreen should put the defense in a scramble mode and the ball screen adds to it.
The center(5) sprinting off of the downscreen will prevent their defender from being able to get out to hedge on the ball screen. This puts the defense in a bad position because the point(1) has the ability to turn the corner off of the ball screen and attack the rim.
The point(1) attacking the rim is the first option. If its wide open then the point(1) can drive for a layup or have a kick out to the forward(3) if their defender steps into the lane to help on the drive. While these are good options, it needs to be wide open for the point(1) to attack. The trailing center(5) defender will normally clog up the lane enough to prevent the easy layup.
If the point(1) does not attack, then they are passing the ball to the forward(3) on the wing. The point(1) needs to stay above the 3-point line. The offense needs to keep the lane wide open as much as possible for the last action.
And now the big(4) will turn and come back up the lane to set a back screen for the center(5). The design of the play is to get the center’s(5) defender chasing up the lane to help on the ball screen only to be screened a 2nd time on a back screen. The defender will have trouble stopping and changing direction to get around the back screen leaving the center(5) all alone at the basket.
The forward(3) catches the ball and will pass to the center(5) coming back down the lane. The lane is wide open without any help defenders. The center(5) will only need to catch and shoot the layup.
The play is simple for the offense. It is just 3 screens and a couple of passes. But the defense has to defender multiple actions before the back screen springs the center(5) wide open at the basket. The defense will be chasing to defend the ball screen only to be left without an answer to the back screen.
A defense that hard hedges ball screens will have the center(5) defender rushing to the ball screen and unable to get back under the back screen. This play is using the aggressiveness of the defense to give the offense a massive advantage. The ball screen is a great misdirection to get an easy back screen and the center(5) wide open coming back down the lane.
This play is simple enough for teams of all ages to use. Youth level teams will be able to run it. But the concepts and screens makes it a great play at the high school and college level. It is a simple play to execute but really hard to defend.
