Billy Donovan’s Playbook: From University of Florida to Oklahoma City
By Shawn Woods
Wing Pick-and-Roll
The wing pick-and-roll isn’t a new concept to the NBA, but the movement that it brings could help the Thunder’s offense when it becomes stagnant.
The play starts, as the name indicates, with a simple pick-and-roll starting from the wing. The post player will set the screen so that the guard can go to his right while using the screen. The other three players are on the perimeter providing space for the primary ball-handler.
The player at the top of the screen in the corner isn’t a threat from the outside, much like Andre Roberson.
Many teams in the NBA “Ice” a wing pick-and-roll which makes the guard defending the ball-handler force the ball-handler away from the screen. Florida State tries to use this tactic, but Florida’s guard is still able to use the screen. However, with nothing happening in the middle of the floor, the primary ball-handler swings the ball back toward the guard in the corner. Even though the player with the ball (Roberson) has plenty of room to get his shot off, he hesitates due to his inability to make that shot on a consistent basis.
The player in the corner makes a simple entry pass to the post and cuts through to the opposite block. The post man dribbles to the middle of the floor which draws attention from all five defenders.
Instead of shooting, the post player makes an easy pass to the non-shooter who has cut underneath the basket with no resistance.
Roberson is not a threat from the outside at this point in his career, but he is a good slasher that could benefit from the movement the offense provides.
If Morrow gets the same space as the player in the corner, the elite-level passing of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant will find him for an easy three points.
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