What is drop coverage in basketball
Drop coverage is a basketball defensive tactic that occurs when the screener’s defender drops below the screener, typically slightly above or underneath the free throw line area, during a ball screen or pick and roll action by the offensive team.
When should the defensive team consider using the drop coverage
The defensive team could consider using the drop coverage against pick and roll offensive action if the screener and/or the player in possession of the ball that would use the screen are not good perimeter shooters.
Additionally, if the screener almost always prefers to roll to the basket, then the drop coverage could be executed in that situation as well.
Furthermore, if the screener’s defender simply does not possess enough speed or quickness to effectively implement other types of ball screen defensive strategies such as the hedge tactic, then the defensive team could utilize the drop coverage.
Why is the drop coverage potentially effective for the defensive team
The drop coverage is potentially effective for the defensive team because it mitigates the efficacy of the roll action by the screener’s defender. Additionally, the drop coverage can also limit dribble penetration by the player that receives the on-ball screen.
Basically, when the screener rolls to the basket after setting the screen, the screener’s defender who executes the drop coverage should already be near or below the rolling pathway that would be taken by the screener.
The screener’s defender could also backpedal with a few steps towards the basket if necessary to further mitigate the roll action while still containing the ball after the screening action.
Afterwards, if the screener happens to receive the ball after rolling to the basket, this essentially becomes a 1-on-1 sequence between the screener and the screener’s defender as opposed to a free run to the basket followed by a potential dunk or layup.
Furthermore, when the player with the ball receives the screen, their usual objective is to either get all the way to the basket to score with a layup/dunk themselves or execute a possible kick pass to an open perimeter shooter.
However, when the screener’s defender is in the drop coverage, that same defender could then hinder dribble penetration by the player with the ball that received the on-ball screen.
In other words, the drop coverage basically allows the screener’s defender to play a type of pseudo zone defense in which the screener’s defender typically covers the general area in the paint below the free throw line or in some instances, the high post area above the free throw line as well.
From that point, the screener’s defender can then limit/prevent the potential roll action of the screener or impede the dribble penetration of the player with the ball that would make use of the screen.
What are disadvantages of the drop coverage
Disadvantage #1
One particular disadvantage of the drop coverage is that it is susceptible to pick and pop action by the screener.
Essentially, the screener could counter the drop coverage by popping to an area near the perimeter as opposed to rolling to the basket.
Afterwards, the screener could receive the ball and potentially have an opportunity to take a wide open jump shot, particularly from three-point range.
This could certainly become a problem for the defensive team, especially if the screener is a good perimeter shooter and at the same time, the screener’s defender does not possess an adequate amount of speed to execute a good defensive closeout towards the screener.
Disadvantage #2
Another notable disadvantage of the drop coverage is that it is vulnerable to the jump shot that could be taken by the player that used the on-ball screen.
Essentially, after utilizing the screen, the player in possession of the ball could attack the drop coverage by simply dribbling into the gap between their own defender and the screener’s defender.
Following that, that same offensive player could then take the open jump shot from mid-range or three-point range. Again, this could be an issue for the defense, particularly if the player in possession of the ball is an above average mid-range and/or three-point shooter.
However, it should also be noted that the defensive team could mitigate the potential jump shot of the offensive player in possession of the ball, at least to a degree, by implementing an alternative type of drop coverage.
In that instance, the screener’s defender would stay slightly above the free throw line but still remain below the screen itself.
Disadvantage #3
Another noteworthy disadvantage of the drop coverage is that it is potentially at risk of becoming ineffective due to the Spain pick and roll action.
In simple terms, the offensive team could utilize a certain player (usually a guard) to set a back screen on the screener’s defender during the timing of the roll action.
Following that, if the screener’s defender gets caught on the back screen, then the screener would have an easy opportunity to roll to the basket and possibly score near the rim with a layup or dunk.
What are examples of the drop coverage defense
Example 1
This is an example of drop coverage when the ball is at the top and the screener’s defender stays below the free throw line to limit the effectiveness of the roll to the basket by the screener.
Additionally, the defensive team influences the ball handler to take a perimeter jump shot that is preferably contested by the on-ball defender.
To start, 1 dribbles toward the basket via the on-ball screen set by 5. As that occurs, X1 fights over the top of the screen and chases after 1.
