"Elevator" Screens: How to Surprise Defenses
Run This and Watch Defenses Panic: The Elevator Screen
Let’s talk about a play that’s been wrecking defenses for years, the elevator screen. If you’ve got a knockdown shooter and two guys who can hold a screen like pros, this play is just plain tough to stop.
The Setup
Two screeners. Shoulder to shoulder. Picture elevator doors right before they close.
Your shooter starts low or on the wing, somewhere the defense won’t expect it. Don’t telegraph it. That’s what kills the play. Use motion, a decoy cut, something that feels natural.
Then, on the call, your shooter sprints through the gap. The moment he’s through, those screeners close the space. Doors shut. Defender’s caught.
Ball’s already in the air. Catch. Shoot. Clean look.
It’s one of the smoothest, sharpest plays in basketball. When it’s run right, it looks like the defense just forgot how to play.
Why It Works
The play puts the defender in a bind.
Try to fight through? Too late, the doors are closed.
Go under? That’s a gift-wrapped shot.
Switch? Not in that tight space, not easily.
And the best part? It’s got options:
Slip – If the defense overplays, the screener dives.
Flare – One screener pops into space.
Curl – Shooter bends to the rim if his man cheats.
It’s not just a one-note trick. It’s a full toolset.
How to Coach It
Here’s where teams usually get it wrong:
Timing Is Everything
Close too early, offensive foul.
Close too late, defender’s right there.
Drill the rhythm until it’s automatic.
Sell It
Don’t run it straight off a timeout without movement. Build it into the flow. A pass, a fake cut, a little misdirection, anything to keep the defense honest.
Sprint the Cut
This isn’t a walkthrough. Your shooter has to fly through that gap like they’re chasing a buzzer-beater. No hesitation.
Teach Your Screeners to Be Solid
Feet set. No leaning. No reaching. Just strong, square screens. Think of them as pillars holding the whole play together.
Where to Use It
Baseline Out-of-Bounds (BLOB) – Everything’s still, so timing can be perfect.
Sideline (SLOB) – Great for late-clock looks.
Out of the Post – Throw it in, let the screens set, then kick it back out.
End of Quarter – Need a clean shot fast? This is your play.
Film Room Inspiration
Warriors: Curry sets it up with a fake, then blasts through Draymond and Bogut. Defender’s caught in traffic. Curry’s already rising up.
Grizzlies: After a post feed, Gasol sets the screen, gives you the option to shoot or slip.
Pelicans: Run it from the baseline with a built-in slip if the defense jumps the lane.
Lakers: Use it from the sideline, and if the switch comes, they flare out for a different angle.
Final Word
Got a shooter? Run this play.
It’s clean, efficient, and it punishes defensive hesitation. You don’t need fancy sets, just timing, trust, and players who buy into the details.
Drill it until it clicks. Teach the counters. And once it’s part of your offense, you’ll see how many ways you can run it without tipping your hand.
The beauty of the elevator screen? It's simple, but it makes defenses pay for even a half-step mistake.
