I'm definitely not an advance scout in basketball that tracks a ton of plays and schemes. I, like many of the other users on this site, am a talent evaluator that focuses on the skill of individual players. But, I have been highly intrigued with several plays that NBA teams continue spamming of a movement offense, so my goal with The Playbook series is to document several plays that coaches use to maximize their team. First up: the Spain pick and roll. Credit to thehoopsgeek.com for sure great resources.
Here's a link to how the play works: (Press the play animation button to see it unfold).
https://www.thehoopsgeek.com/playcreator/viewer/?code=R03nu0z3XP
As you can see, the big and the roller get into a basic PNR, then the 2 comes in and frees the screener, pops back, and gets the open shot. If the defense respects a shooter like Curry for example, then a guy like Draymond or Looney can get the open roll. The 1 has to read the play, and it's immensely difficult to guard that second pick and roll. The necessities for this play are:
Shooters from the 3 and 4 spot with good understandings of spacing.
An ELITE shooter that is setting the screen, one that draws gravity and can free up the roller with the quick connective pass.
Mobile roller.
Good processor and advantage perceiver/PNR ball handler.
The Spain pick and roll is one of the best plays to get a bonafide shooter open. With the focus on the second PNR being on the roller, this can free up stuff from a shooter. It can be vise versa if they respect the shot. Whatever the matter, guarding a second pick and roll is context.
Difficult in a fast live game situations. Very few teams have a certain level of communication and rotations to shut this play down. That's why it's used at NBA levels, and why it's a useful play around almost any team context.
The 2 guard will be preferably a shooter that has the strength to set screens. Steph Curry is capable of doing this, and that's why he can get so open. Max Strus is a Miami Heat example of this type of player. Just having a decent shooter off of movement + a good roller makes this play almost impossible to guard. After the first pick and roll involving a point guard, the point guard must read the Spain PNR and make the read based on team rotations. Whether it's backshoulder pass outside the perimeter or an interior pass to a rolling big, this guard must have versatility. Spacing at the other spots on the floor is also needed, as 1, 2/3/4, and 5 take up a ton of space defensively. If things don't work out within the second PNR and the rotations are PERFECT (and I mean perfect) then allowing the 1 to create something, preferably from the mid range is another way to create offense within the structure of this play.
Overall this play is something many coaches should add to their playbook if they want an efficient, ball movement type offense, and can create rotations beyond the second PNR by creating leveraged defenders.
Here are some examples of the NBA using this play:
Phoenix Suns
The Suns have been known to spam this play, and why wouldn't they. If you have a strong screener and movement shooter in Cam Johnson setting the first PNR, a mobile roller with soft touch in Ayton, and an elite mid range shooter/ball screen manipulator in CP3, why wouldn't you spam this play. It's almost perfect considering the context of the Suns roster.
Shooter: Johnson
PNR handler: CP3
Roller: Ayton
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors have two of the most gifted shooters in NBA history. Klay Thompson and Steph Curry are just insane shooting off of movement, and are willing to set screens to get open themselves. Picture Jordan Poole, the destructive three-level scoring playmaker, handling the PNR with Looney/Dray, and then one of Steph and Klay (likely Steph because he's a little quicker creating that separation and better passing under pressure) setting the screen for Looney/Dray. Almost impossible to guard that with perfect rotations considering the insane gravity Steph commands out on the court and the explosive rolling of Looney/Dray.
Shooter: Curry/Klay
PNR Handler: Steph/Poole
Roller: Looney/Dray
Miami Heat
The Heat have also been known to adapt this play, considering the playmaking on their roster and the fact they possess multiple movement shooters. A guy like Max Strus, with his upper body strength, sets screens and can move, while an absurdly fluid roller in Bam gets in position for a lob/short roll. I'm not sure I trust Lowry 100% at this point in his career with this play considering lack of elite straight line explosiveness, but he's decent, and Jimmy/Herro are also decent options, as they add a combo of scoring and facilitating to keep the defense guessing.
Shooter: Strus/Duncan/Herro
PNR Handler: Lowry/Jimmy/Herro
Roller: Bam
Memphis Grizzlies
Ja's explosiveness of this play would be feared, but not only would they have to account for him: there's also a shooter in Bane getting free, and a big roller in JJJ/Adams. Not too sure Ja is at the playmaking level for this but if he is the Grizzlies should span this.
Shooter: Bane/Konchar
PNR Handler: Ja
Roller: JJJ/Adams
Dallas Mavericks
Luka can make any pass, and you obviously have to keep tabs on him. He's one of the elite PNR ball handlers in this league. Adding a movement shooter like Bullock or Bertans (for some reason no other guys came to mind for me) AND a screener in Wood/McGee is surely a plus.
Shooter: Bullock/Bertans
PNR Handler: Luka
Screener: Wood/McGee
Brooklyn Nets
This is one of the ways I think the Nets could employ more of a movement offense. Spamming Harris and Curry as shooters, letting Kyrie work his magic, and utilizing Simmons as a roller. It doesn't sound like it should work, but I think it could if the Nets really can master it.
Shooter: Harris/Curry/Mills
PNR handler: Kyrie
Roller: Simmons/Claxton
The Spain pick and roll is one of the more versatile plays to have mastered. It preaches unselfishness, player/ball movement, and a free flowing, beautiful offense. Who wouldn't want that in their playbook?