Defending on-ball screens is one of the toughest principle to defend in today's game. Defending on-ball screens are not just about defending the ball-handler and screener, but how you react and rotate on the weak-side of your defense. Strategies are a big part of how attack the on ball screen, but the tenacity, energy, and knowledge of the ball-handler's defender are extremely important as well. Another factor is the type of team you have as well; short and quick, or big and tall. Here are seven strategies for defending on ball screens (middle and sideline screens).
1. Hedge and Recover - A basic strategy when defending on ball screens; the player can hard hedge or soft hedge. Hedge is where the screen defender shows above the screen and meets the ball-handler on the opposite side. The degree of the hedge depends on the threat of the screener, is he/she a roller or a pop threat. If the screener is more of a roller, you can hard hedge on the ball-handler. If the screener is more of a pop threat, you can soft hedge on the ball-handler.
2. Under 1 - Go under the screen if the ball-handler is not a shooter, but a great penetrator. Also, if the ball-handler is out of his/her range for the shot.
3. Under 2 - If the ball-handler is a great penetrator, but not a great shooter, and the screener is a great spot up shooter, you should jam the screener and have the defender go under the jam, which is 2 players. This strategy can be used against teams that run a lot of pick and pops.
4. Switch - Switch when the ball-handler and screener are of similar size and no advantage will be gained offensively. You can also switch as the shot-clock or game-clock is running down so the offense can not gain an advantage of penetration.
5. Trap - Trap the ball-handler when the ball-handler is not a strong passer or penetrator. You can trap also to get the offense out of rhythm, or end of shot and game clock situations.
6. Turn Down - Make the ball-handler turn down the screen if the purpose of the screen is to reverse the ball to the opposite side or to have middle penetration.
7. Over - Go over the screen when the ball-handler is a threat as a shooter, and the screener is not as big of a threat.
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