Off the ball screen, practiced in a closed situation.
In threes players set up in a triangle.
The player at the top passes the ball in either direction then sets the screen on the opposite side to where they have just played their pass.
The player behind the screen curls round towards the basket and receives a pass from the player with the ball to shoot a lay-up.
The shooting player then collects the ball and runs to the top of the triangle to start the drill again.
Setting the screen:
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