Pick And Roll Basketball

The pick and roll is a classic offensive technique in basketball because it is effective in creating scoring opportunities. Players cooperate by setting a screen, then getting open for a pass, tying up the defense and creating a look. Keep reading to learn how the pick and roll works in basketball.

The Basics of the Pick and Roll

A pick and roll is one of the simplest offensive plays in basketball, also known as an on-ball screen, and it is designed to get a teammate open on the court. In a pick and roll, two players are required to make a screen and a cut. The pick-and-roll is when an offensive player gets a screen from their teammate and then rolls away from the defender they're screening and moves toward the basket. If they are open after rolling towards the rim, the player then receives a pass and makes an easy shot.

Basketball Screens

A screen is a move in basketball where you block the movement of an opposing player with your body without making illegal physical contact. On a screen, the screener gets into position and plants their feet on the floor, acting like a wall to prevent the other player from getting through.

An effective screen will allow one’s teammate to get into open areas on the court, creating further offensive options. In screening situations, the most common player positions are point guards dribbling the ball while power forwards and centers set the screens.

How to Pick and Roll

If you want to master the pick and roll, make sure to follow these steps:

1. Decide who will perform the pick (screen) and the roll (cut).
2. Create a signal only you and your teammate know.
3. Wait for your teammate to make the signal.
4. If you're making the pick, set the screen on the defender guarding your teammate and then roll to the rim, finishing the play.

The Pick and Pop

There is a variation of the pick-and-roll play, which is called the pick-and-pop. In the pick-and-roll, the screener will usually roll to the basket, but in a pick-and-pop, the screener will pop out for a jump shot. This variation is used a lot in today's modern NBA, especially for point guards passing to power forwards or centers popping out for a three-point shot.

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