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Authors: Bill Bradley
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particularly devastating because conventional defensive wisdom urged that the defender never leave his feet. Bill Russell, the Boston Celtic great, changed the game by demonstrating that a player could not only jump to block shots successfully but could also control the game by selecting when and where to block shots. Now players regularly attempt to “reject” (block) opponents’ shots, an act that has added more grace and excitement to the game. But, the shooter still has the advantage of knowing when he will release the ball.
A screen and roll is a basic basketball play. One player “screens” or “picks” (impedes with his stationary body) the defensive man of his teammate, who is then free to shoot unmolested in the open space behind the screener. If the screener’s defensive man “switches” (jumps from guarding the screener to guarding the newly freed man), the screener rolls (moves in a straight line) to the basket before the other defensive man can get into his path. While in motion, he receives a pass for what should be an extremely easy shot. Thus the screen and roll is complete.
Sometimes a screen is set for the purpose of freeing a player to receive a pass. Team patterns can be designed so as to spring open men at any point on the court. Proper timing and placement (when and where to set screens, when and how to use the screens, when and how to pass the ball to the newly freed man) can make defense very difficult.
If team defense is to be even partly effective, it requires determination, considerable effort, and group coordination. The Chicago Bulls display all three. Under the leadership of their coach, Dick Motta, an iron-disciplined Mormon who frequently reminds me of Holzman in his pugnacity and competitiveness, the Bulls harass players all over the court. While it is usually easy to dribble the ball three quarters of the court deep into your own offensive zone, the Bulls make it difficult to dribble anywhere. The players guard their men chest to chest for the full length of the court. They dive to the floor for loose balls and into the stands for lost balls. They fall down in front of offensive players at the slightest brush and if a charging foul is not called they bounce up and continue hounding. They communicate effectively among themselves. They know when and how to switch. If a screen is set, the man who switches tries to smother the ball handler so that he cannot pass the ball to the man rolling. If the screen is away from the ball, they frequently see it far enough in advance to alert each other and prevent receipt of an uncontested pass.
Ironically, the Chicago offense revolves around the assumption that defenses make mistakes. They run rigid offensive patterns. They remain patient until the defense’s concentration or determination lapses and then they exploit it. For example, they run a simple screen away from the ball and wait until the defense either doesn’t switch, which gives the shot or switches too soon, which gives the roll. Only on rare occasions can a defense prevent both options, particularly when the offense sets good screens and has the patience to take only good shots. Many of their baskets come from “offensive turnovers” (mistakes, such as bad passes, and violations, such as steps, double dribbles, and offensive fouls). One of the anomalies of their offense is the presence on the team of Chet Walker, who is one of basketball’s great one-on-one forwards. Not a flashy player, he makes his moves with such perfect timing that his one-on-one action does not disrupt Chicago’s patient offense.
One-on-one is a game within a game. Every pro has played it. Sometime before his involvement with the complexity of team ball, the need to develop pride and confidence made individual confrontation necessary. A few players continue to feel such soaring confidence in their abilities that they
prefer
to duel with a single opponent rather than coordinate their movements within the
A screen and roll is a basic basketball play. One player “screens” or “picks” (impedes with his stationary body) the defensive man of his teammate, who is then free to shoot unmolested in the open space behind the screener. If the screener’s defensive man “switches” (jumps from guarding the screener to guarding the newly freed man), the screener rolls (moves in a straight line) to the basket before the other defensive man can get into his path. While in motion, he receives a pass for what should be an extremely easy shot. Thus the screen and roll is complete.
Sometimes a screen is set for the purpose of freeing a player to receive a pass. Team patterns can be designed so as to spring open men at any point on the court. Proper timing and placement (when and where to set screens, when and how to use the screens, when and how to pass the ball to the newly freed man) can make defense very difficult.
If team defense is to be even partly effective, it requires determination, considerable effort, and group coordination. The Chicago Bulls display all three. Under the leadership of their coach, Dick Motta, an iron-disciplined Mormon who frequently reminds me of Holzman in his pugnacity and competitiveness, the Bulls harass players all over the court. While it is usually easy to dribble the ball three quarters of the court deep into your own offensive zone, the Bulls make it difficult to dribble anywhere. The players guard their men chest to chest for the full length of the court. They dive to the floor for loose balls and into the stands for lost balls. They fall down in front of offensive players at the slightest brush and if a charging foul is not called they bounce up and continue hounding. They communicate effectively among themselves. They know when and how to switch. If a screen is set, the man who switches tries to smother the ball handler so that he cannot pass the ball to the man rolling. If the screen is away from the ball, they frequently see it far enough in advance to alert each other and prevent receipt of an uncontested pass.
Ironically, the Chicago offense revolves around the assumption that defenses make mistakes. They run rigid offensive patterns. They remain patient until the defense’s concentration or determination lapses and then they exploit it. For example, they run a simple screen away from the ball and wait until the defense either doesn’t switch, which gives the shot or switches too soon, which gives the roll. Only on rare occasions can a defense prevent both options, particularly when the offense sets good screens and has the patience to take only good shots. Many of their baskets come from “offensive turnovers” (mistakes, such as bad passes, and violations, such as steps, double dribbles, and offensive fouls). One of the anomalies of their offense is the presence on the team of Chet Walker, who is one of basketball’s great one-on-one forwards. Not a flashy player, he makes his moves with such perfect timing that his one-on-one action does not disrupt Chicago’s patient offense.
One-on-one is a game within a game. Every pro has played it. Sometime before his involvement with the complexity of team ball, the need to develop pride and confidence made individual confrontation necessary. A few players continue to feel such soaring confidence in their abilities that they
prefer
to duel with a single opponent rather than coordinate their movements within the
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