NBA pick-and-roll & combinations

Reading an NBA screen through the options it creates

A screen is not judged only by contact. Examine the choices it offers the ball-handler, screener and surrounding teammates.

About 1 min

A screen is not judged only by contact. Examine the choices it offers the ball-handler, screener and surrounding teammates.

What to observe

Start with the screen’s position and the ball-handler’s route. The defender’s possible paths and changes of speed affect the next space. A still diagram cannot establish these timing relationships.

How to read the sequence

Follow the screener’s next movement and the positions of teammates away from the ball. Rolling, moving outward or reconnecting must be read against the defensive response. Similar openings do not establish identical complete actions.

Limits and checks

Before the final pass or shot, notice where help comes from. A player who never receives the ball may still influence that choice through position. Describe the continuous relationship instead of treating a successful shot as proof that every earlier option was correct.

This is a viewing and analysis guide, not a current match report. Consult the relevant official reference for rules or statistical terminology: NBA Stats Help。

Event information may change following official announcements. Analysis reflects editorial opinion. Refer to the sources and update time in this article.