Ghost Screens, Deadly Isolation Plays & Flawless Switching on Screens

with Craig Doty,
Houston Christian University Head Coach;
Emporia State Head Men's Basketball Coach from 2018 to 2024;
Graceland University Head Coach from 2016 to 2018;
2018 NAIA National Championship;
2018 Don Meyer Award;
2018 NAIA Coach of the Year;
2018 IBCA Coach of the YEar;
2018 Heart of America Tournament Champions;
Rock Valley College Head Coach from 2012 to 2016;
2x NJCAA Division III National Champions (2014, 2016);
2x Spalding NJCAA Division III Coach of the Year (2014, 2016);
2016 NABC National JuCo (all levels) Coach of the Year;
2015 NJCAA National Runner-up;
4x Don Klaas NJCAA Region IV Coach of the Yearplayed college basketball for Morningside (guard)

Today’s game of basketball is so competitive, and teams are so evenly matched, that any small advantage can make or break a game. Knowing how to utilize screening concepts, isolating your best players and knowing when to switch screens are examples of the ‘little things’ that Craig Doty has capitalized on to become a highly successful, National Championship-winning coach. 

In this jam-packed, fully loaded video with on-the-court demonstrations, you will see a breakdown that provides an inside look at how Coach Doty helps his players take advantage of any little break they can get!

Ghost Screens

The ball screen has become an integral part of today’s game. As such, most opponents know how to defend each player coming off a screen. To keep opponents on their toes and guessing Doty shows viewers how to use a Ghost Screen and how it forces defenders to play you honestly.

As Doty demonstrates, sprinting toward the ball and making good solid plants allows your screeners to get an easy layup around the rim or dive to the short corner for a wide-open shot. Viewers are shown an easy-to-learn 1-on-0 drill that teaches the proper technique for setting a Ghost Screen.Doty demonstrates how they teach and reinforce the offensive options off Ghost Screens with a build-up system that utilizes 3-on-3 continuous pressure applied in the half court. To help hammer home these concepts, viewers are shown game film from the previous season to showcase how his teams used the Ghost Screen against a variety of opponents. 

Isolation Plays

Teams who win consistently also know how to take advantage of mismatches. Mismatches occur whenever a player can score or dominate offensively whenever guarded by someone smaller or slower.

Doty demonstrates several simple actions that coaches can use to create a mismatch - in the post or by having a guard catch the ball at the high post. Dominant post players often get double-teamed, and an advantage can be found if the post-player can effectively kick it out and find the open shooter. Viewers are shown effective techniques for teaching offensive players how to read the defender, find the open pass or how to make one more pass to create a wide open 3-point shot.  

Once again, following effective on-court demonstrations with teaching points, viewers are treated to several game film examples on how to attack double-teams or catch at the high post and attack the rim.  

Switching On Everything 

Rounding out this highly informative video, Doty concludes with an on-court demonstration about his highly successful ‘switching on everything’ defensive philosophy. The Emporia State head coach has used a ‘switching-on-everything’ mentality to help defenders be there on the catch and force their opponents to always play with pressure defense. 

From down screens to cross-screens, to switching curls, Doty shows how his defense manipulates any type of screen or scenario and stays successful. Using 3-on-3 half-court situations, viewers get an inside look at how he teaches defensive switching and holds his players accountable for communicating on every switch. In the game film portion of the demonstration, Doty shows terrific, relevant examples of how his teams have used his ‘switching-on-all-screens’ system effectively.  

This is a must-have video to add to your instructional basketball coaching collection! Doty does a great job explaining all the meaningful details in an easy-to-understand manner.

52 minutes. 2022.