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Our second ball screen coverage in the Wetz Sets series is called icing the screen. It’s also sometimes referred to as weaking the screen because it involves forcing the ball handler to a weaker area of the court.
If you’re not familiar with drop coverage, it may be helpful to check out our video on that before watching this one. There are some similar elements to the two coverages, so it will help to understand drop in order to better understand ice.
When icing, the on-ball defender will jump in between the ball handler and the screener and force the handler towards the outside. The goal is to prevent the ball handler from using the screen. It is generally deployed against wing (side) ball screens. This keeps the ball out of the paint, which is the most vulnerable area of the floor for the defense. The disadvantage is that it takes the defender somewhat out of position – instead of being between her player and the hoop, she is now between her player and the screener.
That’s where the big comes in. Her role is the same as it is in drop, which is to keep everything in front of her. Once the ball handler commits to rejecting the screen, the guard can get back in front and the big can recover. Until then, it’s the big’s job to prevent the guard from getting to the rim.
Like drop, that means this coverage is prone to giving up open looks from deep on pick-and-pops. That is only a threat if the big can shoot, so this is another coverage that works better against non-shooting bigs.
Thanks for reading the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter. If you like our work, be sure to check out our stats site, our podcast, and our social media accounts on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also buy Her Hoop Stats gear, such as laptop stickers, mugs, and shirts!
Haven’t subscribed to the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter yet?