Box Screen-the-Screener
A baseline out of bounds play against man-to-man: 2 steps with diagrams and coaching points.
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How it works
A baseline out-of-bounds play from a box. The ball-side post crosses the lane to screen for the other post, then the weak-side elbow screens down for that screener. Two defenders have to guard two screens in a second, and the one who helps on the first cut leaves the second open.
When to use it
Under your own basket against man-to-man, when you need a good two-point look and the defense is guarding the ball-side block. It works best when the post defenders like to help on the first cut.
Personnel
4 and 5 are your posts: 4 must finish through contact at the rim, and 5 must catch at the elbow and face up. 2 needs to hit an elbow jumper or seal a smaller defender after screening. 3 is your best passer and inbounds. 1 is the safety in the corner.
Step by step
Step 1. 5 crosses the lane and screens 4's defender. 4 waits for the screen, then cuts over the top of it to the ball-side rim. 1 empties to the ball-side corner. If 4's defender is behind, 3 passes to 4 for the lay-up.
Step 2. 2 screens down on 5's defender, who helped on the first cut. 5 uses the screen, going around it on the left side, then comes back to the nail or ball-side elbow, catches and faces the rim: shoot, or pass to 2, who seals and steps to the rim after screening. 4 clears to the short corner to open the lane.
Reads
- First read. 4 at the rim off 5's cross screen. If 4's defender goes under or behind the screen, a bounce pass beats the hands.
- Second read. 5 at the nail or ball-side elbow, coming around 2's down screen. 5's defender had to help on 4, so 5 is often open for a face-up jumper or a drive.
- Third read. 2 sealing after the down screen. If the defenders switch it, 2 has the smaller defender on the back and steps to the rim for a lob or bounce pass.
Counter
If they switch the cross screen, 5 slips it: step toward 4 and cut straight to the rim before contact, and the switched defender is behind. Against a full denial, 1 comes back from the corner toward the ball as the safe outlet.
Teaching cues
- Wait for the screen, then cut: shoulder to shoulder past the screener.
- Screen the body, not the spot: find the defender and set your feet.
- Screeners open to the ball after contact; the screener is often the open player.
- 3 slaps the ball to start it and has five seconds: know your outlet.
Use this play
- Version
- 1 (current), approved October 1, 2026
- Published by
- Ball Coach
- Source
- Published by Ball Coach under its first-party license, credited to Ball Coach. Released as a fixed version; any later edit gets a new version number.
- Use
- Free to view, print and add unchanged to your playbook.
Topics
- Baseline out of bounds
- Man-to-man
- Cross screen
- Down screen
- Screen the screener