The Nets' Nifty Screen the Screener Play

I've talked extensively about screening the screener and its effectiveness in this space.  The idea is that the screener's man has to help off the screener, which frees the screener up to receive a screen.  Sounds confusing, huh?  It really is actually simple  The screen the screener can be added on to almost any play fairly easily.  Use it with a pick and pop and you have an open wing three.  Use it with a horns/flex look and you have an open jump shot or deep post position.  Or use it with a curl play which is what the Nets did on Tuesday.

Joe Johnson brings the ball up the court and bounces it to C. J. Watson on the wing.  One of the best things about this Nets team is its versatility.  Johnson can act as the point guard while Williams works off the ball or they can both go around off ball screens while Watson handles. 

Watson then enters the ball to Brook Lopez in the high post.  On the baseline, Kris Humphries and Williams set screens for the curling Johnson.  At this point the play is a standard curl to get Johnson an open jumpshot or isolation on the wing. 

Johnson comes around the screens and Brook Lopez delivers a pass to him.  The Lakers defend this part of the play perfectly.  While Johnson's man is stuck on the Humphries screen, Humphries' man, Dwight Howard, has to jump out and help.  Howard helps and doesn't let Johnson take the catch and shoot jumper.    

The Nets still have a trick up their sleeve, however.  Humphries sets a pick for Williams who is popping out to the baseline.  Normally in this instance Humphries' man will help out, but he is already helping out on Johnson.  This sort of play is becoming more and more common in the NBA.  Force the help defense one way only to go the other.

Williams steps out and cans the baseline J in an area he is shooting 50% from this season according to NBA.com.

Lineups I Want To See: Brooklyn Nets

Deron Williams is ready to lead a fun Nets unit.

PG: Deron Williams

Wing: Marshon Brooks

Wing: Joe Johnson

PF: Mirza Teletovic

C: Brook Lopez

Strengths:

·            Three point shooting

·            Athleticism/speed

·            Ball handling

·            Pick and roll

·            Wing defense

Weaknesses:

·            Interior defense

·            Rebounding

Style: If coach Donnie Avery puts this lineup out on the floor, it is sure to be a fun couple of minutes.  With this unit, Brooklyn has four guys who can handle the ball and run a pick and roll.  The way I see this lineup playing is similar to the mid-2000s Phoenix teams.  Four guys will be on the three point line and run various pick and rolls with Brook Lopez and pick and pops with Mirza Teletovic (for those that do not know about Teletovic here are stats and highlights).  Every team in the league runs a screen and roll/pop, but what made those Suns teams so devastating  was the other three players on the floor.  If Deron Williams and Lopez were to run a pick and roll, all three of their teammates would be spotting up on the three-point line.  Williams could dish to a rolling Lopez who would have two options:  either finish strong, or pass to the strong side corner where a Net would be wide open for three because of the rotation to cover Lopez.  Williams could also slash and kick/finish or pop from three.  This lineup can also go to Lopez in the post or at the elbow where he would then have plenty of space to go to work because of the shooters spreading the floor.

            The biggest problem this unit would have is on the boards, both offensive and defensive.  This lineup is small to begin with, but Lopez is infamous for bad rebounding and Teletovic is only 6' 9".  Luckily, Joe Johnson and Marshon Brooks are long quick defenders that will force some long shots and thus long rebounds.  Brooklyn guards can latch onto these leading to some fun fast breaks.