Point Guard Ball Screen Offense: UNDER the Screen with Sue Bird

CLIP #1: SCREENER RESCREENS

Summary

• Screen defender goes under the screen

• Screener turns and rescreens

• Bird crosses over and shoots open 3

Analysis:

1. Bird accelerates in to the ball screen, forcing her defender to either go under the screen or over the screen. She cannot slip between Bird and the screener.

2. Bird and Stewart both feel the ball defender step under the screen, taking away Bird’s driving lane but leaving the 3 point line unguarded.

3. Stewart quickly pivots to rescreen the ball defender.

4. Bird crosses back to her left and steps behind the 3 point line for an uncontested 3.

This play is a great example of two players being on the same page. Stewart and Bird react at the same time to the defenders choice to step under the screen. The rescreen gives Bird plenty of time and space to get off a great look. There is a difference between instinctively chucking up a shot when the defender goes under the screen and setting up a quality shot. This is an example of the latter.

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CLIP #2: screen Turn and SEALs

Summary:

• Screen defender goes under the screen

• Screener turns and seals ball defender

• Bird steps back and shoots the open 3

Analysis:

1. Bird uses a hesitation dribble, getting her defender to step up, then accelerates in to the ball screen, forcing her defender to either go under the screen or over the screen. She cannot slip between Bird and the screener.

2. Bird and Stewart both feel the ball defender step under the screen, taking away Bird’s driving lane but leaving the 3 point line unguarded.

3. Stewart quickly pivots to seal the ball defender.

4. Bird steps back to her left and steps behind the 3 point line for an uncontested 3.

This play is a slight variation of Clip #1 where the defender chooses to go under the screen, but here, the screen is so low, Stewart only needs to turn and seal and the ball defender is pinned too deep to contest the shot. Bird has plenty of time to set her feet for a high quality look. Splash.

FILM ROOM: OVER the BALL Screen with Sue Bird

CLIP #1: Screen defender drops

Summary

• Screen defender stays low to protect the paint.

• Ball defender goes under the screen = Bird attacks the paint

• Screen defender stays low = Bird shoots the open shot

Analysis:

1. Bird dribbles tight off the ball screen. Her defender must either go under the screen or over the screen. She cannot slip between Bird and the screener.

2. Bird feels her defender go over the screen, taking away Bird’s ability to get off a 3, but putting her behind Bird for the rest of the play.

3. With her defender behind her, Bird sees the screen defender low in the paint. Instinctively, she makes the correct decision to step into an in-rhythm mid-range shot. Bird’s defender cannot contest without fouling and the screen defender is too far away to make any real contest.

4. Bird takes one dribble, quickly sets her feet: right-left. And elevates for a high percentage shot.

   There is nothing special about this play. Bird simply responds to what the defense gives her: over the screen = attack the paint, screen defender stays low = shoot the open shot. Poetry in motion.

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CLIP #2: Screen defender STEPS UP

Summary:

• Ball defender goes under screen = Bird stays tight to screen.

• Screen defender shows hard to takeaway Bird’s pull-up shot.

• Bird pulls both defenders away from the hoop and passes.

Analysis:

1. Again, Bird dribbles tight off the ball screen. Her defender must either go under the screen or over the screen. She cannot slip between Bird and the screener.

2. Again, Bird feels her defender go over the screen, taking away Bird’s ability to get off a 3, but putting her behind Bird for the rest of the play.

3. With her defender behind her, Bird sees the screen defender step up hard. Bird takes an extra dribble, pulling both the ball defender and the screen defender away from the hoop.

4. Bird elevates to find a passing angle to deliver the assist to the wide open screener rolling to the basket.

This clip is guarded similarly to clip #1 with two differences. 1) The screen defender steps up hard to prevent Bird from getting that easy mid-range shot she got in clip #1. 2) Bird takes this screen from the wing, moving away from the hoop. This is important because as she pulls both defenders with her, she pulls them away from the hoop, leaving her teammate an entirely uncontested roll and finish. Beautiful.

3 Things To Do Before You Send Your Game Film To Coaches

As Covid-19 continues to complicate the recruiting process, the value of film is increasing. In previous blogs, we’ve talked about the best way to compose your emails to college coaches. Within that, the focal point was full game film. 

Now that you have created your list of schools and created your email, you’re ready to upload your film for all coaches who open your email to see.

You only get one first impression so how can you be certain that you’re sending them your best? Here are some things you can do to help your chances before sending coaches your film.

☝️ Show more than just your ability to score

You can be a bucket getter but if you are showcasing that’s the only way you can impact a team, your recruiting is going to take a hit. College coaches understand that there’s a lot more to the game than just scoring. On many occasions, players would send film of a game where they dropped 30+ points but didn’t compete or impact the game in any other way. At that level, it was an easy no. 

So, absolutely show your ability to score but what else can you do? Understand the value of the intangibles as well i.e effort to rebound, willingness to run the floor hard, activity on the defensive end, etc. and show them.

✌️ Choose a competitive game

It’s one thing to drop that 30 on a good team, it’s a completely different thing to drop it on a bad team. College coaches are constantly looking for indicators that will help them see your game translating to their level. So be aware of the level of your competition. If they are not somewhat competitive, it’s not going to help that coach as much in their evaluation of your game. 15 points vs a good team is a lot more valuable than 30 on a bad one. Coaches will notice.

👌 Film quality

College coaches are staring at their screens recruiting all day. If you can help it, try not to make this a more difficult task by sending poor quality film. If they can’t easily make out where you are on the floor, the likelihood of them watching enough of that film of you is low. With all of the technology today, you can record a game with good quality from your phone. 

Don’t have anyone that can film games for you? Get together with some teammates who are also looking to send their film to coaches and convince a parent to take on the task.

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Bonus Tips: Upload your film to a video hosting site like YouTube and send coaches links to your games instead of files that they will have to download. Don’t assume the coach knows your jersey color or jersey number. Put that information in the email or in the title of your game link. Making their job easier will always increase your chances!

Still unsure about your film? Send it to a coach you trust and ask them what they think a college coach would see. If you don’t have access to that or just want an outsider’s perspective, we’d love to help guide you!

Happy recruiting!

Coach Chevy