Defense

This drill is used by Arkansas Women’s coach Mike Neighbors.

Coach Neighbors has probably the oldest and certainly one of the best basketball coaching newsletters.

If you would like to subscribe to his newsletter, email me and I will forward your interest on to Coach Mike Neighbors,

I have also posted links to other articles from Coach Neighbors at the end of the drill description.

WALLING UP is another vital technique to our PACK LINE DEFENSE

 

 

WALLING UP DRILL

Coach tosses the ball of the glass to be rebounded by the O player. The X gets her body as close to the rebounder as possible without fouling and without allowing that offensive player to drive around them.

 

The offensive player continues pivoting, X moves her feet in wall up position until whistle

Build the drill up.

Add the take a charge at the end.
Add offensive player taking a shot and defense contesting/wedging/then rebounding.

Points of Emphasis

It’s my belief that even the very best players have a difficult time scoring over a great contest. And add active bodying to that equation and the percentage of made basket fall even further. TOO many times poorly coached players foul in these situations that bail out the offensive player.

Walling Up saves us about 10 points a game and at least five fouls on most nights.

Exaggerate players keeping their hands behind their body in this drill so that in games they won’t be tempted to bring their arms down in these situations.

Officials tell us every year that our players do as good of job in this technique as any they officiate. We are easy to officiate around the basket and I can assure you we DO get some benefit of reputation as a result.

These defensive concepts were sent to me by Steve Smiley.

They were assembled by former long time NBA Assistant Gordon Chiesa.

He spent 16 seasons with the Jazz and also had a tenure with the Grizzlies.

He also served as a college assistant at Dartmouth and Providence. He was the head coach at both Manhattan and Providence.

He was an assistant with team that reached both the NBA Finals (1997 and 98 with the Jazz) and the NCAA Final Four (1987 with Providence)

The Defender of the Screener on pick/roll defense has to be at the correct angle of the screen to start the coverage. If not, there is no early help!

Technique defenders who can guard the ball one on one without needing early help will unify the team’s defense. Now, the help defense can remain situational!

It’s vital for the team’s main scorers to be engaged on defense without committing frustration fouls and getting in early foul trouble. Savvy discipline!

Steely Interior Defenders will take away the mental “comfort zone” of the Post Scorers, by being physical and forcing out longer catches!

Alert Centers on defense are “engaged talkers.” They’re communicating early the defensive coverage of the Offensive action. The Center is the defensive traffic cop!

Smart baseline switch defenders will eliminate the screener “slipping the screen” by stepping into the screener’s chest to direct movement!

Winning players want to get a defensive stop, no matter who scores the recent basket for the team. Their Defensive effort isn’t driven by, if I just scored!

Good Defensive Teams will win the “floor scoring game,” by limiting 1) lay-ups/Dunks 2) free throws and 3) corner 3’s (NBA corner 3 is shorter). Executing the coverages!

Offensive minded teams that play non aggression defense, for the fear of their scorers getting into early foul trouble, often don’t win big road games!

The winner of the 50/50 loose ball hustle game is the player who is 1st to the floor with force. Now, instincts and toughness are in motion!

Clever Defenders will “show their hands” high to the referees when guarding a cutter. Now, the defense is contesting movement, but w/out holding!

Alert, help defenders will slow down the curling cutler on screening action by “stunting up” the line. on the flight of the pass. Timing!

Savvy perimeter defenders will force terrific catch and shoot players to dribble into a shot, by “crowding up” and taking away a clean look!

The 24/35 sec. shot clock always becomes our “born again” friend, as our defense heats up. The game goal is to force 2 shot clock violations!

Teams that can contain the ball are able 2 defend the 3 point line w/ efficiency. Now, the core D is unified and less in a scrambling mode!

Excessive fouling negates hustle and affects in-game strategy. The team committed the most fouls per game in the NBA at 23.3

Teams that can detend without fouling consistently win. The team in the NBA with the fewest team fouls committed per game at 17.3.

Sharp Defensive Teams play active “Help the Helper” defense. The 1st help defender trusts when he gives help, the 2nd helper is covering up.

Lively Defensive teams will have multiple bodies in front of lane drivers, trying to create steals. Active hands and feet generate gritty baskets!

The Defender of the Screener will “show out” to the Dribbler on Pick/Roll Defense then, recover back to the painted area with both hands high. Sharp!

