What is pick and roll defense in basketball?
Pick and roll defense comprises certain actions or tactics that seek to mitigate or totally eliminate the effects of the on-ball screen and the subsequent roll that would be implemented by an offensive team, ultimately to disrupt scoring opportunities near the basket or around the perimeter areas of the court.
How to understand the player roles and diagrams on this page
In reference to any diagrams below, each of the offensive and defensive players are generally represented by the standard basketball positions, unless otherwise noted.
Additionally, offensive players are signified by numbers such as 1-5 while defensive players are indicated by the letter X, which is then followed by numbers such as X1-X5.
In essence, 1 and X1 indicate the respective offensive and defensive point guards. 2 and X2 signify the respective offensive and defensive shooting guards.
3 and X3 denote the respective offensive and defensive small forwards. 4 and X4 designate the respective offensive and defensive power forwards.
5 and X5 represent the respective offensive and defensive centers.
Moreover, in terms of a brief legend for the diagrams:
- Black Dot or Small Circle: The black dot or small circle represents the basketball.
- Solid Arrow: The solid arrow indicates movement or a cut on the basketball court.
- Dotted Arrow: The dotted arrow represents a basketball pass.
- Wavy Arrow: The wavy arrow indicates dribbling.
- T-Shaped Symbol: The T-shaped symbol signifies a screen, also known as a pick.
What are examples of pick and roll defensive tactics?
Over
The on-ball defender can fight over the top of the screen to limit its effectiveness.
What’s more, this action helps keep defensive pressure on the ball and makes it much more difficult for the offensive player in possession of the ball to dribble penetrate towards the basket.
Furthermore, by keeping pressure on the ball, it may not be as easy for the offensive player in possession of it to pass or shoot it.
The diagram below showcases a basic example of a defender going over the top of a pick to keep pressure on the ball.
Example of on-ball defender going over the screen
In reference to the offensive setup, it is similar to the previous pick and roll example. However, this time, 5 has lifted up already towards the right side high post area.
1 uses the screen set by 5 and as that happens, X1 fights over the top of it. Doing this helps X1 to keep pressure on the ball and it makes it more challenging for 1 to dribble towards the basket with ease.
Under
The on-ball defender can completely avoid the screen by going under it.
Generally, this can help the on-ball defender stay on top of the offensive player in possession of the ball who would use the screen.
However, there is a downside to going under the screen. Essentially, doing that releases defensive pressure for the player in possession of the ball, at least momentarily.
As a result, this gives the player who would use the screen an opportunity to take an open jump shot as there is no defender currently guarding them at that time.
Therefore, going under is usually most effective in a situation where the player with the ball who would use the screen has a below average perimeter shot or when that same player is simply out of their shooting range and is not a threat to take or make a jump shot.
It should be mentioned as well that if an on-ball defender has a tendency to go under screens, then instead of rolling to the basket, the screener can counter the under action by re-establishing the screen in the opposite direction.
This is especially a potential factor when that pick is being set further away from the basket.
The diagrams below demonstrate examples of the under action by the on-ball defender.
Under 1: Jump shot opportunity
The offensive team’s initial setup is similar to previous diagrams. In this instance, when 1 uses the pick set by 5, the on-ball defender, X1, goes under the screen to completely avoid dealing with it.
However, by doing that, it gives 1 an opportunity to take a three-point shot, which is represented by the thick arrow pointing towards the basket.
Even if X1 is able to contest the shot to one degree or another, because the pressure was released temporarily, 1 would more than likely still get a somewhat clean look at the rim.
This could be particularly detrimental for the defense, especially if 1 is a good three-point shooter. Hence the reason why going under may not be the best tactic to consider against certain teams or certain offensive players.
Under 2: Jump shot opportunity out of range
Here, the offensive initial setup is similar to before. However, this time, X1 picks up the ball a bit further up the court closer to the half court line.
This leads to 5 setting the pick a little higher as well. As a result, X1 goes under the screen as the previous example.
This time though, 1 is too far from the three-point line and does not take the three-pointer that is at a longer distance.
In this case, the under action is more beneficial for the defensive team.
Hedge
The off-ball screener’s defender can hedge the on-ball screen by getting above or parallel with it, ultimately to limit dribble penetration by obstructing the route of the offensive player in possession of the ball who would use the pick.
Generally speaking, the hedge is primarily useful when the screener’s defender, who would execute the hedge action, has above average speed.
This is important to consider because the hedge features an additional phase in which the screener’s defender has to recover back to their original assignment in most cases, or perhaps to another assignment in other rarer instances.
In essence, if the screener’s defender hedges the pick but does not have enough speed to recover quickly enough afterwards, then that would basically make it much more difficult for the other defenders to stop the offensive team from scoring, especially near the basket.
The hedge may also be beneficial in other situations such as when the offensive team relies heavily on the pick and roll or when an offensive team consists of many guards who try to use their speed as well as picks to get dribble penetration towards the rim.
One notable downside to the hedge though is that it can be susceptible to the offensive short roll action, especially if the screen occurs near the top.
