Basketball 101: Defending the Pick and Roll

We all know that the pick and roll used to be the Suns bread and butter play.  It was indefensible by 90% of teams in the league. 

However, the Suns have also been one of those teams that couldn’t defend the pick and roll.  Though this isn’t any new issue or problem, this post has been brewing in me for quite some time now, as I continuously see the Suns fail to do the proper things to stop/contain it.

People will tell you there are three main ways to defend it, but really there is only one way that works.  Here are the three main ways to defend a pick and roll:

1. Pure switch (not consistently effective)
2. Squeeze by the pick (must be a great on the ball defender)
3. Double team, anticipate, and rotate

As we’ve seen the past several years, the Spurs play the pick and roll defensively as well as anyone against us.  Tony Parker cannot just switch on Nash, and he can’t squeeze by the pick (leaving Nash an open passing lane) due to how good of a passer Nash is.  Thus, Duncan comes up for the double team on Nash, gets an elbow/arm into the screener or Nash to disrupt the play, then he rotates (along with the rest of the Spurs) to the open man. 

Key to defending the P&R:  It’s all about disrupting the guard and the subsequent pass. 

How to Properly Defend the Pick and Roll

The first step to properly contain the pick and roll is to double the player with the ball (usually the PG) to prevent a pass from being made.  Now, the double team must be made with effort/energy and players must be in the proper position to block the PG’s vision to the open man.  The double team is essential because if you can disrupt the vision or pass even for a quick second so the ball isn’t properly placed in the receiving players hands, it allows that extra time for the gaps to be covered through rotation on defense.  Usually, teams that defend the P&R well, get a shove/push/elbow/arm into the screener or guard for disruption and hesitation.

Thus, the PG who is typically the best passer, won’t get the ball to the receiving player’s hands so he can make a quick move to the basket or spot up for a quick jumper.  If the pass to the open man is even just a touch off, it creates time for the defense to rotate. 

Now, speaking of rotation, this is also essential because the double team will leave a man open.  With just a standard man to man switch off the pick & roll, it leaves a mismatch on defense much too easy for the offense to score or take advantage of.  Then, you’ll almost certainly have to double team again in the post (due to the mismatch) leaving a myriad of shooters open along the perimeter.  This has killed the Suns.  When that happens, they start over-playing their man, and have no room to help if another defender gets beat - which, again, leads to fouls and open shots for the offense.

I never thought I’d use the Denver Nuggets as an example of how to properly defend the pick and roll, but I stumbled upon this video and it illustrates my point perfectly.  Notice in the video below, that Denver creates just enough havoc off the double team to cause Nash’s passes to be off, thus, creating time for Denver to rotate. 

See how Nash was making the passes?  Most of them were one one foot, in the air, or at a bad angle.  For a great PG like Nash, that isn’t going to disrupt him as much as other guards; however, it was just enough to allow Denver to fill their gaps.  Thus, the Suns shots were at least contested.  Though it didn’t work every time, the usual first pass off a pick and roll wasn’t as open as it usually is for the Suns; and neither was the subsequent pass (or swing pass).  This allows the defense to reset, and force the Suns into a bad shot as the shot clock runs down.

Where the Suns Go Wrong

What the Suns get caught up in is the switch.  They attempt to double team but it’s usually lazy and doesn’t disrupt the PG’s pass much, if at all.  This is because a) Shaq is slow, and b) Amare has no clue how/where to place his double team on a guard.  Thus, the pass to the receiving player is usually in the right spot which gives the Suns no time to rotate, and gives the offense multiple options to score.

Plus, when the Suns do rotate, it’s not nearly quick enough.  Players need to anticipate the rotation and they’re not doing that.  Improper rotation allows the offense to quickly move the ball around, or swing it along the perimeter (which opens up cutting lanes), to the open man.  This is what kills the Suns.

The Suns also go behind the screen way too often.  This allows the guard a wide open shot or at the very least, the freedom to create.  If Nash/LB goes behind the screen, Amare/Shaq will almost certainly need to go after the shooter who is left wide open.  This leads to a huge mismatch with passing guards like Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups, Deron Williams etc.  Notice how no one goes behind the screen on the Suns?  Otherwise, Nash would hit that jumper/three all day long and have multiple passing lanes/options.

On top of that, the Suns closeout on the guard/shooter is much too late.  They get caught trying to block the shot, rather than disrupting it.  This leads to foul trouble, which leads to a lack of inside presence, which leads to destruction in the paint, which leads to openings on the perimeter, which lead to open shots, which lead to losses.  21 to be exact.

Now, having said that, the Suns can be a good defensive team off the pick and roll.  Here is what the Suns should do:

1.  NEVER go behind a screen.  Too many ways for the Suns to get burned.

2.  Their must be a commitment by Shaq/Amare to double team the guard after the screen.  Why?  Shaq/Amare are smart and athletic enough to easily disrupt a pass and give the rest of the Suns defenders time to rotate and fill their gaps.  Yes, I said it, both Shaq and Amare are athletic and smart enough to do this.

3.  Suns must think “on the line, up the line.”  By that, I mean they must understand the line between their man, where they anticipate a pass going, and where the gap is on defense.  We have players with a high enough basketball IQ to perform this effectively.  No doubt in my mind.  Though Nash isn’t the best defender on the pick and roll, think of who he’s had behind him for the last 9 years: Amare, Shaq, and Dirk!

4.  The Suns can’t play too close to their man on the weak side of a pick and roll.  By that, I mean they have to get into a defensive rythym and constant court awareness.  Otherwise, if they play too close to their man, a back cut is much too easy, and they have far too much room to cover to effectively help if another player gets beat (which will inevitably happen).  They must know where their man is in relation to the basket, and be between their man and the ball for help.

5.  Close out.  The Suns must improve their positioning here.  Look at that video of Denver and you’ll see players closing out on the shooter every time.  Now, there is a difference between closing out and just running out of control at the shooter.  In that video, Denver usually doesn’t try for the block - they run at the shooter to cause him to either hesitate or get tense.  When defenders get in the air, it’s an offensive player’s dream and it’s easy to draw a foul. 

————————————————————————————

Again, this isn’t new information by any means, but it’s a pattern the Suns have struggled with for many, many years. It really boils down to commitment, sacrifice, effort/energy, and playing smart. 

Let’s hope, no matter the personnel, it happens soon.

Subscribe to your favorite Phoenix team or sport or Follow us on Twitter.