Bright transition defenders will chase down the lay up shooter and try to block the shot attempt with their opposite hand to avoid body fouling!

United teams, after committing a turnover, will have an urgency of “negating the turnover” by getting a Defensive stop, the next possession. Values!

Teams that trap the low post scorer with another Big, “Big on Big,” will now create a rebounding siz dilemmas for their help defense on the boards!

Defending skilled Bigs, in the lane, is a gritty, emotionally draining ordeal. All that “bodying up” takes a mental toll on the defense. Be strong!

Our “run and surprise” defense is eyes driven. The nearest perimeter defender, randomly, traps the dribbler, in the scoring area to create havoc!

Steadfast defensive teams will consistently contain the ball outside the paint. Now, the help defense can remain “solid” to dominate the defensive boards!

Focused defenders will play “6 degrees of separation” defense by everyone being connected on a string with their fellow protectors. Connectivity!

Sharp one on one defenders will have one hand-in flicking up at the scorer’s dnbble trying to impact the ball. Technique and timing are in play!

Sharp coaches understand when playing against better talent and length, you have to change defenses. Mix and match to force contested shots!

Active off the ball defenders will have their hands out, shoulder width, distorting the look of the passing lanes. The passer now has doubt!

Hard Edge Defenders do not get discouraged when Savvy Scorers are making tough, challenged shots. They’re defending forward to the next play!

Wise defenders realize if the ball is going out of bounds, under their defensive basket, they can’t wildly try to save the ball. Wrong tearn 2 PTS!

Bad teams jog back in transition D; good teams run back and great teams sprint back. Those great teams are determmed 2 get a Def. stop!

Real players will take it “personal” when an opponent scores consecutive baskets on them. Now, technique, urgency and pride arc all in play!

Wise Help Defenders will get the angle, to impact the scorer’s footwork, not his shot delivery, when “digging the ball” out of the lane area!

Winning defenders cherish and execute the mandate of never letting down a teammate by not giving help defense. Each defender is committed to help!

Sharp defenders will play “Help the Helper” defense, by rotating to the nearest open offensive player. They’re helping and not “hugging” their own man!

Alert defenders will not give up open corner 3 looks, from ball side dribble penetration. They’re showing “stunt help” and recovering back!

Good Perimeter Defenders, when guarding a “head/shoulder fake” shooter, will be the 2nd jumper and only jump once. Bad defenders jump twice!

This article was written by Coach Will Rey

These are nice to have in your back pocket.

Why use one?

– Change tempo
– Dictates who takes the shots
– Uses zone principles
– Keeps the ball out of the hands of the opponent’s best player
– Offense often doesn’t know which offense to run

When to use?

– Can use the entire game or after timeouts
– To stop a run or to change momentum
– Use it until they score twice

Diamond and one
Advantages:

– Good when you are trying to take away one player
– Need to ask, “Do we want to take away their best player, shooter, or playmaker?”
– Most effective versus a perimeter player but will work versus a post player.

Defender is in total denial, he does not have to help. His only responsibility is to make sure his man has no catches.

He should force his man into the pack (the other 4 men are playing a zone) see the ball

Defender concepts

We have 4, they have 4. There should not be an open man.

X1 is at the top and covers everything from elbow to elbow
X4 and X3 are on the wings and cover from the elbow to the block
X5 stays on a straight line between the ball and the basket.

If the offense gets in a 1 guard front, line up your defense in a 1-3 with the 5 man staying in a straight line between the ball and the hoop.

If the offense is in a 2 guard front, the wing on that side will step up. Remember, we have 4 they have 4.

Pass coverage: On a pass to the wing and then a basket cut by the passer, X1 will take the cutter to the lane line and then X4 will absorb him.

If the pass goes from the wing to the corner, X5 can show but X4 should slide down to bump X5 back to his original position.

People in the diamond must know who the shooters are.

Remember we have 4 and they have 4. There should be no open cutters.

Diamond and one- Bump cutters

A counter often used for this defense is a lot of screening to free the man up for a shot.

To stop this, the guy covering the star player must stay right on the star’s butt so that they are almost 1 person.

The other 4 guys should bump the star player as he goes through.

Once the star gets under the basket, never give him a choice of direction. Don’t play on top, take away one of his options. Send him to a side where the wing defender can extend the defense a little more.

Bump cutter or extend on any screen. We want to force an outside shot.

A defender in this defense should not have to go from on the ball to on the ball.

