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Pinch is a baseline out-of-bounds play against man-to-man defense that disguises its true scoring intent through layered misdirection. It begins with inside and wing movement, flows into a ball screen action, and finishes with an elevator screen to spring a shooter.
Why it works
The defense is forced to chase multiple actions: baseline cuts, a ball screen decoy, and an elevator screen. The misdirection makes it difficult to anticipate the final action, often leaving the shooter wide open or creating a mismatch inside.
Teaching Points
5’s initial cut must be hard to sell the rim threat.
1 must come off the ball screen with pace to draw attention.
2 must stay patient on the weakside block, waiting for the elevator.
4 and 5 must time their elevator perfectly to close the gap on 2’s defender.
Variations
If the defense denies the elevator screen, 4 can flow into a naked ball screen for 2 on the wing. 5 can also seal inside for a post-up look.
5 cuts across the lane; 4 lifts to the elbow and receives pass from 3.
2 cuts baseline to left block; 3 rubs off him to left wing.
1 lifts to right slot and receives pass from 4.
4 sprints into wing ball screen with 1; 5 lifts to mid-post.
2 receives elevator screen from 4 and 5, pops to right slot for shot.
If three is denied, 4 flows into secondary ball screen with 2.
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