Unheralded screens open door to success
The play starts with the Washington Wizards’ Marcin Gortat setting a screen on teammate John Wall’s defender, giving Wall enough open space for a drive to the basket on which he has options as the defense breaks down.
Wall can shoot, pass to an open teammate at the three-point line or throw the basketball to Gortat, who has options, too: He can take a point-blank shot or make a pass to an open shooter.
All of those options were made possible because of Gortat’s screen, one of the most common, important and unheralded basketball acts in the NBA.
“We believe setting screens leads to winning plays,” Milwaukee Bucks coach Jason Kidd said. “It doesn’t show up on the stat sheet, but we take pride in setting screens.”
A screen, as defined by the NBA rule book, is “the legal action of a player who, without causing undue contact, delays or prevents an opponent from reaching a desired position.”
Gortat is one of the best in the league.
The NBA tracks “screen assists,” a screen that directly leads to a made field goal. Gortat led all players during the regular season with 6.2 screen assists a game and leads all players in the playoffs at 9.8, according to NBA.com/stats.
“The way the game is being played with so many great shooters all over the floor, you need that big who can get screens, is comfortable setting screens and enjoys setting screens, knowing there’s a chance you’re not going to get the ball, but your team is going to get a great shot,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks said. “(Gortat) does that. He gets John and our guards open looks.”
Gortat set 22.5 on-ball screens per game during the regular season, according to STATS SportVU data.
“I became a better screener by watching guys like Kendrick Perkins, Dennis Rodman,” Gortat said. “I spoke with a lot of coaches who taught me how to set screens. It’s just not about me setting a good screen, but the guy who handles the ball has to score to make me look good.”
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert set a league-high 33.8 on-ball screens per game during the regular season, according to SportVU, and about 25 off-ball screens. New Orleans Pelicans big man Anthony Davis was at 32.8 on-ball screens, followed by the Charlotte Hornets’ Cody Zeller at 30.6.
There is a menacing art to setting screens, also known as picks, requiring strength, stamina and quickness. Often a big man starts the offensive set near the basket, runs to the top of the three-point line, sets a screen and rolls to the basket.
“You have to have the toughness,” Brooks said. “You have to sacrifice your body and handle that play after play after play.”
Not all players want to set screens. “Some players ... will ole it just because they don’t want to get hit,” Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey said.
The ballhandler and the screener must understand where and when to set the screen. Timing and chemistry are essential.
“You have to force the opposing guard to trail behind the ballhandler,” the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Tristan Thompson said. “If you have the defender trailing behind the ballhandler, you’ve done your job creating separation.”
Cavaliers star LeBron James — known for his scoring and passing on the offensive end — is a capable screen setter. He’s averaging 2.3 screen assists in the playoffs.
“You’ve got be willing to not only sprint into screens but set a good one,” James said. “You don’t always get the ball, but that’s not what it’s about. It’s about getting your teammates open.”