Essentially, instead of rolling all the way to the basket, the screener could simply short roll to a perimeter area within the three-point arc such as the high post.
Doing that makes it a little easier for the player in possession of the ball to quickly pass a shorter distance, regardless if the screener’s defender is able to recover swiftly or not.
Hedging can also be susceptible to pick and pop action in which the screener pops away from the ball to a perimeter area instead of rolling to the basket.
Finally, if the timing of the hedge is too slow, then the offensive player who would be the recipient of the screen could potentially split dribble between the on-ball defender and the screener’s defender, which puts both defenders out of proper position.
In other words, the screener’s defender has to get parallel or above the pick before the screen recipient is able to use any part of it. Otherwise, that small window may open up a gap to get between the screen/on-ball defender and the screener’s defender.
The diagram below demonstrates a basic example of the hedge during pick and roll action.
Hedge example
In terms of the initial setup: 1 is at the top in possession of the ball; 2 fills the right side wing area; 3 and 4 occupy the left and right corner areas respectively; 5 fills the left side low post area.
To start the action, 5 lifts up to set the on-ball screen while X5 pursues as well. Next, 1 desires to utilize that screen with the intention of dribbling towards the basket.
However, before 1 is able to fully use the screen, X5 hedges it by moving slightly above the screen while X1 also fights over the top of it and under the hedging action.
As a result, the dribbling pathway that 1 desired to take gets impeded and 1 would have to redirect the dribble away from the screen as well as away from the basket.
Moreover, 5 rolls to the basket after setting the screen. However, as that occurs, X4, who is initially on the weak side of the ball, can step into the lane near the rim to impede the roll of 5 while X5 recovers, represented by the gray arrow.
Within this defensive sequence, X4 is sometimes referred to as the tag or low man with the task of slowing down the speed of the offensive player rolling to the basket as shown on the diagram.
The primary objective for X4 is to give X5 enough time to recover to the rolling player. Afterwards, X4 can return to the original location near the lane line.
It should also be noted that during the recover phase after the hedge, X5 has to sprint as fast as possible to get back to 5.
If X5 is lackadaisical in this approach, then there would be more general pressure on X4 who would essentially have to guard their own assignment, 4 in the right corner as well as the assignment of X5, rolling to the basket.
Putting it another way, the general role for the tag, X4, during the hedge is to provide temporary help off the ball while X5 is recovering back to 5, providing relief to X4 in the process.
Ice
The on-ball defender can ice the on-ball screen, particularly during side pick and roll action, by jumping on top of it while turning their body towards the nearest sideline, and parallel to the pick itself.
This basically shortens the court and influences the player who would use the screen to ultimately reject it and dribble away from it towards the baseline instead.
Additionally, during ice coverage, the screener’s defender stays below the screen and helps to contain the dribble penetration towards the baseline until the on-ball defender who executed the ice action is able to recover.
What this also does is allow the screener’s defender to play a little bit of a pseudo zone by themselves because they would be covering the general area that the screening player would possibly roll towards.
In other words, the ice tactic cuts off the dribbling route for the player to use the pick, particularly near the wing or sideline, and at the same time, it limits the ability of the screening player to roll towards the rim.
Nevertheless, it should be noted that ice is somewhat vulnerable to the pick and pop action of the screening player, especially if that screening player is a good mid-range or three-point shooter.
The general reason it is somewhat vulnerable is because the offensive team would still be settling for long two-point shots away from the basket or even longer three-point shots, assuming their post player would be the player setting the screen, receiving the ball after pop action, and taking those shots.
With the possible exception of a stretch four or stretch five, defensive teams would probably prefer that post players take jump shots as opposed to guards.
In general, when post players take jump shots, their percentages are usually not as high as guards, especially if they are not specialized stretch bigs as mentioned earlier.
What’s more, offensive post players who are away from the basket, usually will not be able to gather offensive rebounds, which can lead to high percentage putback layups or dunks, a detriment for the defense.
Similarly, ice can be a problem if the player in possession of the ball has an above average mid-range shot. In essence, once the on-ball defender ices the screen, there is a small gap, usually just inside of the three-point arc between the screener’s defender and the player with the ball.
Basically, that same player in possession of the ball could dribble towards that gap and raise up immediately for a jump shot if the screener’s defender is further away in their pseudo zone area.
Alternatively, if the screener’s defender steps up a bit out of their pseudo zone area to close the gap, then the player with the ball could utilize a step back move towards the corner area of the court to create more space.
This can then be followed up with a quick jump shot, which would probably be open enough to get a clean look at the basket.
The diagram below demonstrates a basic example of the ice tactic.
Ice example: Part 1
The initial setup features 1 at the top who has already passed the ball to 3 near the right side wing, 2 and 4 on the weak side, occupying the left side wing and corner respectively, as well as 5 filling the right side low post area.
5 lifts up to set the side pick so that 3 has an opportunity to dribble into the middle of the lane, which could lead to various scoring options.
However, X3 ices that screen by jumping on top of it while facing the sideline. At the same time, X5 stays below the screener for the time being.
