Set Up Your Man
The cutter deliberately walks their defender in the opposite direction of where the screen is set before cutting hard off it.
When It's Used
Before using any off-ball screen — take a step or two away from the screen to engage the defender, then make a hard cut toward it.
What It Creates
Ensures the screen is effective by making the defender run into it rather than sliding around. Creates initial separation for all off-ball reads.
About This Action
The fundamental precursor to any effective off-ball screen, "Setting Up Your Man" is the deliberate act of displacing a defender *away* from the intended screen's location before initiating a hard, decisive cut toward it. This critical pre-screen movement aims to engage the defender, force them to commit their weight and attention in the "wrong" direction, and subsequently create a timing advantage that ensures the screen's efficacy. For instance, prior to using a pindown set at the right elbow, a cutter positioned on the wing might take a purposeful step or two towards the baseline or low block, pulling their defender with them, before snapping back explosively into the screener.