Yell “shot” every time a shot goes up. We need to do this so we can find someone to block out.

Don’t want the zone to get stretched out too far so that offense can get it into the high post.

X1 should cover top of the key to the free throw line. Once the ball is passed to the wing,
X1 should drop to take away the high post.

Can’t let the pass be thrown behind X1 to the heart of the zone.

If a pass is thrown to the player we are trying to stop, force him into the pack. We can’t let the star get easy catches.

Triangle and Two– Good if a team has 2 good players and 3 average to below average players.

Advantages:

– Flexible because you can take 2 players out of the offense
– Forces non-scorers into scoring roles. We will play this against the 2 best scorers or versus the point guard and the scorer.
– Can upset the offense’s chemistry

We are completely denying 2 players
The other 3 defenders are in a triangle.

The 2 players being denied are not allowed to catch the ball. They are in full denial all over the floor.

If these 2 guys cross screen for each other, switch.

Scouting is essential to this. Make the other 3 beat you. Better still… no open looks. Remember, we have 3 and they have 3.

Put your most athletic person at the top of the triangle. He should also be crafty. He should never have 2 feet on the 3-point line. He covers elbow to elbow.

X2 and X3 have their respective wing areas.

If they bring someone else up such as O2 or O3, we’ll bring someone else up too.

Make them take a contested jump shot. In theory their guy is at best their 3rd best shooter so we are fine with this.

We can’t get beat off the dribble

Once the ball is passed, we jump to a help and support position

Talk, talk, talk. Tell each other where their help is.

No shots for 2 best players. No lay ups

If they overload this and put the 2 guarded guys away from the triangle, fine. Move the triangle to the side.

Don’t deny pass to the corner. We want them to shoot contested jump shots

No lay ups or any baskets close to the hoop. We are making them shoot contested jump shots

Post defense concepts– on a pass to the post X1 will trap down with one of the wing defenders to force the ball back out. If they want to go inside out and shoot the jumper, that is fine.

Trap from the top-down

Again, the guarded guys can’t catch the ball

If he does catch it in a scoring position, we must run and trap with the top of the triangle.

If he throws it out, we close out to force the jump shot.

If he isn’t in a scoring position, X1 should stay back in the triangle. We will never leave the basket unattended.

Ball screens

If an unguarded player screens for a guarded player, we trap it or string it out and let him fight over it.

If 2 guarded guys screen for each other, we switch it.

If they come into a scoring area, the point guy on the triangle helps or traps.

If a shot is taken they must yell “Shot!” Penalize players if they don’t do it in practice

Why is it so imperative to do this with the box and one or the triangle and 2? Because the guys in full denial may not see the shot going up.

We immediately go to 5 guys boxing out. It should be a good defense to rebound out of.
Why? Because we are always near shooters. The triangle guys never have 2 feet outside the 3-point line so we can have them close to the hoop.

The triangle men must constantly talk. They must appear bigger than they are. Hands up in the triangle, active hands.

2 guys must be in full denial and see the ball. If they cross screen or screen switch. Force them into the triangle. If we get lost, go to the rim and work your way out.

They may have a 3rd player who is a good shooter. We will have to keep track of him. Talk, talk, talk!

4 on 4 Diamond and 1 drill
4 offense guard 4 defense. Don’t let the defense get stretched out too far.

Stay big and talk. Only guard to the 3-point line. Don’t get stretched out too far.

When the ball is skipped to the other side of the floor, the closest man takes it.

We do not want any of our defenders in the diamond to have both feet outside the lane.

Once the shot goes up, the 4 have man to man responsibilities and must block out.

1 on 1 Diamond and one drill
Stop the offensive player from catching the ball. Can work in a shot to get them used to boxing out.

Force the offense back into the pack. We want to force back door passes and back door cuts.

3 on 3 Triangle and 2 Drill

Offense can do whatever they want. When ball goes into the post, the top of the triangle comes down and traps and then rotates out on the pass back out.

When the shot goes up, yell “Shot!” and box out.

If they screen on the ball, unguarded for unguarded, you switch and go on the inside.

2 on 2 Triangle and 2 Drill

Now work on the guarded players. Full denial

If they screen for each other, switch.

Then put someone with a blocking dummy. Do not go over the top, trail and closeout.

Then add a 2nd screener. Try to get 35 seconds without a touch. Only backdoor passes are o.k. Coach will just fake that pass and the drill will continue.

