While there are a lot of things players need to execute well for screens to have maximum effectiveness, these two simple concepts will improve the effectiveness of cutting and screening more than anything else.

Wait, Wait, Wait

After recognizing a screen is going to be set, the cutter must execute the first half of a v-cut to establish the proper cutting angle to come off the screen and to draw the defender closer to the cutter, making the defender easier to screen. In the diagram below to the left, the screener has set the screen at a reasonably good angle for a down screen in relation to the location of the ball. The cutter cuts without waiting or using a v-cut, allowing the defender to easily avoid the screen.

In the below below, the cutter cuts to the correct location and WAITS for the screen to be set. The defender, , will either remain stationary allowing the screener to establish the screen, or move closer to the cutter in an effort to defend the cutter. The key to the screener and cutter being able to establish a good, solid, legal screen is for the cutter to execute the first half of the v-cut (go in slow, come out fast) and wait, wait, wait for the screener to set the screen.

In the photograph below, the cutter, Number 22, recognized the screener, Number 1, was going to set a down screen. Number 22 moved in slowly to set the defender up to be screened. Number 1 was able to screen a man and not space because in this example, Number 22, WAITED for the screen to be set. This allowed the screener to set a legal down screen with contact on the defender.

Note that Number 22 has made physical contact with the screener and is communicating the direction she intends to cut to with the appropriate hand signal to the player in possession of the ball.

Screen a Man and Not Space

Effective screens impede the progress of the defender. This requires contact to be made between the screener and the defender, hence the phrase “screen a man and not space.” The photograph below shows the screener has “buried” the defender” with legal contact, established a wide base with knees bent and her head is level with that of the defender. The cutter has made contact with the screener and is communicating with a hand target to the passer.

In the photograph below the cutter has not waited for the screen to be set and the screener has not “screened a man and not space.” There is a noticeable gap between the defender and the screener, allowing the defender to continue playing defense unimpeded.

The material in this post was excerpted from The Fine Art of Cutting and Screening. More material from this book has been posted in pdf format on the downloads/Handouts & Clinic Notes page of this site. It will be posted in the Coach Sivils Notes section and remain briefly and then be taken down.

In this post you will find some concepts for developing post players. This information has also been excerpted from Fine Tuning Your Team’s Position Play.

Number 75
Post-up Stance

The post-up stance is a variation of the basic athletic stance. The post player’s legs must be slightly wider than hip width with the knees bent at an angle between 30 to 45 degrees, depending on the post player’s build and size.

The back should be straight and strong with the head centered between the knees and the chin level to the court. The elbows should be extensions of the shoulders with the post player able to see the back of his hands. The palms of the hands should be facing the ball with the fingers pointed up and spread comfortably.

Number 76
Pass Out and Reposition

Often during the jostling that takes place in the post, the offensive post player may lose the advantage of having position to score after receiving the ball. This situation can easily be corrected by passing the ball back out to the perimeter quickly and as the defense relaxes while the ball is flight to the perimeter player, the offensive post player regains the desired position and holds the seal. The second time the ball is entered into the offensive post, the defense usually is not able to gain the upper hand a second time without fouling in the process.

Number 77
Line of Deployment

Tex Winter, the master teacher of the Triangle Offense, teaches a concept called the line of deployment. An offensive post player must post up on the line of deployment in order to be both effective and open in an area where the post player can score. This imaginary line is between the rim and the ball with the post player straddling this line, bisecting it at a ninety-degree angle (Diagrams 77-A and 77-B and Photographs 77-A and 77-B).

Number 78
Show Your Numbers

Post players must not only be on the line of deployment and generally in the post box or posting area, but must also “show their numbers” to the ball. Regardless of where the ball is on offense, the offensive post player on the ball side of the court must show his numbers to the ball. This allows the offensive player with the ball, usually on the perimeter, to be able to best judge if the offensive post is open. If the numbers on the chest of the offensive post are clearly visible, the offensive player with the ball must pass the ball into the post player.

In Photographs 77-A and 77-B the post player is clearly showing her numbers to the perimeter player in possession of the ball. For example, in Photograph 77-B if the post player was facing the sideline instead of the ball, she would NOT be showing her numbers to the ball.

If that is not enough, players still need to learn position specific skills, even if they play in a motion type offense where players are highly interchangeable. The foundation for position specific play are the foundational fundamental skills all players must master. The rest can vary by position.

Point guards must be able to handle under pressure, initiate and offense, lead a team and create scoring opportunities for their teammates. Perimeter players must be able to drive, pass, shoot and feed the post. Post players have the difficult task of playing with their backs to the basket and executing finesse based skills while playing an extremely physical position. Of course, all of this is what makes the game so fun.