Next, 5 rolls to the basket but X5 counters that roll action with the drop coverage below the free throw line. So, from that point, the defensive team prefers that 1 would take the jump shot.
However, if 5 receives the ball from 1 and attempts to score in the lane, then X5 is already in that area ready to defend against a potential short-range jump shot, low post move, or layup/dunk near the basket.
Example 2
This is an example of the drop coverage when the ball is at the top and the screener pops to an area near the perimeter after setting the ball screen. If that occurs, then the screener’s defender should quickly closeout to contest the potential jump shot.
Also, for this case, the screener’s defender should have an adequate amount of footspeed to execute a proper closeout without losing balance or fouling.
To begin, 1 dribbles toward the basket via the ball screen set by 5. Next, X1 fights over the top of the screen and follows after 1.
After setting the screen, 5 counters the drop coverage of X5 by popping towards the right side wing area.
Following that, 5 receives the ball from 1 and at the same time, X5 executes a closeout to prevent an uncontested jump shot or possibly, to limit dribble penetration that could occur by 5.
Example 3
This is an example of the drop coverage when the ball is on the wing with an empty corner and the screener rolls to the basket. To demonstrate, 1 dribbles toward the middle of the court via the on-ball screen set by 5.
As that occurs, X1 fights over the top of the screen while X5 briefly contains the dribble penetration of 1. Next, 5 rolls to the basket and when that happens, X1 should be in the vicinity of 1.
Therefore, X5 drops back even further to limit or prevent the effectiveness of the roll to the basket executed by 5.
Related: Milwaukee Bucks – Drop Ballscreen Defense – YouTube
Example 4
This is an example of the drop coverage when the ball is on the wing with an empty corner and the screener pops to an area near the perimeter. To begin, 1 dribbles toward the middle via the on-ball screen set by 5.
As that happens, X1 fights over the top of the screen while X5 attempts to contain the dribble penetration of 1. From there, 5 pops to the right side corner after setting the screen.
Following that, X1 should have enough time to recover to properly contain 1 and then X5 should cut across the lane towards the right side corner to defend against 5.
Example 5
This is an example of the alternative drop coverage when the ball is at the top. Also, the screener rolls to the basket and the screener’s defender will temporarily guard the player with the ball slightly above the free throw line but still below the screen within the three-point arc.
Additionally, since the screener’s defender is not covering the lane during the alternative drop coverage, another defender on the weak side (in this case, it is the wing defender) will execute help defense that consists of tagging the screener who rolls to the basket.
The main purpose of the tag is to slow down the momentum of the roll action by the screener. After that, the screener’s defender will drop back and recover to the initial assignment.
To start, 1 dribbles toward the basket via the screen set by 5. Next, X5 temporarily guards 1 to prevent the open jump shot while X1 fights through the screen and follows after 1.
From there, after setting the screen, 5 rolls to the basket. However, X3 mitigates the effectiveness of the roll action by tagging 5.
At the same time, X5 sprints back to switch back to 5, represented by the gray arrow, while X3 cuts back to cover against 3.
Example 6
The is another example of the alternative drop coverage when the ball is at the top. In addition to that, the screener’s defender will temporarily cover the player with the ball slightly above the free line as on the previous diagram.
Related: Drop Part 1 – The Basketball Dictionary
However this time, the screener pops to the perimeter behind the three-point line instead of rolling to the basket.
When that occurs, the screener’s defender will probably not have enough time to closeout and contest the possible jump shot from the screener.
To alleviate this potential problem, a weak side defender, preferably near the wing area, executes help defense by stunting at the ball and then quickly recovering to the original assignment.
By performing this stunt and recover action, this gives the screener’s defender enough time to recover to the screener who popped to the perimeter.
Moreover, the stunt action could be used as a way to bait the screener into passing the ball to the stunting defender’s original assignment.
To demonstrate this, 1 dribbles toward the basket via the screen set by 5. After that, X5 temporarily covers 1 to prevent the open jump shot while X1 fights over the top of the screen and chases after 1.
Next, 5 pops to the perimeter behind the three-point line near the top after setting the screen.
At that moment, X5 probably will not have time to closeout to contest the potential jump shot by 5. Therefore, X3 stunts at 5 to discourage the possible jump shot before recovering back towards 3 near the left side wing area.
Following that, X5 recovers to 5, represented by the gray arrow while X1 catches up with 1.