Hoops Beyond the Huddle Vol. 05

Welcome to the fifth issue of Hoops Beyond the Huddle!

This week we are taking a look at a halfcourt action from Crvena Zvezda (Red Star) again, a Serbian team playing in the ABA Liga. This clip is from round 6 action against Fenerbache (Turkey) in Euroleague.

Watch the clip and we will break it down below.

There are definitions for all the actions explained in this newsletter, at the bottom. All words that are bolded in black can be found.

This action is called Spain PnR .

Spain PnR is an offensive action that has been made popular by Spanish coach (hence the name), Sergio Scariolo after running it both frequently and successfully in the 2016 Olympics. The set has made its way around the globe and might look familiar as the Phoenix Suns used the action heavily during their 2021 playoff run. The action consists of a middle ball screen combined with a back screen on the screener. Red Star runs it and gets a lob to the rolling 5. Let’s explain below:

The set starts with the 4 bringing the ball up the floor (if your 4 cannot do this, the 3 is interchangeable). The 3 starts high but makes its way to the right wing. The 1 is in the left wing. The 2 is in the right corner and the 5 is on the right low block. The 4 gives a DHO to the 1 (action 1).

After the DHO, the 3 and the 4 relocate to their respective corners. The 5 runs to the top of the 3-point line to set a ball screen on the 1. The 2 cuts under the rim to set up the back screen. This formation is the traditional formation for a Spain PnR: a top ball screen, 2 under the rim and other two players spaced out in the corners (action 2).

The 1 uses the screen of the five. While that is happening, the 2 runs up the key and sets a back screen on the defender of the 5. The screen causes enough interference of the defender, and the 1 throws the lob to the 5. Red Star got a fantastic look out of this due to confusion of the set (action 3).

It is important to have the 2 setting the back screen on the 5. This is because the defender of the 2 is in an unusual scenario for their position, but more importantly it is so the defender cannot switch onto the 5.

Spain PnR Reads/Scoring Options

1. Ball Handler - If the 5 does not hedge because they are trying to get around the back screen, the ball handler can drive strong to the rim to finish.

2. The Ball Screener - If the defender of the 5 gets caught in the back screen, the lob is typically open. If the defender switches late, then there is a mismatch down low (see below).

3. The Back Screener - Just when you thought the Spain PnR was tough to defend, the back screener joins the mix. After the 2 sets the back screen, they race out to the 3-point line for a shot. If the defender of the 2 shows on the 5, the 2 will be wide open at the top for a shot.

4. Corners - if at any point, one of the corner defenders step in to help with the PnR, a corner kick out will be an open shot or a close out to attack.

Red Star ran this Spain PnR frequently in this match. In the second quarter, they ran it but the back screener made a different read. The defender of the 5 hedged out far, so he ran to the top. The defender of the 2 helped with the 5 rolling. When the 5 came back, the defender was too late closing out and Red Star got a wide open three-pointer to stretch the lead.

That’s this week’s playbook breakdown! I’m not sure if you can tell, but I am a big fan of Red Star. In my opinion, they have some of the best executed sets out there. Expect to see more of them!

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Cheers,

Keevan

Founder of Hoops Beyond the Huddle