The following concepts have been excerpted from Fine Tuning Your Team’s Position Play, available in paperback from Amazon.

Number 9
Change of Pace

Players often make the mistake of not changing speed when executing a v-cut. Moving at a constant speed, even when combined with a change in direction, is much easier for the defense to react to than a change of direction combined with a change of pace.

When executing a v-cut, players should enter the cut moving at a slow speed and then accelerating quickly immediately after the change of direction has been made. Walking is an acceptable form of entering the v-cut slow and players need to be aware of this.

Standing still is a form of change of pace, particularly when the player who is about to change direction is running at full speed. In order for there to be the required change of pace as well as change of direction, the player must stop, and stand still. Standing still and then changing direction forces the defender to guess when the cutter will move and even with good anticipation the defender will lag behind the cutter, producing the desired space for the cutter to receive a pass.

Number 10
Stopping

The ability to stop is as important as the ability to initiate movement. For shooters, the ability to stop with excellent balance and no extra motion, forward or to the sides, is essential.

Whether stopping off the dribble, filling a lane on the fast break or cutting off a screen, great shooters are ready to stop with balance, catch the ball, face-up in triple threat and shoot the ball in a smooth, fluid and controlled motion.

Basketball players have two methods of stopping quickly, the jump stop and the stride, or one-two stop using a step-plant. The jump stop is executed by taking a final long, low step, jumping in the air a few inches off the ground and landing on both feet at the same time with the knees bent, back straight, chin level and head centered. The advantage of the jump stop is the player can pivot on either foot if in possession of the ball.

The stride stop, or step-plant method, is often easier for female players and is appropriate for any player when already faced up to the goal and stepping into the pass for a shot or picking up the dribble for a shot.

The skill is executed by stepping on the inside (towards the middle of the court) foot first using a heel-toe plant followed by planting the outside foot. After planting the inside foot first, if necessary the shooter must face-up before putting the plant foot down. The knees must be bent, back straight, chin level and head centered.

Concepts For Point Guards

Number 39
Dribble Use

Players all too often catch the basketball and immediately begin to dribble the ball. Doing so eliminates two of the three threats the triple threat position. When a player has the use of the dribble still and is in triple threat position, the player can shoot, pass or drive. By dribbling, the player has eliminated two of the three threats without any pressure from the defense.

Good defensive teams work very hard to pressure the offensive player with the ball to put it on the floor and then dribble it to an undesirable offensive location on the court. The offensive player should only dribble when he has a clear purpose and destination in mind and dribbling is the only way the ball can be moved to that location.

There are only three reasons to dribble a basketball. They are to drive the ball for a scoring opportunity, to improve a passing angle to a teammate and to advance the ball up the court, if the ball cannot be advanced by passing it up the court.

Number 40
Four Dribbles to the Rim

Ball handlers should always be as efficient as possible with the use of the dribble. Just as the ball handler should drive from the 3-point line to the rim in one dribble, the ball handler should advance the ball up the court with the fewest number of dribbles possible.

An aggressive ball handler running at maximum speed can advance the ball up the court in four dribbles. Players who are not able to do this should work to develop this skill. Ball handlers who can advance the ball with just four dribbles are extremely difficult for the defense to stop in the open floor. This minimalist approach to advancing the ball with the dribble is not only difficult to defend, it creates numerous scoring and passing opportunities. Weaker ball handlers, high school girls and middle school players should set an initial goal of five dribbles.

Number 41
Use an Arm Bar

Ball handlers must protect the ball at all times. The best way to protect the ball while dribbling is to combine the use of an arm bar with placing the ball handler’s body between the ball and a defender.

The ball handler should not use the arm bar to push a defender’s hand away from the ball. Instead, the arm bar should be rigid. When the defender reaches for the ball and comes into contact with the arm bar, the effect should be like bumping into a wall. The rigidity of the arm bar serves to keep the defender away from the ball.

If the defender increases the pressure against the arm bar, the ball handler increases the force required to keep the arm bar stationary. The ball handler does not push back in this instance. The photos below demonstrate the proper positioning of an arm bar to protect the ball. Note in both examples the ball handler has positioned her body in such a way that her body will be between the ball and the defender with the arm bar serving as additional protection for the ball.

The first of my books to hold down the Number One Spot on Amazon, The Game of Basketball, did so for three weeks this past January. I have no idea how long Game Strategy and Tactics for Basketball and Rebounding: The Game Within The Game will stay in the top two spots, but it is always fun while your books occupy those spots.

Once again, to all the coaches who have purchased my books, either in paperback or eBook (Kindle or Nook), I want to say a BIG THANK YOU!

Assign an Assistant – Emphasize!

