“Step-Up”

Term: “Step-Up”

Definition: A ball-screen set with the screener facing the opposite baseline.

Synonyms: Flat Screen

Explanation: In a regular ball-screen, the screener sprints up to the ball and declares a side, aiming his feet at the sideline and walling off the ball-handler’s defender to one side of the floor. This encourages the ball-handler to dribble toward and around his screener. In a step-up ball-screen, the screener lacks traditional directionality. Instead, his back is completely to the baseline. Ideally he hits the ball-handler’s defender directly in the back, as this gives the ball-handler the equal choice of going right or left. More often, however, a step-up clips a defender on his side as he’s sliding to keep up with a ball-handler.

A perfect step-up is almost a sneak attack. Because the screener never actually enters the on-ball defender’s vision (the screener sprints into it from behind), he often cannot see or even feel it coming. And without a heads up from a defensive teammate, he gets blinsided — exactly what the offense wants. The surprise element of a step-up does, however, lend itself to some illegal screening dangers. In any screening situation — on-ball or off-ball — bigs are required to give at least a step of space between themselves and the defender. This is to allow the defender time to change course before slamming into the pick. But even with this sliver of room, the step-up counts on the defender’s eyes being caught up with the ball. As he slides his feet to stay with his man, his own momentum carries him directly into the screener.

Open Floor Step-Ups

A “crack screen” is an open floor step-up that occurs in transition. Ever seen a defender pressure a ball-handler in the backcourt, only to get blown up by a screen at the mid-court logo? This kind of step-up can be a powerful tool to free a team’s ball-handler and send him hurtling toward the rim. Some teams have a play designated for this type of screen, whereas others count on their bigs to headhunt when necessary. Either way, a properly executed crack screen can create an immediate 5-on-4 advantage and downhill momentum for the ball-handler.

In the play below, James Harden of the Houston Rockets deals with light shadowing from Wesley Matthews of the Dallas Mavericks. Clint Capela, Harden’s teammate, readies a step-up to spring Harden loose.

Matthews, knowing that’s he’s operating in wide open space, keeps his head on a swivel to avoid a screen. But he’s backpedaling and responsible for staying in front of the ball, so he can only peak his head around once or twice. Here, he even knows the screen is coming thanks to a heads up from a teammate. But it doesn’t matter. Capela, with his feet lined up for the step-up, anticipates Matthews’ path and drills him. Harden takes the space, attacks the defense and finds Trevor Ariza for an open spot-up three.

Half-Court Step-Ups

The most common type of step-up — and arguably the most comon type of pick-and-roll — is not a surprise, but a response. The tendency of defenses to guide the ball toward the sideline — as part of the NBA no-middle concept — means defenders are generally not lined up with their backs to the rim. To ensure contact on screens, offensive bigs respond by setting step-ups.

In terms of execution, the only change is the point of contact. While the screener still sprints up to the screen with his toes perpendicular to the baseline, he does not aim for the defender’s back. Instead, he looks for contact with the side of the defender, still counting on the defender’s momentum while guarding the ball to carry him into the screen.

Notice how, in the play below, Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls protects the middle of the floor against Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder. With Butler’s body angled toward the sideline, Westbrook’s teammate, Steven Adams, has two choices: whip around and hit Butler in the back, or flatten his angle of approach and sprint directly into Butler with a step-up.

Clearly, the step-up makes the most sense here because it guarantees contact. If Adams gets on the inside (toward the middle of the floor) of Butler, Westbrook would have to work his tail off to circle around Butler and use the screen. Instead, the step-up frees him with a straight-line, downhill sprint. This is the choice Adams makes, and Butler runs right into Adams as he follows Westbrook down the sideline.

(Note: A subset of this type of play is known as “changing the angle” or “flipping the pick,” but that will be addressed in a later post as it requires a lengthier explanation.)

Step-Ups In Play Designs

Some of the most devastating half-court plays involve play designs that create optimal conditions for a step-up. Keeping in mind that the best step-ups are sneak attacks, coaches try to surprise defenses by lining up step-ups before the ball even arrives.

This is most commonly found in swing + step-up actions, where the offense begins with misdirection before firing the ball cross-court directly into a timed step-up. Some coaches use several dribble handoffs before initiating this sequence; others prefer a fake ball-screen followed by a quick swing into the step-up. No matter the intiation sequence, the key to these plays is having the step-up lined up just as the pick-and-roll ball-handler receives the ball.

Let’s take a look at an example to understand this type of action. Below, the Detroit Pistons work into a “wedge” action, a common offensive set that often stands on its own. However, just as Jon Leuer goes to set a ball-screen for Ish Smith, Smith swings the ball across the floor to teammate Tobias Harris. As this is happening, Aron Baynes is already moving into his step-up.

There are a lot of things going on here, but the most important man is #33 of the New Orleans Pelicans, Dante Cunningham. Invoking the no-middle concept once more, he has planted himself at the nail to deter middle penetration. He is not expecting a ball-swing. Once Smith flips it over to Harris, Cunningham’s angle of recovery will take him toward Harris, and then immediately toward the baseline as he slides with Harris’ dribble. Baynes already knows this and anticipates where Cunningham will go. Donatas Motiejunas, who is guarding Baynes, barely has any time to call out to Cunningham to alert him to the step-up. Therefore, as Harris catches the ball, Cunningham has no choice but to smack into Baynes.

This timed step-up sequence is an extremely popular NBA play with a ton of variations, but they are all keyed by the quality of the step-up. Here, Baynes sets it perfectly and Harris hits the jumper.

Film Study: “Step-Up”

Below is a video compilation of various examples of offenses setting step-ups. Remember to keep your eyes peeled on the directionality of the feet of the screener, as that is what separates the step-up from a regular ball-screen.