Defense

Some thoughts on pressing philosophy and a couple of drills to work on your presses.

These drills are from Trey Watts’ Meet the Press Playbook which is paired with the the Princeton Hybrid Offense Playbook this week’s eBook bundle.

You can find out more about the pair at this link: Princeton Hybrid Offense & Meet the Press Playbooks

If you have any questions about the Playbooks, please feel free to email me or call/text me at (317) 721-1527‬.

Keys to Pressing Success

Ball Pressure:

• We must be able to exert pressure on the ball. It is vital that the man pressuring the ball be able to pressure without fouling. Fouling will negate all the work that the team is putting into our pressure defense.
• We must not get beaten on straight line drives by ball handlers
• We cannot let a ball handler look over our press and pick apart the gaps with passing. He must be forced to dribble.

Sprint Mentality

• We must always have a sprint mentality. Regardless of what previously happened.
• We must sprint to rotate.
• We must sprint to recover.
• We must sprint out of traps.

Rotation

• We must rotate without hesitation. We can’t second guess whether we should go or where we should go.
• Repetition has built confidence in our rotations.
• Rotating out of traps is critical
• Rotating on ball reversal is critical.

Backtips

• We must become very good at backtipping dribblers.
• If we get beat off the dribble our defenders must sprint and look for opportunities to backtip the ballhandler
• It is very important that they sprint thru the backtip.
• They chase the ball handler until he either passes or picks up the ball.

Anticipation

• We our players to get good at anticipating what the offense will do.
• Will they try to beat us off the bounce?
• Where do they like to pass the ball?
• We need to learn to read the passers eyes and anticipate where he is going with the ball.
• Each is important that each player know what they are capable of doing on the court, coverage wise.

Backwash

• We get a lot of steals in what we term “Backwash”
• This is when the ball is headed up the sideline and our backside defenders are sprinting back down the middle of the floor.
• Usually the offense is looking to make a cross court pass for a basket, we ANTICIPATE this pass and try to steal it in the BACKWASH.

Diagrams created with FastDraw

Help Side Wing Drill

This drill is designed to work on help side wing play. One of the most important team attributes of great pressing teams is PATIENCE. Traps and high tempo are not always in order.

The drill begins with the ball in 1st trap situation with X2 and X4.

The ball is then reversed to the middle of the floor and dribble hard at the weak side wing or held for a two count as some teams like to do against pressure.

In either case, the wing must exercise patience in order to allow teammates to recover to proper spots.

If the wing comes up too fast, the opponent will “dump” it right over the top ad create a numerical advantage BE PATIENT ON BALL REVERSAL

NOTE: X4 AND X3 MUST OPEN HIPS AND SHOULDERS TO DIRECTION THE BALL IS THROWN AND GET TO SPOTS SHOWN. WING SPRINTING OUT OF TRAP MUST

BE READY TO COVER DIAGONAL PASS. X1 MUST CROSS FLOOR QUICKLY TO BALL SIDE. X5 MUST MOVE TO WEAK SIDE NORMALLY.

*** AGAINST PATIENT, METHODICAL OPPONENTS WE ARE LOOKING FOR 2ND TRAP OPPORTUNITIES.

Pass Escapes

Here we want to work on how we react when someone makes a pass out of trap.

We will start with the players in a trap in the first trap area.

We start by the coach dictating where they will pass the ball for their escape.

We want to work on the reveral pass first.

Once the 1st pass is completed we play it out live, down and back.

Diagrams created with FastDraw

 

Pass Escapes II

Here we have the offense complete a pass up the sideline.

We consider this to be a vertical pass.

We will sprint from behind and trap.

X5 covers sideline.

X2 SPRINTS to cover backside.

X4 SPRINTS back.

Once the pass is completed it is live, down and back.

These drills are from Trey Watts’ Meet the Press Playbook which is paired with the the Princeton Hybrid Offense Playbook this week’s eBook bundle.

You can find out more about the pair at this link: Princeton Hybrid Offense & Meet the Press Playbooks

If you have any questions about the Playbooks, please feel free to email me or call/text me at 765-366-9673.

