June 4, 2021
Ball Screen: Best way to roll?
Option 1: Traditional roll with back to defender. Pros: you seal your defender by keeping them on your back.
Cons: may take slightly longer than option 2 to slip/dive.
Option 2: Slip/Dive.
Pros: you can get to the rim faster by just sprinting.
Cons: you lose sight off the ball for a split second.
I used to always teach option 1 but I learned that certain players would naturally feel more comfortable with option 2 and some were more effective at getting to the rim faster with momentum to finish.
Conclusion: I teach both but usually leave it up to the offensive player to make most effective decision for them.