Flare Screen Skip (vs Zone)

When to use it

Against a zone, when you want to shift the defense with a reversal and then screen the top defender for a flare to the wing. It starts from a 4-out-1-in alignment, with four players on the perimeter and 5 inside.

Personnel

4-out-1-in alignment: 1, 2, 3, and 4 on the perimeter, 5 inside at the high post area. 1 dribbles and reverses to 2. 5 screens the top defender on the ball, then flare screens. 3 cuts to the weak side. 1 steps up to the wing off the flare. 2 needs to shoot or skip the ball.

Reads

1. Reversal. 1 dribbles and reverses to 2 while 3 cuts across and 5 steps out. Look to see how the zone shifts.
2. Flare to the wing. 5 screens the top defender and flares for 1, who goes to the wing. 2 looks to skip the ball to 1 for a clean shot.
3. Screener inside. If the zone overextends on the skip, 5 is available inside.

Counter

If the skip is taken away, 2 keeps the ball and swings it back through the top, and 5 can reset for another screen.

Teaching cues

• 1: dribble to shift the zone, then flare to the wing.
• 5: screen the top defender, then be ready inside.
• 2: look for the skip pass, catch ready to shoot.
• 3: cut to the weak side to stretch the zone.