Blitz & Attack The Point Guard

WHY USE IT

Offenses rely up on their point guards to make things happen. By blitzing the offense’s ball-screen action, the point guard is forced to get rid of the ball before he or she wants, which throws off the offense’s timing. 

SET UP

In this instance, the ball is on the wing as a screener is positioned high. X1 knows the screen is coming and readies to fight through it. 

HOW TO PLAY

As the point guard dribbles left, the ball screener starts to come high. Rather than chasing the screener, that player’s defender (X5) moves behind and looks to double the ball handler at the top [1].

The ball handler continues toward the top and is met by X5. X1 has fought through the screen to double-team the point guard. X3 shifts into a passing lane. X4 comes high to pressure the screener. X2 replaces X4 as the rim defender [2].

The point’s only options are to pass to the screener (typically not a creator) or try and force a long pass to the right corner. The defense has cut off all options [3].