Zone Offense Principles: Ball Screens can be effective

I am a big proponent of setting screens against a zone to get players open, as seen in this post. Even though it seems counterintuitive to set screens when players are defending a zone instead of a specific man, screens can still be effective against a zone defense in getting players open, as we saw in the previous post. Today, we will see that even ball screens can be useful against a zone in helping the ball handler get to the dangerous spots on the floor.

It must be noted that we are not referring to pick and rolls but simply ball screens. There will likely not be space for the screener to get open bit if the screen is well designed and executed, it can assist the ball handler in penetrating the gaps of the zone which ultimately helps the offense get open shots. We are going to take a look at one example that Wichita State used in its NIT game against Virginia Tech last season.

In this play, Ben Smith is going to receive a ball screen set by JT Durley on the left side of the court. The high post man, Gabe Blair, sees the ball screen and cuts to the rim to open up the lane. Meanwhile, the opposite wing defender, Erick Green, is forced to stay on the near side of the court to defend Toure’ Murry, who is properly spacing the floor.