“Step-Up Screen”

Term: “Step-Up Screen”

Definition: a side ballscreen set with the screener’s back to the baseline

Synonyms: Knicks, flat

See Also: slash, alley screen, blind pig, crack screen (whether step-up, Knicks, flat, and alley screen are synonyms or related terms is a matter of debate, touched on below)

How It Works: A big near the baseline, usually close to the low post, steps up toward the wing to set a flat ballscreen.

Some sources, including Dylan Murphy’s Basketball Dictionary, state that the angle of step-up screen is completely flat so that the ballhandler can choose whether to drive left or right:

Hence the synonym “flat ballscreen.” However, some say that not all flat ballscreens are step-ups, especially when they’re set in the middle of the court (image from @radiusathletics):

Other sources agree that a step-up screen has a flat angle, but specify that it’s designed for the ballhandler to drive toward the sideline:

Whether it’s by design or by choice, most step-up screens send the ballhandler toward the sideline because of the common “no middle” defensive philosophy. As a result, step-up screens are often, in practice, slightly angled (these are sometimes called alley screens):

Why It Works: According to Dylan Murphy, step-ups work best when there’s an element of surprise:

“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 blindsided — exactly what the offense wants.”

To capitalize on the element of surprise, step-up screens are commonly used in one of two situations: in transition to relieve defensive pressure on the ballhandler (such step-ups are considered crack screens), and after a ball reversal.

Here’s Gibson Pyper (@halfcourthoops) analyzing the Dallas Mavericks and their use of step-up/crack screens in transition (16:42 in the video):

Just after Luka Doncic crosses halfcourt, Dwight Powell spins around to set a step-up for Luka to attack downhill and challenge Powell’s defender off the bounce:

The other common use of a step-up is after a ball reversal or lag pass. The post for blind pig mentions that teams like the Atlanta Hawks like to use slash action to set up a step-up screen for Trae Young:

If Trae’s defender denies the pass to him, however, the step-up turns into blind pig: The ball is passed to the big, who pitches it to Trae as Trae runs toward the hoop:

Examples:

Victor Oladipo’s 45 cut gets him a layup after the step-up screen for T.J. McConnell:

See Also: