Panathinaikos High Ball Screen

What is Panathinaikos High Ball Screen?

The set starts high, with 1 deep at the top of the key, 4 at the right slot, 5 at the left slot and 2 and 3 in the corners. 4 screens first and pops away, 5 screens again from the other direction and rolls, and the ball reaches 5 on the right block through 3 on the right wing.

When to use it

Call it when the defense handles one ball screen well. The second screen comes from the other direction before the defense resets, and the extra pass gets the ball to the roller from a better angle. It suits a 1 who changes direction well with the ball and a 5 who finishes on the block.

How to run it

Step 1. 4 steps up and sets a ball screen for 1 at the top of the key. 1 dribbles off it to the right slot, and 4 pops back across the top of the key to the left slot.

Step 2. 5, now at the top of the key, sets a second ball screen for 1 at the right slot. 1 comes back off it toward the top of the key and 5 rolls down the middle of the lane, while 3 lifts from the right corner to the right wing.

Step 3. 1 passes to 3 on the right wing, and 3 feeds 5, who has rolled to the right block.

Counters

• 5 sets the second screen while 4 is still in the way at the top of the key. He waits for 4's pop, then steps in.
• 1 forces the pass into 5 from the top of the key over the defense. He swings it to 3, who has the angle.

What it attacks

The re-screen catches X1 recovering. He has just fought through 4's screen going right when 5 sets the next one going the other way, and X5 has to choose between the ball and 5's roll. Once 3 lifts to the right wing, he has a clear angle to feed 5 low. The pick and roll reads cover the coverage choices X5 can make.

Teaching points

• 4 sets the first screen well above the arc, so 1 has room to turn the corner.
• 1 dribbles only as far as the right slot on the first screen, then plants and comes back off 5.
• 3 lifts to the right wing as 5 rolls, giving 1 a pass that leads straight into the post feed.

Build it in practice

Teach the two screens with 1, 4 and 5 until the change of direction is sharp, then add 3's lift and the post feed. Add defenders on the bigs, then go 5 on 5. The pick and pop guide covers 4's pop after the first screen.