Ghost Screen Concept
A fake ball screen that manipulates switching rules by threatening contact, then slipping into space before the defense can settle.
Actions And Plays
What Is a Ghost Screen?
A player runs toward a screener as if to use the screen but ghosts (runs past) the screen without making contact.
Direct answer
What is What Is a Ghost Screen??
A player runs toward a screener as if to use the screen but ghosts (runs past) the screen without making contact.
Quick facts
| Category | Actions And Plays |
|---|---|
| Source volume | BASKETBALL_PLAY_VAULT.md |
What it is
- A player runs toward a screener as if to use the screen but ghosts (runs past) the screen without making contact.
How it works
- The offensive player's defender will often switch or get caught in the action.
- The screener (big) is now matched up against a smaller guard who switched.
Reads and counters
- Screener reads his own defender's coverage: if the big sits in deep drop or sags to switch, slip out early and pop to the arc instead of screening.
- Ball handler reads what the ghost forces: if defenders switch, attack the bigger man off the dribble before help sets; if they stay, the screener is open popping.
- Against a blitz or hard hedge, the screener ghosts before contact so the trap chases air, leaving the handler a quick pocket pass to the popping shooter.
- Screener reads his own defender: if the big steps up to show, ghost behind him and relocate for a catch-and-shoot three.
- Once the popped screener catches, he drives the closeout if his man flies out, or swings to the weak side when help rotates.
Teaching cues
- Fake it, don't make it
- Slip early, pop high
- Ghost and space
- Attack the switch now
- Read his feet, then relocate
Bilingual terms
| English | What Is a Ghost Screen? |
|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese | 什么是幽灵掩护？ |
| Traditional Chinese | 什麼是幽靈掩護？ |
Learn before and after
These graph neighbors help place What Is a Ghost Screen? in the larger basketball map.
Ghost Screen Reads
Ghost + Iso: Guard ghosts the screen, takes the mismatch 1-on-1 against the big
Ghost Screen / Fake PnR
Mechanics: A Primary Ball Handler approaches the screener as if initiating a PnR, but the screener does not set a hard screen.
Related concepts
Ghost Screen Concept
A fake ball screen that manipulates switching rules by threatening contact, then slipping into space before the defense can settle.
Ghost Screen Reads
Ghost + Iso: Guard ghosts the screen, takes the mismatch 1-on-1 against the big
Ghost Screen / Fake PnR
Mechanics: A Primary Ball Handler approaches the screener as if initiating a PnR, but the screener does not set a hard screen.
Defending Ghost Screens
Communicate early (call "Ghost!" before the action)
Cross Screen
The Cross Screen is an off-ball screen set horizontally across the lane — from one side of the paint to the other — for a player posting up or cutting to the ball.
Iverson Back Screen (Tom Izzo / Michigan State)
Tom Izzo has run this play for 15+ years (documented back to 2010).