Why the Pick-and-Roll is Unguardable

I figured it's only appropriate to begin this post by honoring one of the best pick-and-roll combinations in the history of basketball in Steve Nash and Amar'e Stoudemire.  Now obviously, your point guard isn't Steve Nash nor is your roll man Stoudemire.  The importance of this video is the way Nash runs it, the technique he uses, and his vision.

The pick-and-roll is the only "unguardable" play in basketball.  Running the pick-and-roll will always result in:

1. Lay-up (Ball handler attacking the basket)
2. Lay-up (Roll man receiving the pass)
3. Three-point look for one of the non-involved players
4. Lay-up (Non-involved player cutting to basket)
5. Mismatch (Ball handler's man and roll man switch on defense)

So if the pick-and-roll is so unstoppable, why isn't it run by every team and every possession?  Because it's hard to run effectively.  A simple play like the pick-and-roll is much more complex than it appears.  Key components are:

• Floor spacing, positioning
• Ball handler should be a three-point threat
• Roll man must have a decent mid-range jumper
• Supporting players must be three-point threats

1. Floor Spacing, positioning

Refer to the video above.  Notice how when the pick-and-roll is run, the ball handler either begins on the wing or top of the key and supporting shooters spread out beyond the three-point arc, leaving the paint wide open with just help-side defense, assuming it's there.  The pick must take place beyond the arc, leaving enough room for dribble penetration.  If the defender fights over the screen, the ball handler should penetrate, leading to a lay-up if he is not stopped.  If help defense steps up, which it should, a nice dish to the rolling forward/center is made possible, or at the very least a wide-open three-point shot in the corner or wing.  If your roll man is a three-point threat, such as Channing Frye (#8), he can float out beyond the arc and a pass can be swung around the arc to find the best shot, such as the play at 1:02 above.  On the other hand, if the defender goes under the screen, the ball handler should be open for a good look at a three-pointer from the top of the key or wing.  If the roll man's defender shows, the roll man should slip immediately to the basket in which case a leading pass or bounce pass will set him up for a lay-up.

2. Ball handler should be a three-point threat

To reiterate my final statement from the previous section, the ball handler must be able to shoot the three or the pick-and-roll becomes less effective.  If the ball handler cannot shoot the three, the defender can go under the screen every time, and without a three-point threat, there's no need for either player to step up.  Even attempting a three in this case is smart, because even if the ball handler isn't locked in from downtown, the defender will remember that it's a shot the ball handler is willing to take if given.  Either way, a three-point shot creates far more opportunities for this play.

3. Roll man must have a decent mid-range jumper

Another way some teams may try to guard this is by having the roll man's defender sag off down low in the paint.  If he sags, the roll man has no where to roll to nor room to receive a pass.  In this case, a free throw line jumper makes all the difference in the world.  If the roll man's defender sags off, he simply pops out to the free throw line and gets a wide-open 15-foot jumper.  This is important because now you've added an option to the pick-and-roll sometimes referred to as the pick-and-pop, in which the first look for the ball handler is hitting the "popping" man for a shot.

4.  Supporting players must be three-point threats

This fourth key is probably the most important of the four.  The three supporting players not involved in the pick-and-roll must be able to effectively knock down a three-point shot.  If they are unable to be threats, then the spacing they've created is basically useless, and their defenders can clog up the paint.  Any coach teaches help-side defense, so theoretically, the ball handler shouldn't be able to penetrate very deep into the lane, but deep penetration or not, a defender stepping up to stop the ball leaves a player open standing beyond the three-point arc.  Another option, as you see a few times in the video, opens up when the ball handler hits the roll man somewhere around 6-7 feet from the basket.  At this point, the roll man can now shoot a short jumper, take it at the defender to try and score, or kick it out to a shooter whose defender has collapsed on the roll man, such as the play which begins at 4:49.

Now remember, the pick-and-roll is a play that is only effective against a man-to-man defense.  Against a zone, defenders are already in position to stop any play coming from a pick-and-roll.  There are many other plays that can be used effectively against a zone which I will mention in future posts.

The pick-and-roll is effective and used at all levels, from middle school basketball to the professional level because of it's potential.  If ran correctly, the pick-and-roll should result in a good look 100% of the time.