Running Plays for Non-Shooters
Modern NBA/college defense is built to sag off non-shooters.
Foundations
Solution 3: Ballscreen Actions (Non-Shooter as Screener)
Non-shooter as the screener instead of the cutter
Direct answer
What is Solution 3: Ballscreen Actions (Non-Shooter as Screener)?
Non-shooter as the screener instead of the cutter
Quick facts
| Category | Foundations |
|---|---|
| Source volume | BASKETBALL_PLAY_VAULT.md |
What it is
- Non-shooter as the screener instead of the cutter
How it works
- Defense sags their man → they set a better screen without a threat attached
- Note: ghost screens gain little here — a sagging defender ignores the non-shooter's slip/pop; ghosting works best when the screener is a perimeter shooting threat
Bilingual terms
| English | Solution 3: Ballscreen Actions (Non-Shooter as Screener) |
|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese | 方案三：掩护战术（不会投篮的球员做掩护人） |
| Traditional Chinese | 解決方案3：球掩護動作（非射手作為掩護者） |
Related concepts
Disguise Plays & Decoy Actions
The Problem: Ja Morant is not a good shooter.
Solution 1: Use the Sag as a Decoy (Ja Morant model)
The non-shooter is used as a decoy runner
Advanced Two-Man Actions
The modern NBA uses a finite set of two-man actions.
Solution 4: Post-Up Sequences
Non-shooter flashes to the post where they have size/strength advantages
Off-Screen Shooter vs. Anchor Big
Favorable Matchup: An Off-Screen Shooter runs a pin-down screen (set by a Stretch Big or Versatile Big) and is matched against an Anchor Big (forced to switch or chase).