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Screen-read shooting

Read chase, gap, and top-lock coverage off pin-downs. Curl, fade, or reject with the screener adjusting the angle on every rep. 5 to 15 players, 1 basket, about 15 minutes.

Add it to a practice plan
Screen-read shooting drawn on a half court in 3 steps. 1. Chase: curl the pin-down: When the defender trails over the screen, the shooter turns the corner shoulder-to-shoulder and curls into the lane for the lead pass. 2. Gap: fade behind the screen: When the defender goes under or sits in the lane, the shooter fades away from the help and catches behind the screen ready to shoot. 3. Top-lock: reject and cut backdoor: When the defender takes away the route over the screen, the shooter plants outside, rejects the pin-down, and cuts behind the top-lock to the rim.
1. Chase: curl the pin-down: When the defender trails over the screen, the shooter turns the corner shoulder-to-shoulder and curls into the lane for the lead pass. 2. Gap: fade behind the screen: When the defender goes under or sits in the lane, the shooter fades away from the help and catches behind the screen ready to shoot. 3. Top-lock: reject and cut backdoor: When the defender takes away the route over the screen, the shooter plants outside, rejects the pin-down, and cuts behind the top-lock to the rim.Credit: Drawn by Ball Coach

What it needs

Players
5 to 15 players
Baskets
1 basket
Court
Needs a half court
Time
About 15 minutes
Equipment
basketballs, three spot cones
Type
Skill work, intermediate

Set it up

Use groups of five at one basket: a passer at the slot, a shooter starting near the block, a screener at the elbow, a guided defender, and a rebounder. Mark the curl finish, fade window, and backdoor finish so the spacing remains consistent.

Run it

The shooter sets up the defender before using the pin-down shoulder-to-shoulder. The defender gives one of three guided coverages. Chase — trail over the screen; the shooter curls into the lane and the screener opens to the ball. Gap — go under or sit inside; the shooter fades behind the screen with feet ready. Top-lock — deny the shooter's path over the screen; the shooter rejects the screen and cuts backdoor while the screener opens the passing window. The passer holds the ball until the read is clear, then delivers the pass away from the defender. Finish the rep with a shot or layup and rotate passer to shooter, shooter to defender, defender to screener, screener to rebounder, rebounder to passer.

What to coach

Read chase, gap, and top-lock coverage off pin-downs. Curl, fade, or reject with the screener adjusting the angle on every rep.

Score it

Award one point for the correct read, one for shoulder-to-shoulder screen use or a sharp backdoor rejection, and one for a make. An incorrect read scores zero even if the shot goes in. The group must earn six correct reads in each coverage before the defender can choose the coverage live.

Make it harder

Teach chase, gap, and top-lock separately. Mix the three guided coverages without announcing them, then let the defender play live. Finish by allowing the screener to slip when the screen defender shows early and the passer to hit the best available receiver.

Use it in practice

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Where this drill comes from

Ball Coach wrote this drill for its practice planner's drill library. The curricula below shaped how the library organizes practice; no text or diagram is copied from them. The diagram is drawn by Ball Coach.