Exploring basketball's best ideas, strategies, and coaches around the world

Happy Sunday and welcome to all the new subscribers from around the world!

ICYMI: Last week, we revisited one of our favorite offenses, the McKillop Motion, through the lens of Tennessee and Division III Swarthmore. Read the newsletter HERE.

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This Week at a Glance:

🔒 SG Plus Content: "Jam" & Under - Defending Drag Screens​

🎧 Slappin' Glass Podcast: Bob McKillop​

📢 Hudl + Fastmodel!​

🥇 Best of the Week: 4 Out & Spain PNR​

Let's dive in...

"Jam" & Under

A few months back we examined the footwork of elite "slippers" {🔒}, studying how several high-tempo clubs prioritize creating early advantages through an initial drag screen. In that breakdown we looked at the key footwork techniques that allow screeners to enter and exit the screening area with pace and precision.

In studying that film, we naturally found ourselves down a rabbit hole of how opponents were choosing to defend the drag screen to account for the slip, which leads us to today’s breakdown: the "Jam & Under."

What is it? In anticipating the PNR screen, the defending big will press up to meet the screener as early and high on the floor as possible, aiming to disrupt the pace, timing, and roll/pop options of the big. When executed properly and early enough, the big’s "jam" should prevent the screener from setting a dynamic screen in a scoring area or having the freedom of movement to slip out into other dangerous options. In staying connected, the big offers no coverage on the ball but leaves enough space for the guard to shoot under the screen and recover back to the ballhandler before they reach a threatening area of the floor where more help is needed.

Keeping it Simple

There are a variety of spacing/personnel considerations that a defense would take into account to utilize this "jam and under" as opposed to other PNR strategies. What is the scoring/playmaking ability of the ballhandler? Is the screening big a major rim rolling or pop threat? What spacings does the offense often flow into (empty corner drag vs. filled corner drags)? And while we always enjoy highlighting a clever and detailed strategy—like our deep dive into the 3-Men side zone up {🔒} behind a hedge in transition…

This can be a more complicated, coordinated strategy to pull off, and is aimed at defending empty corner drags against teams wanting to flow into "euro flow motion" concepts on a reversal (see GIF above). In many cases though, the drag screen merely serves as an entry point into an offensive flow, so committing all five defenders to the action isn't always necessary.

Another consideration in favor of going under the first early drag screen is the willingness of the offense to effectively attack that "under" via the guard. Especially if the defensive big has done their job of driving the screen well outside the three-point line, will the offense (coach) be inclined to let their team take deep, early pulls or potentially bog down their flow to play a rescreen?...

Zooming In: With the big meeting and jamming the screener early, the ballhandler’s only scoring options are a deep three or trying to turn the corner. The latter requiring at least two dribbles to break the three-point line, giving the defender ample time and space to cut off the drive before the paint while the other three defenders can remain in their gaps and not have to help on the ball.

Many defensive ballscreen strategies aim to mitigate the biggest risks of the PNR, while also keeping it a 2v2 action if at all possible. "Icing", "Drop Coverage", the "Hedge and Plug" {🔒} , and Switching are some of the ways a defense will try and accomplish keeping the PNR a 2v2 game, and the "Jam and Under" is another that can be added to that arsenal of options.

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Defending with Force

Now that we've looked at the strategy behind "Jam and Under", let’s examine the technique required to execute it. In a similar way that switching can sometimes carry the stigma of being a "passive coverage", so too can going under ballscreens. But of the teams we looked at in today's deep dive, that’s clearly not the case. If the big isn’t willing to seek out and absorb early, high contact with the trailing screener, they’ll struggle not only to impede the slip but to prevent the screener from sticking the guard or adjusting their angle to the under.

Therefore, for the "jam" to have its intended effect, the big must step into the path of the trailer, meeting them with their chest/forearm to take away any momentum into the screening area.

