CLIP #1: SCREENER RESCREENS
Summary
Screen defender goes under the screen
Screener turns and rescreens
Bird crosses over and shoots open 3
Analysis:
Bird accelerates in to the ball screen, forcing her defender to either go under the screen or over the screen. She cannot slip between Bird and the screener.
Bird and Stewart both feel the ball defender step under the screen, taking away Bird’s driving lane but leaving the 3 point line unguarded.
Stewart quickly pivots to rescreen the ball defender.
Bird crosses back to her left and steps behind the 3 point line for an uncontested 3.
This play is a great example of two players being on the same page. Stewart and Bird react at the same time to the defenders choice to step under the screen. The rescreen gives Bird plenty of time and space to get off a great look. There is a difference between instinctively chucking up a shot when the defender goes under the screen and setting up a quality shot. This is an example of the latter.
CLIP #2: screen Turn and SEALs
Summary:
Screen defender goes under the screen
Screener turns and seals ball defender
Bird steps back and shoots the open 3
Analysis:
Bird uses a hesitation dribble, getting her defender to step up, then accelerates in to the ball screen, forcing her defender to either go under the screen or over the screen. She cannot slip between Bird and the screener.
Bird and Stewart both feel the ball defender step under the screen, taking away Bird’s driving lane but leaving the 3 point line unguarded.
Stewart quickly pivots to seal the ball defender.
Bird steps back to her left and steps behind the 3 point line for an uncontested 3.
This play is a slight variation of Clip #1 where the defender chooses to go under the screen, but here, the screen is so low, Stewart only needs to turn and seal and the ball defender is pinned too deep to contest the shot. Bird has plenty of time to set her feet for a high quality look. Splash.