Some Defensive Terminology used by retired longtime Utah Jazz assistant Gordie Chiesa.

I hope you can find a couple of things to apply to your defensive terminology and system.

Back on the Raise — when the shooter raises on his shot and the ball is released, two opposite defenders are sprinting back to half court in defensive transition.

“Backside Help” — Helpside Defense

Ballside/Backside — Divide the court down the middle. The ballside is where the ball is and the backside is where it is not.

Basketline — A direct imaginary line that illustrates ballside and back side defense.

Beat to Point — When the dribbler gets his head and shoulder by his defender, the defender must pick an angle and sprint to re-establish good defensive position to get the dribbler under control.

Bump & Under — defending cross-screen action, “lock-in” to the cutter, take the cutter to the screen and “release” and go under the screen and meet the cutter

Buying Time — One defender playing two offensive players by “stunting until a teammate can recover to his man.

Circle the Post — the post defender constantly changing post position.

Close Out — A defensive technique of getting Control of your body to contain the dribbler or challenge the shot. This happens when the defender gives help and now is rotating to the open shooter.

Contain — Staying in front of the dribbler, getting the ball handler under control.

Contest — No easy passes or shots, hand up, always challenging.

Corral the Dribbler — Nearest defender in the middle of the floor is in position and directing the defender on the dribbler. He is in a containment mode.

Corral Stance — The defender on the ball’s body position is influencing the dribbler to above the elbow area.

Dig out in Post — Perimeter defender drops to help, then challenges the post player’s dribble in the lane.

Eight Defense — an attempt in the back-court to create an 8 second violation. If the ball is passed to the front court at the end of a game, automatic foul

“Empty” — An offensive player leaves the strong-side area.

Fire – early trap before the screen is set on pick and roll coverage.

Footfakes – Quick step fakes by offensive players. The defensive player takes these fakes by creating space with the back foot to allow proper reaction.

Force Down – Push the dribbler to baseline.

F.U.S.D. — Fake up, stay down, close-out technique.

Get Legal — Regardless of your defensive job you must be legal when you position yourself. “Gold” — Denying the low post.

“Gold 2” — denying the low post, second phase keep denying the post player as he steps out off the block.

“Gold Butt Front” — a denial of the low post in which the defender is driving his feet and using his back and butt to discourage the post entry

“Gold Clamp” — the backside defender rotates across “jams’ the receiver of a lob pass and forms a trap.

“Gold Face Front” — a denial of the low post in which the defender has his back to the ball to discourage the post pass.

“Gold Slip Front” — a denial of the low post in which the defender is shoulder to shoulder with one leg above the post player encouraging the pass to create a steal

“Gold Sandwich” — The 2nd defender is discouraging a post pass by playing behind.

Helps — When one defensive player moves to help another defensive player to stop penetration or challenge a shot.

Heipside — The opposite side of the floor that the ball is on.

Help the Helper — The secondary help defender gives support and “stunts upw to contain the offensive player of the primary help defender until he can recover back.

Hit — aggressive double team on the dribbler both in the front court and backcourt.

Inverted — Regardless of defensive position, keep “Bigs” guard basket area and ‘Smalls” out on the perimeter.

Jam Point — Forcing the outlet receiver to go back for the ball.

Jam Outlet — On rebounds the nearest player pressures outlet pass to delay break.

K.B.I.F. — Keep Ball In Front

“Knock Off” — A big defender bumping out a small defender to perimeter after a Big/Little Mismatch inside.

Late Peel Back — emergency switch where the beaten defender pursues back to a cutter

Level of Ball — In transition, all defensive players must get below the ball in order to be in the Corral Position”.

Line — Imaginary line drawn between the offensive player you are guarding and the ball.

“Load to the Ball” — All help defenders are in position on the strong side and forming a defensive wall.

Lock and Decide — “lock-in” to cutter’s body, stay connected and take the cutter to the screen and
decide to “ride” or “shoot the gap”

Lock and Ride — lock-in” to cutter’s body, stay connected and take the cutter to the screen and “ride
over the top”

Lock Screens — Put chest on the screener to force the screen to be set further up and away from the
basket.

Lock/Trail — Forcing the baseline cutter, and being ready to trail to go in only one direction.

Lock/Trail 2 — defending loop action the defender of the second screener is creating a double team
on the catch on the wing

Most Dangerous Man — In transition when determining who to guard we must get to the most dangerous offensive player first; not necessarily our own man.

Muck — the help defender drops into the lane before the ball is passed to “tag/clog” the paint area Nail — The help position in the middle of the floor across the foul line extended

Open & Through — ‘lock-in” to the cutter, take cutter to the screen and shoot the gap by sliding through between the screener and your teammate who opened up.

Pack It In – A concept in which the defensive players are in a “corral presence” at the elbows or at the pro lane line to shorten different driving gaps.

Plug — The defender at the “Nail position”.

Point of Pick-Up — The area of the court where the defense will pick-up and start defending.

Pre-Rotate — A designated help defender who rotates early to take on the cutter whether rolling or flaring. Protect— Protect the basket area, take away lay-ups.

“Red Dog” — Hard trap action defending screen/roll.

Release — When the big man rotates back to the basket, he releases the protector to recover back to his own man.

Ride to the Backside — “lock-in” to cutter and influence the cutter to the backside of the floor into “tags”

Rotation — A defensive player leaves his own offensive player to stop the ball or protect the basket.

Shade the Ball!Man — The defender slightly angles his body left or right to influence either the ball or man to cut or drive in a less dangerous direction.

Shift— Movement up or down an imaginary line in relation to the ball.

Silver — playing behind in the post.

Sink — help defender drops below the level of the ball to pick up a new offensive player

Split Defender — when doubling the post, this perimeter defender takes the first pass opposite.

Spy — in transition, the defensive point guard “jams” the inbound pass receiver in order to force him to come back and catch the outlet pass.

Step Up and Stick — the help defender stays “at home” on dribble penetration at the ball side corner.

Strong — nearest baseline big man rotates early above the strong side block vs. a wing isolation.

“Strong I” — Imaginary direct line that establishes baliside or is occupied by the backside defender.

Swarm — Intense body pressure with active hands going after the ball is picked up.

Swipe Hand movement attacking the ball usually in pick and roll defense or as a help defender in the post.

Switch and Fight — after emergency switching action, the mismatched defender has to fight off by dpeeling back” looking to steal or getting into a “Gold” (front) position

“Tag” — Help defender steps across chucking/swiping at the cutter usually entering the paint.

“Take On” — Ride/stay on the cutter’s body

Tandem — In transition the two defenders are back in recovery. The top defender stops the ball and the back defender takes the first pass out in a close-out position

Tandem — In transition the two defenders are back in recovery. The top defender stops the ball and the back defender takes the first pass out in a close-out position

Trail – Follow cutters off baseline screens then recover

Trapping — Sending a second defender to trap the ball out on perimeter.

“Turning’ — Making the dribbler change direction usually in the back court.

“Up” — Maximum pressure on the ball.

White — nearest defender corrals and slow traps the offensive threat on perimeter.

Wide — all help defender’s hands are spread out and active.

— Double team in the post.

“X Big” — a double team of the post by the top big defender

“X Cutter” — a double team of the post off the cutter

“X Nail” — a double team of the post from the nail position

“X Switch” — backside screener switches onto cutter

Zoning — The help defender is protecting against penetration by staying in a direct line between the dribbler and the basket.

These thoughts came from Coach Scott Peterman of the Men’s Basketball Hoopscoop Coaching site.

He has put together “The World’s Greatest Collection of Basketball Coaching Clinic Notes.”

You can get a copy of Volumes 6 and 7 along with my eBook with 130 Winning Special Situations at this link: The World’s Greatest Collection of Basketball Coaching Clinic Notes Volumes 6 and 7

If you have any questions about the notebooks, please feel free to email me.

The first requirement to being a great defensive team is to be a great defensive conversion team to 1) Take away easy baskets 2) Force the offense to play against your set half court defense 5 on 5.

