Coaching Breakdown: Back-Screening Post Focused Offense

Byhoopcoach
back screen offense animation

This half-court set uses an immediate entries-and-screens sequence to get the ball into the low post with a physical mismatch, or trigger a secondary high-low passing option if the defense overplays the block.

Initial Set

The offense starts in a high 1-3-1 set to stretch the defense vertically and open up the baseline.

  • 1 (Point Guard): Top of the key, initiating the offense.
  • 2 & 3 (Wings): Spaced out wide at the free-throw line extended.
  • 5 (Center): High post, stationed right at the free-throw line.
  • 4 (Power Forward): Low post, starting on the right block.

The Flow

1. The Entry Pass

The play begins with 1 entering the ball to 2 on the right wing. As the ball travels, 1 clears out to the opposite side of the floor to maintain spacing.

2. The Back-Screen

As soon as 2 catches the ball, 5 shifts down from the high post to set a heavy back-screen for 4. 4 uses the screen to cut hard across the lane directly toward the left low block, looking for a quick entry pass and an immediate post-up opportunity.

3. The High-Low Flow

If the defense denies the initial pass to 4, 5 immediately shapes up and pops back to the high post after setting the screen. 2 reverses the ball up top or directly to 5, who can then look down low to feed 4 if they have established a deep seal on their defender.

Teaching Points

Screener Re-Spacing: 5 cannot watch the play develop. Hit the defender, release quickly back to the high post, and be ready to execute a high-low pass if the ball gets reversed.

Set Up the Screen: 4 needs to take a step toward the perimeter to fake an exit cut, driving their defender right into 5‘s back-screen.

Targeting Hands: When 4 cuts to the weak-side block, they must present big, strong hands to give 2 or 5 a clean target window away from the recovering defender.

Download the PDF for Back Screening Post Focused Offense and view the animation here

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