The on-ball defender squeezes between the screener and his own man, staying glued to the dribbler’s outside shoulder as the screen arrives. He never gives up the pull-up. What it costs him is a step, because for a moment he is behind the ball and the handler is going downhill.
Why coaches use it
You go over against anybody who can shoot off the dribble. Take that shot away and the offense has to beat you with a drive, which is a longer, messier road with more defenders on it.
It only works with a partner. Because the on-ball defender is trailing, somebody has to meet the ball at the rim, so “over” is always paired with something else: a big in drop, a hedge, or a switch. If you hear a coach say the coverage is simply “over”, they mean over with the big staying home on his own man, and the two halves of the decision are being named as one.
How to attack it
- Turn the corner. The defender is behind you. Get two feet in the paint before the big can slide over.
- Use the screener. A roll into the space the trailing defender cannot cover gives you a pocket pass or a short roll catch.
- Reject the screen. Drive away from it. The defender has already leaned to the screen side to go over.
- Pin the big. Spain pick and roll back screens the defender who is supposed to meet you at the rim, and there is nobody else home.
- Re-screen. Make him fight over twice in one possession and watch his feet.
A defender who goes over and then dies on the screen is not playing over. He is playing a slow switch, and you should tell him so.