Adopting a defensive strategy of switching to ball screens (pick and roll) has become increasingly prevalent in contemporary basketball. This study evaluated the technical and tactical aspects of defensive actions when encountering ball screen offenses, identifying key factors influencing success or failure in defending the pick and roll, particularly in crucial moments during the fourth quarter of close Euroleague matches. A comprehensive analysis of forty-five games from the 2023-2024 Euroleague championship revealed an average end-of-game score difference of 4.42 ± 2.7 points. A total of 452 pick and roll actions were evaluated, where the defense opted for switching, leading to a mismatch scenario. Factors such as the initial defense on the ball-handler before the switch, the technique employed by the screener's defender upon switching onto the ball-handler, defensive strategies for handling outside and inside mismatches, the approach of the ball-handler's defender when switching onto the screener, and the effectiveness of the switch in determining the outcome of the pick and roll action were examined. The findings underscored that switching to counter-pick and roll offenses was the most commonly deployed defensive tactic (52%), showcasing a high success rate, particularly towards the end of the games (56.4%). Notably, the winners performed a switch over the screen by the ball-handler`s defender more frequently (55.3%, ?2 = 5.042, p < .05), followed by a defensive strategy to force the ball-handler to use their weaker hand during outside mismatches (37.3%, ?2 = 9.402, p < .05). Additionally, an aggressive defensive approach involving the screener's defender effectively neutralizing the 3-point shot from the ball-handler (67.8% of total mismatches) and employing a defensive stance in front of the post-up players during inside mismatches demonstrated a success rate of 60.8%, thus proving to be effective defensive strategies against the pick and roll. This study found no significant correlation between the effectiveness of defensive switches and the match's outcome.
© Copyright 2024 Journal of Physical Education and Sport. University of Pitesti. All rights reserved.