Defending Spain Pick-and-Roll (Stack PnR)
It is the defensive counter to one of the most-run NBA/college actions.
Actions And Plays
Spain Pick & Roll
A three-player pick-and-roll where a third player back-screens the roller's defender to create a lob, layup, or pop-out three.
Direct answer
What is Spain Pick & Roll?
A three-player pick-and-roll where a third player back-screens the roller's defender to create a lob, layup, or pop-out three.
Quick facts
| Category | Actions And Plays |
|---|---|
| Also called | Spain PnR, Spain pick and roll, back screen the roller |
| Diagram | spain-pnr |
| Source volume | BASKETBALL_PLAY_VAULT.md |
What it is
- A three-player pick-and-roll where a third player back-screens the roller's defender to create a lob, layup, or pop-out three.
How it works
- The Spain PnR (also called Spain Action) is a ball screen combined with a back screen set on the ball screener's defender as they hedge or switch.
- The third player sets the back screen to free the roll man.
- Ball handler attacks with a ball screen (standard PnR)
- As the screener's defender fights to contain the roll, a third offensive player sets a back screen on that defender
- The roll man gets a clean path to the basket because his defender was back-screened
Reads and counters
- Ball handler reads the screener's defender: if the big hedges or shows, hit the roller diving behind the back screen for a lob or layup.
- If the back-screener's defender (the X tagging the roll) jumps to help on the lob, the handler kicks back to the popping shooter at the arc.
- If the on-ball defender goes under the ball screen, the handler simply pulls up since the back screen no longer matters.
- The roller reads his freed defender: if the back screen sticks, sprint to the rim; if the defender slips it, re-screen or seal.
- The back-screener reads coverage: pop hard to three versus a switch, but slip early to the rim if his man pre-rotates to the lob.
Teaching cues
- Screen the screener
- Back-screen the X
- Throw the lob
- Spray to the corner
- Pop on the switch
Bilingual terms
| English | Spain Pick & Roll |
|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese | 西班牙挡拆 |
| Traditional Chinese | 西班牙擋拆 |
Related concepts
Empty-Side / Empty-Corner Pick-and-Roll Coverage
It is the defensive answer to one of the most-run modern offensive designs.
NBA Teams That Feature Spain PnR
Phoenix Suns (Monty Williams era)
Pick-and-Roll Basics (Screener)
The screener's first responsibility is to arrive at the screen location at the correct moment and with proper positioning.
Pick-and-Roll Basics (Ball Handler)
The effectiveness of a pick-and-roll is determined partly by initial setup: how well the ball handler has positioned the defender before using the screen.
Empty-Side / Single-Side Pick-and-Roll Spacing
Running a pick-and-roll on a side of the floor that has been deliberately cleared of off-ball offensive players (an "empty" corner/side), so there is no low-man help to tag the roller