Ram Screen

The Ram Screen, also known as a Get Screen or Brush Screen, is a sophisticated offensive basketball action where one player sets a screen for a teammate who is about to set another screen, creating a two-stage screening sequence that generates exceptional scoring opportunities, particularly in pick and roll situations. This advanced screening concept has become increasingly prevalent in modern NBA offenses and represents a higher level of offensive coordination and tactical complexity. The Ram Screen is designed to create advantages before the primary action even begins, giving the ball handler more space and time to operate in pick and roll situations while also creating confusion and difficult defensive matchups. The action exemplifies the modern basketball philosophy of layering multiple actions together to stress defenses and generate high-percentage scoring opportunities through intelligence and coordination rather than relying solely on individual talent or athleticism. In execution, the Ram Screen typically involves three players in coordinated action. A screener (often a big man) positions themselves to set a pick for the ball handler. Before that screen is set, a third player (usually a wing or guard) sprints over and sets a screen for the screener, enabling them to get better positioning or create momentum before setting their own screen for the ball handler. The sequence creates a cascade effect: the first screen (the ram) frees the second screener to get into better position, and the second screen (the main pick) creates the primary scoring opportunity. This layered approach puts tremendous pressure on defenses, as they must defend multiple screening actions in rapid succession while communicating switches, assignments, and help responsibilities. The Ram Screen is particularly effective at creating mismatches and forcing defensive rotations. When properly executed, the ram action can cause the defense to switch or hedge in ways that create favorable offensive matchups in the subsequent pick and roll. For example, if the defense switches on the ram screen, the original screener might have a smaller defender on them before they even set the primary screen. If the defense doesn't switch or handle the ram properly, the primary screener gets a better angle or more momentum into their screen, making it harder to defend the main pick and roll action. The tactical sophistication of layering these screens creates decision points for the defense before they even get to the primary action, and any defensive mistake or miscommunication gets magnified. The Ram Screen has been popularized in the modern NBA by teams with creative offensive systems and multiple skilled players. The Houston Rockets under Mike D'Antoni used ram screens extensively in their offense, often having James Harden as the ball handler with complementary players executing the ram and main screens. The Los Angeles Lakers utilized ram screen actions during their championship runs, and many contemporary NBA offenses incorporate ram screens as staple actions in their playbooks. The effectiveness of the Ram Screen is supported by basketball analytics, which show that pick and roll possessions preceded by ram screens generate higher points per possession than standard pick and rolls, primarily due to better spacing, more time for the ball handler, and defensive confusion. Strategic applications of the Ram Screen extend beyond just creating better pick and roll angles. The action can be used to get specific matchups by forcing switches, to create early mismatches that the offense can exploit throughout the possession, to generate momentum for screeners (particularly useful for rim-running big men), to disrupt defensive communication and coordination, and to create scoring opportunities for all three players involved in the action. Advanced offensive designs incorporate multiple options based on how the defense handles the ram screen. If the defense switches the ram, the original ram screener can slip to the basket or pop out for a shot. If the defense hedges hard on the ram, it may create an early advantage that the offense can exploit before even getting to the main action. Some offensive systems use the ram screen as a decoy, drawing defensive attention while the real scoring opportunity develops elsewhere. Variations of the Ram Screen include different positioning and angles for the initial ram, different types of main screens (traditional pick and roll, slip screen, pop screen), and different offensive actions after the main screen (ball handler attack, roll, pop, kick-out). The ram can be set from various positions - the wing player can ram screen from the corner or wing, or even from the top of the key in some offensive sets. The timing of the ram relative to the main screen can vary - some teams set the ram well before the main screen to allow the primary screener time to relocate, while others execute the ram and main screen in rapid succession to maximize defensive confusion. The angle of the ram screen is strategically important and should be designed to force the primary screener's defender into a difficult position, either sealing them away from the main action or forcing an awkward switch or defensive adjustment. Coaching the Ram Screen requires detailed instruction on timing, positioning, and reading defensive reactions. The player setting the ram must understand when to sprint into the screen, what angle to take, how to set a solid screen while maintaining momentum, and what to do after screening (typically relocating to the corner or weak side for spacing). The primary screener must read the ram action and use it effectively, either by setting up their defender and using the ram to get into better position, or by recognizing when the ram creates an early advantage and adjusting accordingly. The ball handler must be patient and allow the ram and main screen to develop fully before attacking, while also being alert for early opportunities if the defense mishandles the ram. All three players must communicate non-verbally through positioning and timing. Defensively, stopping Ram Screens requires exceptional communication, discipline, and understanding of the offensive objective. Defensive teams must decide how to handle both the ram and the main screen, with options including switching both screens, switching one and fighting through the other, going under or over screens based on personnel, or employing unconventional tactics like trapping or icing. The most effective defensive approach depends on the offensive personnel, game situation, and defensive philosophy. Some defensive schemes emphasize pre-switching or early communication to neutralize the ram before it creates advantages. Others focus on forcing the ball handler away from the ram action entirely through denial or pressure defense. The challenge for defenses is that they must make multiple consecutive correct decisions in a short time span, and any mistake gets exploited by well-designed offenses. Professional teams prepare for Ram Screens in their scouting reports, identifying which offensive players are likely to be involved in the action and what defensive coverage gives them the best chance to limit the offense's effectiveness. Advanced defensive teams sometimes employ false shows or deceptive positioning to confuse the offense about how they plan to defend the ram and main screen. Youth basketball programs typically introduce Ram Screens at advanced levels, as the action requires sophisticated understanding of multiple screening concepts, timing, spacing, and reading defenses. The concept teaches players how offensive actions can be layered and connected, how to think several steps ahead, and how teamwork creates advantages. It emphasizes that basketball is a mental game as much as a physical one, rewarding teams that can execute complex coordinated actions with precision. The Ram Screen also teaches the importance of screens away from the ball and how every player contributes to creating scoring opportunities. International basketball has incorporated Ram Screens into offensive systems, particularly in European professional leagues where tactical sophistication and set plays are emphasized. The action fits well with the international style that values ball movement, player movement, and structured offense designed to create high-percentage shots through team coordination. Film study of professional games reveals that successful ram screen actions are characterized by timing, proper angles, solid screens, and smart reads by all three involved players. The most effective teams execute ram screens as part of flowing offensive actions rather than static set plays, allowing them to maintain unpredictability while still creating structured advantages. Some advanced offensive systems use ram screens as counters to specific defensive coverages, calling the action when they identify that the defense is vulnerable to it based on their positioning or tendencies. The psychological aspect of Ram Screens should not be overlooked - the complex coordination and multiple screening actions create cognitive load for defenders, forcing them to process more information and make more decisions in a short time. This mental taxation can lead to mistakes, miscommunications, and defensive breakdowns that the offense exploits. Teams that consistently execute ram screens force defenses to prepare specifically for the action, which can create opportunities elsewhere in the offensive system when defenses overcompensate.