High S/Rs spread the floor and force the rotating defenders to cover more ground than in any other S/R alignment. As mentioned above, this also forces big defenders to play 20-25 feet from the rim. If the high SD/R is in the middle of the court, then the ball-handler has a good look at the defense's reaction, and can usually execute passes to either the left- or the right-side of the court.

John Stockton and Karl Malone set the standards for the high S/R.

Wing S/Rs are designed to give more room for the ball-handler to dribble/drive to his most effective side, i.e., taking his right hand to the middle. Moreover, wing S/Rs often develop into screen/fade movements if the screener happens to be a knock-down mid-range (or longer) shooter. Here, the screener sets the screen, then moves to an open spot closer to the baseline, hoping to receive a pass from the ball-handler and to launch his jumper.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas and LBJ employ this play quite frequently. And Rasheed Wallace has the range to turn high S/Rs into screen/fades.

In low S/Rs, the screener sets up below one of the elbows, which puts him only one long step from the basket — which, in turn, just about prohibits the defense from switching. Plus, if the ball-handler is doubled, a lob pass to the rolling screener becomes lethal. Moreover, if the ball-handler can turn the corner he's in the bosom of the defense and has multiple options for passes or for shooting. And low S/Rs also serve to flatten out the defense.

Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp ran this play to great advantage.

As with just about every strategy in the game, suitability and execution depends strictly on the personnel involved.

Travels with Charley

This is Part II in a series. For Part I, please click here.

It was the last game of my varsity career at Hunter College. Back then, freshmen were ineligible for varsity competition, and the number of regular-season games a college team could play was quite limited. So my last game was only the 59th of my entire undergraduate career.