The drag screen: two defenders, two answers
1 pushes the ball up the floor, with the big, 5, behind and 3 on the wing. X1 and X5 are two defenders still getting back, so it is three attackers against two. Step through the push, the screen, and then each choice X5 can make.
Read the 4 steps as text
- After a stop, 1 pushes the ball up the floor. 5, the big, runs up behind the ball and 3 fills the wing. X1 and X5 are still getting back, so the defence is not set.
- Before the defence is set, 5 sets the ball screen on X1. In transition, X5 has no time to hedge or trap, only to contain or drop. That choice is the read.
- If X5 steps up to hedge, 5 slips the screen and seals X5, and 1 lobs the ball to 5 at the rim.
- If X5 drops, 1 has the pull-up, or the kick-out to 3 on the wing.
At junior level
The Transition guide puts the drag screen, and the choice between offensive rebounding and getting back, in a different category from the outlet-and-push and sprint-back habits. They are structured, half-court-style decisions for a team that already has some concepts in place, so hold them for under-14 and up, once “first concepts” are on the table. At under-12, the whole job is to push the ball and sprint back, every time.
The guide builds the action in steps before going live: drag screen 3-on-0, then 3-on-1, then 3-on-2.
Unofficial fan-created resource. Not affiliated with or endorsed by basketballimmersion.com. The drag screen is adapted from the Transition guide, synthesised from The Basketball Podcast. Full credit to host Chris Oliver and all guests.