Commonly the on ball defender will force the dribbler to one side of the court and will negate their ability to use one of the screens. This allows other defenders to adjust their position based upon where the ball is likely to go.

Usually the defender will force the dribbler to their non-preferred hand although a team may also choose to force to a particular side of the court.

The defence should consider what the offence is trying to achieve. For example, here the offence usually dribble away from 5 so that they can pass to 5 as they dive to the basket.

In this situation x1 would force 1 away from 4’s screen and make them use the screen by 5 which is their least preferred option. Tactics such as this will depend upon which players are involved in the screen action and would be identified in the “scout” prepared by the coaches.

Another common tactic used by teams is to vary the defensive tactic based upon the game situation – for example, double teaming the ball screen whenever the shot clock is less than 10 seconds.

Here x3 and x5 move toward the middle of the court to be able to defend if 4 drives to the basket, or if 1 attempts to drive to the basket.

Other teams will have x4 “hard show” (to force 1 wide) and then have x1 move over the top of the screen to continue to force 1 toward the sideline.

x2 moves to deny any pass to 2 (the easiest pass) and x5 and x3 drop into a help position. Their primary responsibility will be to defend any cut to the basket by either 5 or 4.

x4 recovers to follow 4’s cut and x5 (who “bumped” the initial cut by 4) moves back to deny 5 (which is also an easy pass).

x1 must force 1 towards the sideline.

They must keep 1 above 4’s position on the floor to avoid any “re-screen” action. Similarly, x1 does not move in front of 1 as this would allow them to dribble back to the middle (and possibly a re-screen).

The final alignment of the defence is:

• x2 denies pass to 2
• x4 defends 4 in the low post
• x5 denies pass to 5
• x3 remains in help position
• x1 keeps pressure on 1, trying to force them to end their dribble.

x4 sprints to trap 1, before 4 has moved into a position to screen.

x2 moves to deny the pass to 2 and x5 and x3 drop into help position in the key.

Here 1 makes the “reverse” pass and 4 dives to the basket. 5 closes out to defend 5 and x3 will move to a denial position, but first, steps in to “bump” 4 and does not move out until either x4 or x2 has established position to defend 4.

However, if the main offensive threat is 3, x3 moves immediately to deny 3 and x5 can drop to defend 4 while x4 moves to defend 5. This is particularly effective if 5 acts as a passer from the top of the key and does not look to drive or shoot.

Other teams will have x4 “hard show” (to force 1 wide) and then have x1 move over the top of the screen to continue to force 1 toward the sideline.

x2 moves to deny any pass to 2 (the easiest pass) and x5 and x3 drop into help position. Their primary responsibility will be to defend any cut to the basket by either 5 or 4.