"Elevator" Screens: How to Surprise Defenses
Setup
Two screeners stand close together, usually at the top of the key, free-throw line, or inside the lane line.
Shooter starts low or on the wing, ideally disguised with earlier motion or a setup cut.
Execution
Shooter cuts tightly between the screeners.
As the shooter slips through, screeners close the gap, sealing the defender behind.
The shooter receives the ball at the top or wing for a quick catch-and-shoot.
Coaching Points
Timing is everything. If screeners close too early, it’s an illegal screen. Too late, and the defender gets through.
Spacing matters. Set it up with off-ball motion or decoy actions.
Teach urgency. The cutter must sprint through. No jogging.
Screener stance. Feet wide, hips square, no leaning—keep it legal and strong.
Variations
BLOB/SLOB: Use in dead-ball situations where spacing can be scripted.
Post Entry: Screeners align near the elbow after a post feed.
Counter Options: If the elevator is denied, slip the screener or flare out.
What Is an Elevator Screen?
An elevator screen is an off-ball action where two stationary players set up shoulder-to-shoulder, forming a tight gate. A shooter cuts between them, and once the cutter passes through, the screeners “close the doors,” locking the defender out.
Why It's Called an “Elevator” Screen
The term comes from the visual of two screeners standing close together—like elevator doors. When a cutter slips through, the “doors” close shut, preventing the defender from getting through. It’s quick, brutal, and highly effective—especially for shooters who can get their shot off in rhythm.
The Golden State Warriors’ Signature Action
No team popularized the elevator screen more than the Golden State Warriors. Their version often starts with a pin-down or swing pass that draws the defense toward one side, only for Stephen Curry to explode through a tight gate set by Draymond Green and Andrew Bogut. The key? Timing and deception.
Curry doesn’t just sprint. He reads the defense, fakes low, then cuts hard. Green and Bogut time their “door closing” to perfection—so Curry’s defender runs smack into a brick wall. The result is often a clean look from three.
Other NBA Teams That Run It Differently
Memphis Grizzlies have used it out of the post. The ball goes inside, and a guard like Mike Conley uses a quick jab or misdirection before flying through a gate at the top of the key. It creates inside-out pressure and high percentage shots.
New Orleans Pelicans use elevator action out of BLOB plays. A shooter starts in the paint, darts through two screeners at the elbow, and receives the ball at the top of the arc. If denied, the screener slips to the basket—an automatic counter.
Los Angeles Lakers run it on SLOBs. When defenses overplay the elevator pass, the Lakers use a flare screen for the second shooter or have the original screener pop out for a quick dribble handoff.
Key Reasons the Elevator Screen Works
Quick execution: From the moment the cutter moves to the shot being released, it's all over in about 3 seconds.
Deception: It looks like a normal off-ball cut—until it's too late.
Built-in options: Even when denied, there's always a slip, pop, or flare built into the structure.
Hard to switch: Defenders can’t easily switch if they’re navigating tight space and timing.
How to Drill It in Practice
Start with footwork and spacing: Rehearse the alignment of the screeners and teach players to avoid illegal screens.
Add timing layers: Get the cutter used to reacting to visual or verbal cues, such as a pass or a coach’s signal.
Drill counters: Defenders will cheat—teach your team to read and punish. If the defense goes under, curl. If they switch, slip. If they jump the pass, backdoor.
Tips for Different Levels
Youth Level: Keep the action simple. Run it from a BLOB or SLOB where you control spacing and timing.
High School/College: Integrate it into motion offense or after timeouts. Great for late-clock situations.
Elite Teams: Use misdirection and disguised entry. Set up the same play with 3–4 different looks.
Elevator Screen Counters to Install
Fake elevator, then double screen down
Elevator into flare screen
Elevator → curl into DHO (dribble handoff)
Elevator → backdoor read if defender jumps
Why Every Playbook Should Include It
If your team has at least one knockdown shooter, the elevator screen becomes a game-changer. Not only is it visually confusing for defenders, it also forces help defense into tough spots—opening up the floor for everyone.
You can run it as a quick hitter, a misdirection decoy, or a last-second option. When timed well, even teams that scouted it can’t stop it.
