Pick and Roll Options

There are many reads as many ways to defend the pick and roll.

switch: Roll. Read the defensive help on the roll. No much team switch, maybe if the defensive players have the same heigh or the ofensive team have 5 seconds to shoot.

push: if the pick defender push the pick far from the 3pt line and the ball defender pass behind the pick. The dribbles can turn and re-use the pick, the picker turns and goes close to the 3 pt line. If th defense goes again behind he can take the 3pt shoot

Trap: If 1 and 5 trap the dribbles, O5 Rolls and O3 or O4 goes up to play the high low.

Here are some simple reads that we try to teach our players.  Regardless of the situation, we have our guard take at least two dribbles off the pick to create space.  The guard should also come off the pick with the mentality that he is trying to score first, read the defense and react accordingly if not open for a score.

Defense plays straight up without hedge or switch = Roll

Defense shows aggressive early hedge = Slip

Defense sags off to prevent penetration or roll = Pop

Hope that helps.

When reading the defense on a pick and roll situation I look for the following:  If the player is followed from behind to the screen area it is an automatic slip.  Both the man with the ball and the screener should read this and take advantage of the lazy defense.  If the defender of the screener is a  good defender and plays the screen and looks for the hedge a delay in the roll is best until one of the defenders has taken the cover or switched for the time being. Man with the ball must keep his or her dribble in order to let the screen and roll play out.  If both players lead toward the ball handler the the fade or pop would be the best option as long as the fader is a shooter.