Sounds too easy? Try this approach and see the results it can produce in a short period of time. Remember the rule: Players do not do what we teach, they do what we emphasize! Assign a reliable assistant coach to rebounding emphasis. Delegate to this coach the authority to stop practice and impose a pre-designated negative consequence to the entire team if one player fails to block out, pursue the rebound or use proper technique in securing the rebound. When players see this kind of emphasis on a single skill, they will pay attention to what they are doing in regard to that skill all the time.

Team Competitive Rebounding

Competitive rebounding will be a team favorite as the season progresses and has the added benefit of emphasizing both offensive and defensive rebounding. Players are divided into two teams. The drill runs for five minutes. The objective is to finish the five minutes and be one of the players on the baseline team. To make the drill even more competitive have the losing team run. Diagram One depicts the basic alignment prior to the start of the drill.

Diagram Two depicts the start of the drill with X1 pass to #1 and closing out on the ball. X2 moves to an appropriate help defense position. Early in the season do not allow #1 to shoot the ball until the defense has finished positioning.

X1 and X2 block out on the shot attempt and all four players attempt to secure the rebound as shown in Diagram Three. If X1 and X2 obtain the rebound, they pass the ball to the next player at the front of the baseline team and go to the end of the lines for that team. #1 and #1 return to the end of the lines of the shooting team.

If either #1 or #2 obtain an offensive rebound, the two play offense and attempt to score. If #1 or #2 score, they move to the end of the lines on the baseline team and X1 and X2 move to the end of the lines of the offensive team. Note, regardless of whether or the initial shot attempt is made or missed by #1 (or #2) it is treated as a missed shot. Diagram Four presents an alternative the offensive team can use to increase their advantage in possibly obtaining an offensive rebound.

Following the initial pass from X1 to #1, instead of shooting the ball, #1 passes the ball to #2, forcing the defenders X1 and X2 to adjust their position. #2 may shoot the ball upon catching it. The shifting of the defense may present offensive rebounding opportunities that otherwise might not have been available.

Circle Blockout

Circle block-out is a simple drill used to teach players block-out technique. Diagram One shows the basic alignment for the drill. Diagram Two depicts players blocking out with correct technique following a shot by the coach.

Shell Blockout

Every team who plays man-to-man defense uses the time honored shell drill. Most coaches do not finish every repetition of shell drill with a shot and block out. This is sending a bad message to the players because it is not placing an emphasis on rebounding!

Rebound and Run

Start every fast break drill with a rebound (or made basket) which will require the players to block out. Finish every rebounding drill with an outlet pass and a fast break! Combine multiple positive habits in each drill, teaching players to emphasize these concepts in a game.

For more concepts to improve your team’s rebounding, check out this book on Amazon, Rebounding: The Game Within The Game.

Here is a link to the video on the HoopSpeak Coach’s Forum:

http://hoopspeak.com/coaches/2011/11/video-corner-dribble-penetration-breakdown/

This is one of the changes that will be coming to the website in the coming months as a result of the survey many visitors of this site took part in a few weeks ago.

The link below will take you to the web page for the program.

http://www.greenville.edu/coaching/

The first class starts this fall. For coaches who do not live in Southern Illinois who are interested in a Master’s in Coaching (M.A.E.), Greenville’s new program can be done via distance education!

This is a great opportunity for coaches who wish to advance their careers professionally. Greenville does a great job educationally and this program will be no different. In addition, this will be a great opportunity to network with other coaches in a wide range of levels of play throughout the United States.

This book covers concepts on improving players skills and knowledge of the game by position, point guard, perimeter or post. Like Fine Tuning Your Three-Point Attack, this book is also in the larger 8.5 x 11 inch format and is some 174 pages in length. It is heavily illustrated with photographs and diagrams. When the book is finally available, I will post the information here on my coaching blog.

By the same token, coaches who remove players from games for selfish play or refusal to execute with proper fundamentals deliver a clear message. The coach does not just teach these concepts, the coach is placing an emphasis on these principles. If the players want to play, they must comply with the emphasis.

In certain instances, it is quite easy to place emphasis on a specific skill, concept or value. In the sport of basketball lay-ups and free throws are how games are won and lost. Insisting players master these two key skills is an easy sell for a coach in the area of placing emphasis. The team concept is more challenging due to individual agendas of players, but still a relatively easy concept to emphasize.

The challenge lies in providing emphasis on the intangibles of sport. It is easy to recognize certain types of achievement and provide positive feedback and support in the form of media coverage, awards and public praise. The leading scorer, passer, hitter or runner is always recognized. Based on statistics, these are easy to praise and place emphasis on.

To read more of this post at TeachtoWin.com…