Every team in the NBA runs the pick and roll a few times a game.  This is because, when run correctly, it is a pretty hard play to stop.  First we are going to look at what teams run it well, and break it down step by step.

Types Of Pick And Rolls

In the NBA, there are two different ways that the pick and roll can be run.  The first is the standard pick and roll, and the second is a variation of the pick and roll called the pick and pop.

Standard Pick And Roll

The pick and roll is the standard play that everyone knows and loves.  You have a big man setting the screen for your point guard.  After the screen is set, the big man rolls straight to the rim, giving the guard three options.  He could pass to the big man:

If that is not open, the point guard can attack the basket and get into the lane for a layup:

Or he could take the jump shot:

So how does the point guard determine what to do?  He reads the defense when he comes off the screen and reacts to it.  The point guards who run the pick and roll well are very good at making quick (and correct) decisions based on what the defense does.  Let’s look at each of the above plays and try to find what the point guard saw to when making his decision.

First, the lob to Brook Lopez:

As Devin Harris comes off the screen, he notices that his defender (Jonny Flynn) gets caught up in the screen and as a result Al Jefferson has to come up to stop him.  There is no rotation on the backside, and this leaves Brook Lopez wide open for the lob. Here, Devin was reading Al Jefferson, because Devin Harris sees Jefferson coming at him, he knows he can get it to Brook.  Now, lets look at Deron Williams’ layup:

Here, Deron’s man tries to go over the screen, trailing him.  Deron feels that, and with the screener’s defender not hedging, Williams can get to the lane.  Here, Deron Williams’ read is that his defender.  He feels that he is chasing him over the screen, freeing up the lane.  Now, here is Nash’s three:

Here, Nash’s man goes under the screen, he does so to try and prevent Nash from getting into the lane.  However, this opens up the three point shot.  Nash’s read here is his defender.  When he sees him go under the screen, he knows he has a wide open three.

Pick And Pop

The pick and pop presents a unique set of challenges for the defense.  The first challenge is that teams like to run the pick and pop with two guards.  That means a guard has to play defense on the PNR, and that is something he isn’t used to.  This leads to mental errors that could cost the defense.

While that is tough, the hardest pick and pop to guard is one that has a stretch four involved.  The Suns might be the best at running this:

Here, the Suns have Steve Nash coming off of a Channing Frye screen. Tim Duncan has to show to keep Nash from driving the ball into the lane, and when that happens, Frye is left wide open. Nash hits him with the pass, and Tim Duncan has too much ground to cover on the close out, allowing for Frye to knock down the three.

So how do you defend the pick and pop? Most teams tend to switch pick and pops (they know whether it will be one or not by who is setting the screen). That works well, but even if done correctly, it still has its problems:

The problem is that you know have a 4-man covering a PG.  In the video above, Nash gets a big man on him and just takes him to the lane.

Variations

In addition to the pick and roll and the pick and pop, there are a few variations and sets  that teams can run off the pick and roll.

Slipping The Screen

Slipping the screen means that the roll man cuts to the basket before the ball handler uses the screen.  Usually this happens when the screener wants to catch his defender off guard or prevent him from cheating on the show:

Here, Amar’e Stoudemire shows way too early, and Pau Gasol notices it.  As soon as he sees it, Gasol quickly cuts to the basket for the lay-in.

Action Away From The Ball

When teams run the pick and roll, defenses tend to give the action its full attention.  This allows for some teams to run some stuff away from the basketball, and it will usually work.  One of my favorite sets that uses the pick and roll sort of like a decoy is something that the Nets did a lot last year:

Here, Devin Harris and Brook Lopez are running the pick and roll. The defense focuses so much on them that Yi is able to flash to the wing and get the ball. Since the PNR action sucked in Yi’s man, he now has the option to drive or hit the jumper.

Mistakes Made With The Pick And Roll

In my opinion, there are two major mistakes that could be made when running the pick and roll.  Both of these mistakes either lead to turnovers or offensive fouls.

Too Much Space Between Screener And Ball Handler

When the ball handler in a pick and roll leaves too much space between himself and the screener, it makes the defense’s decision about how to cover the screen easy.  The ball handler’s man doesn’t get hit by the screen, meaning he can just continue to play defense as if it is a one on one situation:

Here, John Wall tries to use a screen, but leaves way too much space in between.  This allows his man to stay with him, and eventually ends with a carry call on Wall as he tries to separate from his defender.

And here, Wall leaves too much space, and forces the screener to try and compensate.  When the screener does so, he gets called for the moving screen.

Bad Screens

In addition to the ball handler not bringing his man into the screen, you can also have someone setting bad screens.  When that happens, there is a good chance your pick and roll is going to fail.

Here, Nikola Pekovic comes out to set the screen.  He doesn’t position himself correctly, and that forces him to stick his hip out to try and create contact.  He gets called for the moving screen.