Tactical library
Spain Pick & Roll
A ball screen followed by a back screen on the roll defender. The back screener then pops to the perimeter. The ball handler reads the roll, the pop and help from the corners.
Pick & Roll
A player screens the ball handler’s defender and cuts toward the basket. Spacing makes help decisions costly. The ball handler reads the defending big, the on-ball defender and weak-side help.
Horns
An alignment with two players at the elbows, a ball handler above the arc and two players in the corners. Entries can lead to ball screens, handoffs or cuts through the lane.
DHO · Dribble Hand-Off
A dribble handoff transfers possession between nearby teammates while the passer’s body creates a screening angle. Read the defender for a handoff, keeper or backdoor cut.
BLOB · Baseline Out of Bounds
An inbound action from the baseline. Screens and cuts create a safe entry and may also produce a shot at the rim or beyond the arc.
SLOB · Sideline Out of Bounds
An inbound action from the sideline. The first objective is a safe entry; subsequent movement can flow into the team’s half-court offense.
ATO · After Timeout
A planned action after a timeout. Alignment, available time, matchup and the expected defensive coverage shape the play and its counters.
Stagger
Two off-ball screens set in sequence for one cutter. Timing and spacing allow the cutter to curl, fade or continue through the screens depending on the defense.
Ghost Screen
A screener approaches as if setting a ball screen, then slips away before contact. It tests switching communication and can create a driving lane or an open pop.
Drop
The big defender stays below the ball screen to protect the paint while the on-ball defender recovers. The depth of the drop affects pull-up opportunities and the roll passing window.
Switch
Two defenders exchange assignments at a screen. The offense can look for an early slip, a seal or a favorable one-on-one matchup before the defense reorganizes.
Hedge
The screen defender steps out to delay the ball handler, then recovers. Quick ball movement, a short roll and weak-side spacing can challenge the rotating defense.
ICE
A side ball-screen coverage that aims to keep the ball away from the middle. The ball defender denies the screen direction while the big contains the drive toward the sideline or baseline.
Top Lock
An off-ball defender positions above a receiver to deny a route toward a screen or the perimeter. A well-timed backdoor cut can counter the denial if the rim is unprotected.