Basketball: Screen-the-Screener (STS) Actions and More

Run hard-to-defend actions. That includes pick-and-roll, give-and-go, screen to mismatch, back door cuts, and screen-the-screener (STS) plays. 

"Great offense is multiple actions" and STS actions require good timing and patience. 

Often an STS play is a variation of another set or action. 

"4" uses paired back screens to set up the cutter. We had remarkable success against 'man' sets with this. 

The initial action is an Iverson cut and the follow-on is a cross-screen which also gets a mismatch. 

In Spain Pick-n-roll, use screen the roller to create separation. 

Although this is a SLOB, it can run as a standalone half-court set. 

Opportunity arises on the weak side/help side. Screeners must remember that "the screener is the second cutter." 

Lagniappe: Add tools to your one-on-one game. Find several you like as 'go to' and counter actions. 




Lagniappe 2: Simon Sinek's Leaders Eat Last, shares stories we can use. Leaders have empathy, authentic concern for the needs and feelings of others. In his first chapter, Sinek profiles "Johnny Bravo" an A-10 (Warthog) pilot in the Middle East. The pilot flew  harrowing night air support for troops under attack by flanking forces in a valley. The risk of engagement was less being shot down than crashing into the narrow canyon. He assumed the risk because he felt the camaraderie with his brothers below. 

Our players never have to make those sacrifices. But do they feel empathy for their teammates, each with different circumstances? As coaches, do we recognize that the twelfth player has feelings, too?