Hedge/Show Coverage

What it is

• Ball-screen defender (POA) fights through screen or fights to on-ball side

How it works

• Mechanics: Ball-screen defender (POA) fights through screen or fights to on-ball side
• Mechanics: Big defender (Mobile Big) steps out to show presence against roller (does not fully commit to trade bodies, but slows roll)
• Mechanics: After showing, big recovers back to drop position as POA recovers to handler
• Mechanics: Handler is briefly unguarded as big steps out to show, but recovery is quick
• Roles Executing: Guard (POA): Recovers to handler after big shows

Reads and counters

• Read the handler's eyes and hips: stop the pull-up and penetration, then sprint back to the roller as the guard recovers over.
• If the handler picks up the dribble or retreats, the big bails immediately and the guard reattaches before the reset.
• On a hard hedge the big takes away the pull-up three but concedes the short roll; the low defender tags and the weakside rotates to 4-on-3.
• Read whether it is a show (brief touch, fast recovery to drop) or a hard hedge (two feet above the screen) and gap the slip accordingly.
• If the roller is a versatile passer, soft-show only or switch flat, because a true hedge leaves the short-roll read open.

Teaching cues

• Show and recover
• High hands, no fouls
• Tag the roller
• Get back, don't trade
• Force it sideways

Bilingual terms

Related concepts