An often neglected basketball fundamental is the skill of screening. I have coached some lower level football and by far the most difficult aspect of the game of football to teach is offensive blocking. I found myself in certain situations to tell our offensive football players to simple "get in the way" or simply "screen" the player they were assigned to block. Funny, that seldom helped. Good offensive linemen needed to be aggressive, quick feet, understood leverage, and had good balance. Sounds very much like the physical attributes needed to teach a player to screen effectively in basketball.
Screening is one of those mostly unappreciated skills. Seldom do you hear anyone praise a player for being a great screener. Just like offensive lineman in football are generally unappreciated, so are effective screeners in basketball. The running back in football who scores or gains a large number of yards is the hero but he did not gain all those yards or score all those touchdowns without some good offensive blockers. The top scorer on the basketball team often gets open because of the unsung screener(s) that got him/her open.
I have never seen a stat for percentage of effective screens set in a game. Might be an interesting off season project. Review your game films and rate your team and individual successful screening rates. I know I did not pay enough attention in teaching screening.
Now of course, a player can set a good screen and it will not be affective if the cutter
does not know how to use it. Many times the effectiveness of the screen is not determined by the screener but rather by poor execution of the cutter.
Screener Basics ....
1. Sprint to the spot you are setting the screen at.
2. Jump stop into the screen.
3. Ladies cross their arms across their chest. Men grab their wrist and protect the
groin area.
4. Wide base. Slightly wider than shoulder width.
5. Hold your ground until cutter has passed.
6. Generally after screen move into the opposite area than the cutter.
*1-6 are basics for a screener screening away from the ball.
Cutter Basics ....
1. Set up your cut by moving one way then cut off the screen.
2. Read the reaction of your defender as you cut.
A. Defender trails you as you negotiate the screen a curl cut is a good option.
B. Defender goes under the screen, cutter's best option may be to fade cut.
C. Defender runs into the screen, cutter's best option may be a straight cut toward the ball
D. Take a step towards the ball then cut behind your defender on back screens.
*Good cutters tend to be very good at destroying the vision of their defender. Good
cutters destroy the ball-you-man alignment of person to person defense.
The timing of the "mesh" between cutter and screener are critical to getting the cutter open.
A cutter & a screener are where the games are often won and often unappreciated.
Have you ever broken down a tape & graded the screeners & cutters? MIGHT be an eyeopener!!
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