How the double high screen could unleash Evan Fournier

The double high screen

A double high screen involves two big men coming out past the arc to simultaneously set screens for the ball handler. Usually, one will pop and the other will roll, so it is particularly helpful if you have bigs that can both shoot and attack the rim to keep the defense off balance.

This gives the ball handler a few options: First, they have a better chance at getting open for a jumper or drive off the bounce. If not, they have secondary options in a roll man to whom they can dish near the rim. Or they can hit the other screener for a jump shot.

There is almost no way for a defense to ensure all of these options are adequately defended if the ball handler is skilled enough, because trapping will open up the screeners and covering up the screeners will give openings to the handler. If an offense is able to initiate this motion earlier in the shot clock, then there is even less of a chance for the defense to set itself properly and defend the play.

In the video above, Hornet bigs Cody Zeller and Marvin Williams come beyond the perimeter to set a double screen for Walker.

With this set, Walker gets an excellent look for a three off the dribble. He also has the option to hit Williams for a pick-and-pop jumper or Zeller rolling to the basket, if the Hawks had decided to trap him off the pick.

On this play, the Hornets roll out essentially the same play but with

and

doing the rolling and popping, respectively.

Again, this allows Walker to knock down a three while having the option to hit a strong shooter on the pick-and-pop (Kaminsky) or to hit a strong roll man running to the rim (Hibbert).

This set could be highly effective for the Magic because their frontcourt, like the Hornets’, has both shooters and runners in Serge Ibaka, Nikola Vucevic and Bismack Biyombo. If and when Aaron Gordon plays the four he would also be an excellent option rolling to the basket.