What is an elevator screen in basketball? (Explained)

Basketball is full of different types of screens that all do different things.

Cross screens try to open the player up on the block…

Rear screens release the cutters to the basket…

And ball screens give the ball handler an advantage over their defender on the offensive end.

But if you want to screen free the shooter for an outside shot.

Then he elevator screen is what you are looking for.

Below we’ll go over how this operation works, how to run and defend it, and go through some play examples you can use with your team.

A lift screen is when an offensive player (usually a shooter) cuts between two players before they walk together and closes the gap until the defender can pass.

This should allow the offensive player to receive a pass for an open outside shot as their defender is stuck on the other side of the lift screen.

To make it more effective, the shooter often sets the screen himself before running into the gap, making it difficult for his defender to recover in time.

This particular action is called an elevator screen because, as the two screens move together to close the gap, it looks like the elevator doors are closing.

While the elevator screen itself is difficult to defend, there are certain aspects of the operation that make it more effective on offense;

This is the single most important factor.

The two pointers and the cutter must be perfectly in sync to create an open shot.

The screeners must be perfectly timed to close together on the screen. Otherwise, the defender will step into the gap to contest the kick or a draw moving screen violation against an offensive player.

The ideal setup is for two post players to set the screen for the shooter to cut to the perimeter.

Getting open to a non-shooter at the 3-point line doesn’t really stress the defense, and when guards set a lift screen for another guard just invites a defensive switch.

Placing your players in the right spots increases the likelihood that the lift screen will work and will result in a high percentage shot for your team.

This action makes it almost unstoppable with the initial screen or direction change.

Ask the shooter to set a cross screen or back screen before running the gap, and his defender will almost certainly be caught on the wrong side.

If the goal of your lift screen is to open up the shooter on the wing, you can start by dribble the ball in the opposite direction to keep the shooter’s defender in the paint, making the screen more effective.

It’s a dangerous operation, but it’s not unstoppable…

Here are some ways that the defense can try to slow it down.

The action of screening the elevator screen can be a hard cover, but the transition is still required before the action actually turns into an open shot.

So if you can scout your opponent to know when a lift screen might be in their offense, you can force your on-ball defender to put extra pressure on the ball and even shadow the passer on one side so they can’t throw the ball to the shooter.

Many times, lift screen plays tend to focus on one option, so if your defense can pull off that key look, the offense can have a hard time flowing into anything else.

This requires some research, but it’s one of the best calculators available.

If the defender stays attached to the shooter’s hip, there is almost no way the screeners will be able to close the gap and set a legal screen.

Yes, your defender must be fast. But a pass through the screen is much more disruptive than trying to fight for it late.

This can open up something else if there’s a cross screen or a back screen before the lift, but if you want to focus on taking the look off the lift screen, an athletic defender chasing the shooter is a solid way to do it.

The switch isn’t the first option here because it usually creates a mismatch…the post player is stuck protecting the shooter on the perimeter.

However, if you have a sports record and know there’s a game coming up on the lift screen, a quick shutdown can be done to prevent an easy look.

The easiest way to do this is for the screen defender closest to the ball to connect and pick off the shooter, and for the shooter’s defender to slide up and make contact with the screen.

If the shutdown happens quickly enough, it can lead to theft and a quick break.

Screening sequence (a cross screen followed by a lift screen) that puts the defense in a bad situation.

The play begins in a box with the wings on the blocks and the posts on the elbows.

1 starts the play by dribbling to the wing.

This signals 2 to step to the help line to set a cross screen for 3.

Depending on the 3’s skill set, the 3 can either cut to the corner or post on the block.

As 2 sets up for a cross screen, this signals 4 and 5 to turn and move in to set the lift screen.

When 3 clears 2’s shoulder, 2 runs up to the top of the key for a possible pass and a 3-pointer.

If there is a switch on the screen, 5 can dive into the block and block, as he will now have a guard protecting him.

A staple of the Princeton offense that turns a standard chin cut into an elevator screen with minimal adjustment.

The offense drives the ball around the perimeter 1-of-4-of-3 in the wing.

After making the initial pass, the 1 cuts the back screen from the elbow to the 5 to cut the ball-side block.

When the ball reaches the 3 on the wing, the 4 and 5 drop down to set the lift screen at the ball’s side elbow.

1 quickly changes direction after hitting the block and approaches the hole to retrieve the ball from 3 for a possible outside shot.

This play uses misdirection to get the shooter open on the opposite wing…the defense looks one way and the action looks the other way.

The play begins with the horns at the posts above the elbows and the wings at the corners.

1 starts the play by elbowing 4 and cutting the tight side corner as 2 walks to block.

As the initial pass occurs, the 5 sets a spike screen for the 3, who runs just above the free throw line to receive a dribble pass from the 4.

After receiving the handoff, the 3 takes a few more dribbles as the 4 and 5 combine to set the lift screen for the 2.

The 2 runs a lift screen to the opposite wing to get a pass from the 3 for a potential 3-pointer.

Of all screens in basketballthe elevator screen is one of the most difficult to maintain.

If the timing, installation, and setup are all there, it’s almost guaranteed to create an open look.

Grab one of the games above, play it again at your next practice, and watch your shooters start catching the ball without anyone within six feet of them.