Brooklyn Nets: Week 2 Coach Analysis

Defensive Breakdown

Pick & Roll prominence in NBA

The pick-and-roll has quickly become the play du jour across the NBA. Being able to attack defenses with a man advantage is something every team strives for and is usually the outcome when running the pick-and-roll. Also, with the game becoming more perimeter-oriented it’s a great way to get the ball in the hands of your best player. Every team, even the Triangle-or-bust New York Knicks, has the pick-and-roll incorporated into their offense. With that being the case, every team must have a game plan on how they want to defend this action. There are several to choose from. Here is a quick breakdown of the different options. 

1. ICE – Made famous by the guttural shouts of Tom Thibodeau, this choice calls for the big man to drop back from the screener as the on-ball defender applies pressure to force the ball handler away from the screen and towards the big man.
2. HEDGE – The defender of the screener stays attached to the hip of the screener and then jumps out quickly to force the ball handler to dribble around him and allow his defender to recover before the ball handler can attack the paint.
3. SHOW – The defender of the screener steps along with the ball handler for a couple strides to keep him from attacking the paint and then retreats to his man once the on-ball defender has made it back to his man.
4. BLITZ – Both defenders (on-ball and screener) immediately attack and trap the ball handler as soon as he comes off the screen.
5. SWITCH – The two defenders swap men after the pick is set.
6. ZONE – The big man completely drops back from the action and plays a sort of one-man zone in the paint in hopes of corralling the ball handler or keeping the roll man from getting an easy shot.