 

by Mike Dunlap Current Coach at Loyola Marymount–former NBA Assistant and Head Coach

1. Fundamental to our success as a basketball team will be in direct relation to the number of easy baskets we allow. I believe defensive transition is paramount in our system.

2. In order to understand sound defensive transition, we first must analyze the fast break.

Made or missed, the fast break team is trying to:

a. Get a quick outlet pass as far up the court as possible.
b. Transfer the ball to a shooter at the other end of the court.
c. Get an uncontested three point shot or lay-up off after the second pass.
d. Immediate ball reversal to the opposite wing and /or trailer as it is very tough for the defense to go from ball side pressure to help side closeout.

3. Numbered Defensive Break

A. Concept

1) Players roles- each player will have a designated lane ( i.e the same lanes as our numbered fast break)
2) Emphasis – pressure the basketball while covering fundamental fast break lanes.

B. Rules

1) Stop the ball-Meet the outlet pass and get the guard to turn as many times as possible- slow the ball down, at least.
2) Sprint the lanes

a) The first three steps are the most important because that is when the break generally takes place.
b) Once players reach the half court line, vision on the ball and man should be a pint of emphasis.
c) The key is to get below the level of the ball.

3) Match Up/ Rotation

a) Match up to the offensive man in your lane.
b) However, if there is not a man in your lane, rotate to the nearest offensive player: at no time should the defensive player be solely responsible for his lane.

4) Help on Penetration

a) The ball and its penetration is the single most important thing to defend. Therefore, the emphasis should be keeping the ball in front of you. Since that does not always happen, immediate rotation to the ball cannot be stressed enough.
b) Two points should be mentioned – first, quick rotation will not occur unless there is proper defensive spacing (“ play up the line,” or to the ball): secondly, whenever a player is beaten by penetration you can double the ball with the chaser as a rule of thumb.

5) Contest all shots

a) Hands are essential in all phases of defense, especially when it comes to defending the shot.
b) It is imperative that all shots be pressured with the hands up on the closeout.

6) Rebounding – Completes All Defensive Series

C. Responsibilities

1. “1”- a free safety

a) Must get to the initial outlet immediately – made or missed (i.e. fast break teams want the ball inbounded / outletted quickly). If you condition your “1” man to jump to the ball instantly it will slow the break down.
b) In situations where the “1” man cannot get to the ball (definitely the exception) , he will fill the “2” or “3” lane, which ever is open

2. “2” – sprints the right sideline lane. In cases where “1” cannot get to the ball quickly enough “2” will assume his responsibilities.
3. “3” – sprints the left sideline lane. Occasionally, he will take the initial outlet pass.
4. “4” – sprints inside lane nearest the “3” man and is responsible for any trailer. Additionally, he we assist on middle penetration should his man be dragging up the court.
5. “5” – sprints to paint and will be responsible for the first cutter through the paint- he protests the paint.

These thoughts came from Coach Scott Peterman of the Men’s Basketball Hoopscoop Coaching site.

He has put together “The World’s Greatest Collection of Basketball Coaching Clinic Notes.”

You can get a copy of Volumes 6 and 7 along with my eBook with 130 Winning Special Situations at this link: The World’s Greatest Collection of Basketball Coaching Clinic Notes Volumes 6 and 7

If you are interested in adding to your Coaching Toolbox take look at what I believe is our best offer.

CLICK HERE to select from a list of more than 70 eBooks.

 

If you have any questions about the notebooks, please feel free to email me.

Today’s post includes a video about Better Basketball’s Dynamic Defensive System. It contains samples from the whole program.

It moves fast and you may have to rewind, pause it, or watch it a second time, but I think there are several ideas to be had from the content. I hope you get some ideas that can be adapted to your program.

