Screen Away

Screen away is an off-ball screening action where a player sets a screen for a teammate on the opposite side of the court from where they are positioned, typically after passing the ball. This fundamental offensive concept creates movement, forces defensive rotations, and generates scoring opportunities through coordinated player actions. Screen away actions are essential elements of motion offenses, continuity systems, and many set plays. The term emphasizes that the screener is moving away from the ball to set the screen, distinguishing it from ball screens where the screener comes to the ball handler. Understanding screen away principles and execution is important for all players in modern offensive systems. The basic mechanics of screen away begin with a pass. After a player passes the ball to a teammate on one side of the floor, they move to the opposite side to set a screen for a different teammate. This creates simultaneous action on both sides of the court, with the ball moving on one side while a screen is being set on the other. The screen away forces defenders to make decisions about how to defend the screening action while also being aware of where the ball is. This split attention creates opportunities for breakdowns and open shots. Screen away actions serve multiple strategic purposes. They prevent defenders from sagging toward the ball and providing excessive help defense, as they must respect the screen away threat. They create movement and rhythm in the offense, preventing static, predictable play. They generate specific scoring opportunities for the player using the screen, who may curl, fade, or pop based on defensive coverage. They also create potential advantages for the screener, who may slip to the basket, pop out after screening, or find open space as defenses rotate. This multi-option nature makes screen away actions difficult to defend. Different types of screens can be set in screen away actions. Down screens or pin downs, where the screener moves toward the baseline to screen for a player cutting toward the perimeter, are common screen away variations. Back screens, set behind defenders to free cutters toward the basket, also qualify as screen away actions. Flare screens that direct cutters toward the sideline can be screen away actions. The specific type depends on positioning and what offensive advantage the team seeks to create. Motion offense principles often include screen away as a fundamental rule. A common motion principle is "pass and screen away," meaning after passing the ball, players should set screens for teammates on the weak side. This creates continuous movement and screening throughout possessions, making defenses work constantly and creating opportunities through defensive fatigue or breakdowns. Teams running pure motion offense may execute dozens of screen away actions per game as part of their offensive flow. The timing and coordination of screen away actions are crucial. The screen should be set as the ball is being caught or shortly after, creating a window where the defense must deal with both the ball and the screen simultaneously. If the screen is set too early, before the ball arrives on the strong side, defenders can more easily navigate the screen. If set too late, the moment of defensive vulnerability passes. Experienced players develop a feel for optimal timing through repetition. Screen away actions create specific defensive challenges. The defender of the screener must decide whether to help on the player using the screen, potentially leaving their assignment open for a slip or pop. The defender of the cutter must navigate the screen, choosing whether to go over, under, or switch. Help defenders must be aware of both the ball and the weak-side action, maintaining proper positioning to provide help if needed while not abandoning their assignments. This complexity creates opportunities for offensive breakdowns. Communication is essential for both executing and defending screen away actions. Offensive players should signal their intentions, with the screener alerting the cutter that a screen is coming and the cutter acknowledging. Defensive communication is equally important, with screener defenders calling out screens, cutter defenders communicating how they plan to defend the screen, and help defenders providing information about rotations. Teams that communicate effectively on both ends handle screen away actions more successfully. Screen away actions can be combined with other offensive concepts to create complex sequences. Screen-the-screener plays involve one player screening away, then immediately receiving a screen themselves from another teammate. This double-screen action creates confusion and often yields open shots. Some teams run continuous screen away actions in succession, creating wave after wave of screening that wears down defenses. These layered concepts represent advanced offensive thinking that requires practice and coordination. Reading the defense is critical for both screeners and cutters in screen away situations. If the defense switches the screen away action, the cutter may have a mismatch to exploit through a post-up or drive. If the defender trails over the screen, the cutter should curl toward the basket. If the defender goes under, the cutter should pop out for a catch-and-shoot opportunity. If the screener's defender helps aggressively, the screener should slip to the basket or find open space. These reads happen quickly and require basketball IQ and experience. The spacing created by screen away actions contributes to offensive efficiency even when the specific action doesn't directly create a shot. By forcing defenders to navigate screens on the weak side, screen away actions prevent help defenders from sagging into driving lanes or doubling the ball. This maintains proper floor spacing and creates better opportunities for the ball handler. Even unsuccessful screen away actions that don't free the cutter may still provide value by occupying defensive attention. Different offensive systems emphasize screen away to varying degrees. Flex offense features screen away as its central action, with continuous down screens and baseline cuts creating scoring opportunities. Princeton offense uses screen away actions combined with ball reversals through the post. Some systems use screen away less frequently, preferring other concepts like ball screens or isolation. The emphasis reflects coaching philosophy and personnel capabilities. Teaching screen away requires progression from basic concepts to game-speed execution. Players first learn proper screening techniques, including footwork, positioning, and legal screening rules. They then practice timing the screens with passes and ball movement. Adding defenders helps them learn to read coverage and make appropriate decisions. Full five-on-five work integrates screen away into complete offensive possessions. Film study helps players understand when and why screen away actions create advantages. Screen away actions can be particularly effective against man-to-man defenses that are ball-focused. When defenses concentrate on helping toward the ball, they may be less prepared for screen away actions on the weak side. Zone defenses respond differently to screen away, as they shift as a unit rather than defending individual screening actions. Some teams adjust their screen away frequency and type based on whether opponents play man or zone defense.