4-High Cut and Middle Ball Screen

When to use it

Half court against man-to-man, starting from a 4-high alignment. Good when you want several actions in one possession: a cut off the high post, a reversal that frees 2, and then a middle ball screen with 5 stepping up.

Personnel

1 enters to the wing and cuts off 5 on a cut off the high post. 3 is the wing who receives and reverses the ball. 2 is freed on the opposite side by the reversal. 5 steps up for the middle ball screen and rolls. 4 clears with the weak side.

Reads

1. Cut by 1. 1 passes to the wing and cuts off 5's screen toward the basket, then exits to the baseline through a screen.
2. Reverse to 2. The ball reverses and the action frees 2 on the opposite side. Look for 2 coming off screens from 4 and 5.
3. Middle ball screen. 5 steps up for the middle ball screen while the weak side clears. Read the roll first, then the ball handler's drive.

Counter

If the roll is taken away, the ball handler keeps attacking the middle and passes to the cleared weak side.

Teaching cues

• 1: pass to the wing and cut tight off 5.
• 5: step up and set the middle ball screen, then roll.
• Weak side: clear out so the roller has room.
• 2: read the screens and come to the ball on the reversal.