The same goes for the guard. They can improve their ability to successfully navigate the under by raising their pickup point and steering the ballhandler into the screen. By connecting early and aggressively to the hip of the ballhandler, the guard can mitigate the risk of a reject {🔒}, funneling the ballhandler into using the screen. As shown above, with the defender locked on the ball and the pace neutralized, coupled with the big’s "jam," the ballhandler’s only real option becomes attacking sideline to sideline over the screen, rather than downhill...

While the "Jam" & Under may initially appear as a simple defensive maneuver, its success relies on physicality, precise technique and timing of the two defenders involved. As we've seen, this coverage can effectively neutralize the dangers of a drag screen and limit the offense’s ability to exploit the slip. Ultimately, the key is understanding when to simplify the defense, ensuring that complexity doesn’t overcomplicate what is often just an entry point in the offense. To continue learning more on this coverage SG+ Members can now view the full breakdown now on SGTV!

Together with Dr. Dish

Score major savings and the ultimate off-season training solution during Dr. Dish Basketball’s April Super Sale! Get $3,500 Off Dr. Dish CT+ and unlock endless stats, drills, and training capabilities. Shop before 4/30/25 or while supplies last.

Slappin' Glass Podcast

We had the pleasure of sitting down this week with the legendary Head Coach of Davidson MBB, Bob McKillop! In this fantastic conversation the we explore Coach McKillop's thoughts on the core principles of offensive execution and efficiency, the importance of self reflection, and discuss maximizing odd practice situations, and healthy confrontations during the always fun "Start, Sub, or Sit?!"

Together with Hudl

If you’ve used FastDraw, FastScout, or FastRecruit before, you should know: they’re now part of the Hudl family. That means tighter integrations with Sportscode, access to Instat data, and a cleaner workflow across your whole program. It’s everything you’ve come to expect from Fastmodel—just better connected. Learn more about what Hudl and Fastmodel are building together! Subscribers to Slappin' Glass can also directly email Winston Jones of Hudl at winston.jones@hudl.com.

Tactical

📺 4 Out - RIP Clear • RIP Lob​

"A RIP screen to clear the corner and occupy the help. Sets up the second RIP as a clean lob opportunity."

✚ Pair With: Generating a lifted post touch out of the 4-Out entry to attack out of the corner with a DHO.

🔒 SG Plus Content: Our breakdown of the Sacramento Kings' use of space-clearing cuts to optimize their DHO & Zoom attacks.

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📺 Early Offense - Empty-Side Spain PNR​

"Initiate an early Empty-Side Spain PNR with a baseline wing exchange flowing into the stack screen."

✚ Pair With: A deceptive empty corner Spain PNR with a corner exit screen, initiated through a gut stagger entry.

🔒 SG Plus Content: Our playbook breakdown of Turkish club Gaziantep’s use of the Spanish PNR across multiple entries.

Interesting Reads

📚 Alignment: The Key to Success Nobody Ever Taught You​

Aligning with the world often requires you to pre-pay now for a result later. A little bit of pain today for gain tomorrow. And we don’t like the sounds of that. However, if you can align yourself with the world despite what those around you do, you’ll quickly discover that it tends to do most of the work for you. It just won’t take the first step for you. You have to take that one for yourself.

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📚 Don’t Be Deceived By the “Intelligent” Voice of Cynicism​

One reason I chose the path I did is that I was trained as a lawyer early in my life. When I went to law school, one of the things that frustrated me was that people became very adept at taking something that is a bit wobbly or shaky and knocking it down completely instead of building it back up. That skill we learned was, in some ways, deconstructive, and that was not how I saw the world.

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📚 The True Power of Persuasion​

When trying to persuade, resist leading with data. Instead, bridge to your audience by addressing their concerns and then share the specific story that changed your perspective. A journey from shared skepticism to new understanding is more compelling than declaring what someone should believe.

Quote of the Week

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Thank you for reading and have a great week coaching,

Dan and Pat

info@slappinglass.com

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