Introduction

In this section, you are going to learn how pick and roll creates advantages.

Pick and roll is not just a play.

It is a way to force the defence into difficult decisions.

Almost every team uses pick and roll because it helps:

- get into the paint
- force help
- create easy shots

Pick and roll shows up everywhere:

- half-court offence
- transition offence
- late-game situations

If you understand how to read pick and roll, you don't need to memorize plays.

You just need to understand what the defence is giving you — and take it.

You are learning how to:

- use a screen to create an advantage
- attack with intent
- read help defenders
- decide when to score and when to pass

Pick and roll is another way to create the same advantages you learned in the last section.

Pick and roll diagram showing the ball handler using a screen and the screener rolling to the basket — Pick and Roll — the ball handler (1) uses the screen, and the screener (2) rolls to the basket.

Pick and pop diagram showing the ball handler using a screen and the screener popping out for a shot — Pick and Pop — the ball handler (1) uses the screen, and the screener (2) pops out for a jump shot.