Ice example: Part 2
Now that X3 has taken away the opportunity to use the screen with the ice tactic, this influences 3 to dribble away from it towards the baseline.
As that happens, X5 contains that dribble penetration to give X3 enough time to recover back in front of the ball.
Additionally, if 5 rolls into the lane area, then X5 can slide back to that original assignment, which also hinders a potentially easy pass from 3 and subsequent wide open layup from 5.
Drop coverage
The screener’s defender could execute drop coverage by staying below the screen and covering the general area that the screener would roll towards after setting the pick.
The action of the screener’s defender is somewhat similar to action within ice. However, this time, the drop coverage tactic typically occurs near the top or slot areas.
Also, the on-ball defender usually fights over the top of the screen as opposed to sliding in one direction to completely take away its potency as with ice.
Drop coverage is most useful when the screener is not a threat to shoot perimeter-based shots at all and/or when the player who would be the recipient of the screen possesses a less than ideal jump shot as well.
Some teams may also employ the drop coverage tactic if the screener’s defender is not fast enough to recover via the hedge tactic.
The diagram below showcases a basic example of the drop coverage.
Drop coverage example
In terms of the initial setup: 1 is at the top with possession of the ball, being picked up somewhat high by X1; 2 and 3 fill the left side wing and right side corner, respectively; 4 and 5 occupy the left side corner and right side low post area, respectively.
5 lifts up above the three-point line to set the pick on X1. As that happens though, X5 stays back below the screen, particularly near the nail area in the center of the free throw line.
As 1 begins to dribble, utilizing the screen in the process, X1 fights over the top of it while 5 starts to roll.
However, because X5 remained below the screen via the drop tactic, this essentially means that 5 would be rolling into the area that is currently being covered by X5.
Even if X5 were to continue rolling towards the rim, as shown by way of the secondary solid arrow at the high post area, X5 can backpedal towards the basket and/or get into the potential passing lane that is between 1 and 5.
Simply put, following the execution of the drop tactic and subsequent offensive roll action, X5 would be roaming the area where 5 could receive the ball.
As a result of that, it would most likely not lead to an easy, unchallenged layup, dunk or any other type of close-range shots that are typically high percentage looks at the rim.
Switch
The on-ball defender and the screener’s defender could switch assignments as a tactic to hinder the pick and roll action of the offensive team.
However, one notable downside to switching is that it could create mismatches, particularly if post players switch onto guards or vice-versa.
Therefore, teams that commonly employ switching tactics utilize that action with players who have more versatility, especially in terms of size and/or speed.
That type of defensive flexibility seeks to alleviate some of the issues that can occur due to switching, specifically the aforementioned mismatches.
The diagram below demonstrates a basic example of a defensive team switching assignments to hinder pick and roll action.
Defensive switching basic example
To start, the offensive team implements a Horns setup with 1 at the top, 2 and 3 in the corners, plus 4 and 5 at the high post elbow areas.
4 lifts up to set a pick for 1 who utilizes it in an attempt to get dribble penetration towards the basket.
However, instead of X1 fighting over the top or going under the screen, X4 simply switches to 1 while X1 sprints down to switch onto 4.
This makes it more challenging for 1 and 4 to drive towards the rim and roll to the basket, respectively.
Nevertheless, in this instance, since a defensive power forward switched onto an offensive point guard, and a defensive point guard switched onto a offensive power forward, that could lead to mismatches.
In essence, one smaller defender would be guarding a bigger offensive player and one bigger defender would be attempting to cover a smaller offensive player.
From there, the bigger offensive player (4) could cut to the basket or towards the right side post block and then seal the smaller defender behind them. From there, 4 could receive the ball and score via a low post move.
Similarly, the smaller offensive player (1) could isolate near the wing or right side high post area and use their speed/quickness to blow by the larger defender (X4), which could result in a layup or other possible scoring opportunities.
So, as mentioned earlier, switching is generally more effective when both defenders have versatility and are able to guard multiple positions on the court.
Blitz
The on-ball defender and the screener’s defender can blitz the offensive player who would use the screen, essentially via the double team tactic, to render the pick and roll action ineffective.
It should be noted though that blitzing is susceptible to the short roll or short pop that could be performed by the screening player.
The diagram below gives a basic demonstration of the blitz action.
Blitz basic example
In reference to the initial setup: 1 is at the top in possession of the ball; 2 and 3 occupy the corners; 4 fills the left side wing area; 5 occupies the right side high post elbow area.
5 lifts up to set a pick for 1. However, X1 and X5 blitz 1 effectively pushing 1 away from the screen to alleviate the defensive pressure and double team action.
As that occurs, X2 denies any easy relief pass towards 2. Furthermore, if 5 rolls into the lane as opposed to executing the short roll near the nail area, then X3 could tag to stop the momentum of 5 and protect the basket simultaneously.
Moreover, within this example, 4 lifts up from the wing towards the top to provide another passing option and to release the pressure for 1. Otherwise, the result could be a potential turnover.