Screen for Screener to Ball Screen:

The video clip attached is from the Women’s Gold Medal Game between the United States and Cuba in the 2007 Pan American Games.  The US ran this play in an effort to get penetration from their point guard.

The play is run out of a 1-4 alignment.  The point guard, O1 dribbles O2 through to the other side of the court.  As O1 is dribbling to the wing, O4 sets a cross screen for O5.  This screen is set to cause O5’s defender to be late on the ball screen.  After setting the cross screen O4 moves to the low post on the weak-side. 

O1 comes off the ball screen from O5.  O5 rolls down the lane or could pop towards the corner.  O4 executes a duck-in move and may be open because X4 may be forced to help if O5 is open on the roll.  O2 and O3 will space out wide on the weak-side.

Elbow Isolation:

Isolation plays should be a part of elite team’s offensive package.  Isolation plays can be used to take advantage of mismatches or to attack a defender who is in foul trouble.

This isolation play is run by our Canadian Women’s Team in a game vs. China.  The flow of the play appears to be going to the left side of the floor but is actually clearing out the right side for a drive from the right elbow.  As O1 brings the ball up the floor he/she starts towards the right side and changes direction towards the left side. O2 runs under the hoop and by O5, who is moving to the middle of the lane under the hoop.  At the same time O4 moves towards the left elbow and O3 moves in to set a screen for O2. 

O2 comes off O3’s down screen and O4 cuts to the left elbow; both O2 and O4 must be looking to get the ball to influence their defenders to guard them.  O1 looks towards either O2 or O4 and then passes to O5 who has cut to the right elbow.  O5 will catch and sweep the ball immediately attempting to go by the defender before the help defenders recognize the play.  It is important that the player being isolated does not step out beyond the foul line to receive the pass.  If he/she does it will give more time for defenders to see the play and get into help position.

Double Stack:

This is a set play from Bob Huggins, presently the Head Coach at University of West Virginia.

The alignment begins with two low stacks, with the best shooter, O2 the bottom of one stack.  O1 dribbles the ball away from O2, who sprints low off the stack of O3 and O5.  As O2 goes by, O5 screens X5 and O3 screens X4.  O4 then comes underneath and looks for a pass from O1.

O1 may pass the ball to O2 if O4 is open along the baseline.  O5 may also post up and be ready for a quick pass from O2 if X5 slides underneath and is able to cover O4.

Cuba 1:

This set play, from the Cuban Women’s National Team, uses a pick and roll and roll and rise action.  

O1 cuts to the ball-side corner off the double screen of O2 and O5.  As O1 goes by O2 immediately cuts up the middle to the top and receives a pass from O3.  Also recognize that O5 is isolated in the low post and may receive a direct pass from O3.

As soon as O2 receives the pass O4 sets a ball screen for O2.  O2 may be able to take the ball all the way to the basket.

Another possibility is for O2 to come off the screen and look for O4 rolling down the lane.  At the same time O5 will rise to the top for the possibility of post to post action between O4 and O5.  O1 and O3 will stay spaced out wide on the weak-side.

In the video clip you will see O4 re-angle the ball screen to the inside and execute a pick and roll with O2.

Brazil 2 Across:

This set play, used by the Brazil Women’s Team at the 2007 Pan American Games, is good because it has both an inside look and a perimeter look.

The play begins when O5 sets a cross screen for O1.  O1 sprints across the court and receives an inbounds pass from O2 outside the 3 pt. line.  After setting the screen O5 will step outside the lane on the weak-side.

The play continues with O2 setting a cross screen for O5.  O2 should angle the screen with his/her back towards the corner and influence X5 to go over top of the screen.  O5 steps up and then goes under the cross screen.  After setting the cross screen O2 comes off the double screen set by O4 and O3 at the foul line.