You can also see their You Tube channel of several coaching resource videos at: Better Basketball You Tube Channel

My takeaways from the video below

4 levels of defense

0 = Prerequisites Moving Mechanics and Rebounding

3 Types of movements (forward/back, side to side, rotation)

Some ideas for preseason conditioning drills next fall (see exercises on the video)

(Emphasis that rebounding is a prerequisite for playing defense)

Level 1 = on ball defense

Level 2 = guarding away from the ball

Stop the ball from being driven into the lane
Stop the ball from being shot in the lane
Stop the ball from being passed into the lane
Quickly recover to level 1 position on the ball

Level 3 = guarding situations such as baseline drive, ball screens, post feed, failed traps

Level 4 = restore order

Snippets of drills (see the drills in the video)

Terminology

Taking a charge–“no hand bracing” keep hands up when landing to avoid injury to hand/wrist and a drill to work on it.

Skirmish = make the penetrator indecisive by faking help.

The help behind a recovering defender is the most important part of recovery.

If the ball is fed into the post, the post defender has the air time of the pass to recover to guard the ball once it is caught.

To create level 3 defenders, 1) Reduce each principle into specifics that can be measured 2) Turn the principle into repeatable actions that can be drilled

A skill can be acquired if it can be turned into repetitions

3 ways to double team the post 1) Ball is in the air from a pass 2) On the catch 3) On the move by the offense

Having mental toughness does not guarantee a championship, but a lack of mental toughness (not having poise, focus confidence) in the key possessions is guaranteed to cost you a championship.

Championship commitment on defense requires verbal, physical, and emotional commitment.

If you are interested in learning more about this defensive system click the link below.

Better Basketball’s Dynamic Defensive System.

This article was posted with the permission of retired NBA Coach Del Harris

Regarding pick and roll defenses:

1. Avoid “stringing out” too far on showing/hedging from the picker.

It is fine to jump up hard in a position parallel, or virtually so, to the sideline and go a step or even two with the ballhandler as a defensive option.

Continuing to string out with the ball handler forces the team defense has to rotate to your man on any kind of show.

The stringer is in a position too far out to rotate back safely to any man.

Remedy: After a defender shows, he needs to recover quickly “down the line” toward the free throw lane, not out toward the sideline.

2. When defending elbow area picks, show hard or at the angle to corner but:

If you show hard, your man will roll to the basket and will have to be picked up by a teammate.

Show high, stay high. The defender on the elbow who shows aggressively must be prepared to cover the pop by the picker or, if he rolls, to cover the next player who comes up high—“show high, stay high!”

If you show at a 45 degree angle, then you cannot string out toward the corner more than a step.

Show “down the line” so as to be able to stay in a position whereby you are able to slow down the ball and still make it hard to pass to the roller by staying in the pass lane with active hands.

Weak side help is vital. As in showing at an angle anywhere (covering the turn) on the pick and rolls, the defender goes down the line but still needs help.

3. To turn the pick/roll down? If you try to mix your pick and roll defenses by “turning it down” here are some suggestions:

First, do not be afraid to try it. But then do not be like many NBA teams and overdo it. It is a good change up, when done right, and a lot of teams do not do a good job of going against it. (But that is changing in the NBA now as teams overuse it.)

The defender on the picker must call it out loud and clear three times, (whatever signal you decide to use) and the ball defender cannot change positions until he hears it, no matter what the game plan is.

The picker defender must get into a strong, athletic position ready to defend any attacker and stay in it. This is crucial.

The picker defender must get into a line between the ball and the basket but ought not to be any further from the picker than an arm’s length plus a step, certainly no more than two steps.

The biggest concerns are:

1. The ballhandler splitting between him and the picker, leaving the ball defender behind,
2. And allowing a quick short bounce pass (“pocket pass”) to the picker whereby he can catch and get to the goal or catch/shoot so quickly no one can get to him.

If the ball is penetrated the picker’s defender will try to defend both players as long as he can, by dropping down the line toward the goal.

The ball defender must try to recover back in front, but the help defender must be ready to commit to the ball if he has to (trap or late switch).

The defender on the ball must quickly jump to the high side of the ballhandler, maintaining at least a touch with his man, and be in a position to force him to go to the sideline/baseline instead of penetrating to the middle.

Do not get too high on the top of the ballhandler. Be only slightly higher than parallel with the sideline, not turned too far toward the baseline because it encourages a split.

Note: if you are a zone team. Turn all the pick and rolls on the wing or corner areas down. Usually players can switch the top and elbow pick and rolls.