Will has more than 30 years of basketball coaching experience at college and high school level. He has produced 6 coaching DVDs and is a frequent clinic lecturer. He is currently the Head Coach at Northridge Prep in Chicago. Coach Rey has been a Division 1 Head Coach at Loyola and has served as an assistant at Evansville and Wright State. In 2005 he was inducted into the Five-star Basketball Hall of Fame for his work over 20 years as a resident coach, lecturer, and administrator at Five-Star camps.

I received this article from Coach Steve Smiley.

These defensive concepts were written by Coach Kevin Eastman.

He was an assistant with Doc Rivers for the Boston Celtics and on the Clippers’ coaching staff.

His area is player development. He also speaks and writes on leadership.

Coach Eastman is a partner in the Coaching U program.

Here is a link to the website: Coaching U

He is a really good follow on Twitter: @KevinEastman

10 Undervalued Keys to Great Defense

By Kevin Eastman

Most of us agree that defense is critical to team success and championship play. Here are some things to think about as you go about your defensive work. You can apply these no matter what defense you play.

1. FIRST 3 STEPS: The key to all great defenses is getting back in transition and setting your defense so the opponent has to play against your “set defense” all night. The first 3 steps must be an all-out sprint.

2. LOAD TO THE BALL: It’s vitally important to make sure that the great perimeter players in today’s game don’t see any seams in your defense in transition. Guards today are so good that they will take advantage of any little gap they see while you’re getting back. Pull your defense over to take away these seams, but also be aware of your man.

3. LOW MAN WINS: Simply put, the lower man between the offensive player and the defensive player usually wins that possession. The lower man has the advantage of the leverage game, the reaction game, and the relative quickness game. Get down and be in a stance, ready to move and adjust.

4. GET YOUR ANTENNAE UP: Players must be alert to what’s going on around them. Alertness is a trait all the great defensive teams share. This demands readiness in your eyes, your feet, your hands, and your mind.

5. SNIFFING THINGS OUT: Knowing what’s likely to happen next is an ingredient to all great defensive teams and players. To be able to “sniff things out,” you have to study the game and listen intently during scouting reports.

6. PLUGGING HOLES: Offenses are very good as well, so they will create problems and find holes in the defense. The great defensive teams are always ready to plug that hole and players have a trust that someone will have their back.

7. TALK INTIMIDATES: Teams that talk always seem to play with more energy and intensity. Talking lets the opponent know that you see everything they’re doing and that you know their stuff every bit as much as they do. Talking teams also always seem to be the more aggressive teams.

8. FIRST TO THE FLOOR: There will be a number of possessions in a game that come down to “who wants it more.” Being first to the floor is very important, as is being first to the long rebound. We call this the 50-50 game; we want to win the 50-50 game every night.FINISH YOUR

9. DEFENSE: How many times have we had a great possession and the opponent gets an offensive rebound? It’s a killer. Finish all slides, finish getting over screens, and finish every possession with a block out and rebound. We never want to start something that we won’t finish.

10. *TRUST: I’ve saved this for last because it’s the most important component of all great defenseive teams. It’s so important for players to know they can be intelligently aggressive. Players who know they have someone behind them to cover their backs can defend with intelligent abandon (NOT careless adandon). Turst actually makes your defense quicker and more alert because there’s no hesitation; a hesitant athlete is a non-athlete.

This article was written by Brian Anglim. Brian has coached basketball at both the high school and college levels. He has several articles on The Coaching Toolbox

Basketball Defensive Stoppers

by Coach Brian Anglim

Finding and developing a defensive stopper should be a priority item for a coach. Having a player that can limit a star player is invaluable and this player has a tremendous effect on developing the intensity and focus to becoming a championship level defense.

• Don’t be confused with athletic ability. A long/athletic player who has a lot of activity might seem like a good defender, but how effective is he one-on-one versus a top offensive player. Great athletes often get in bad positions because they don’t know how to use their quickness effectively, they often overcommit.
• Get a buy in from the player. Let him know that he is special, he/she can do things his teammates do not have the ability and toughness to accomplish.  They require more praise than any other player because their contributions aren’t apparent.
• If you can get that buy in then you need to give this player individual time, great man defense is a skill. Learn and teach all the nuances of the arm bar, closeouts, expanding and closing gaps with hop steps, holding, pushing to weak hands, etc. Give them extra time in the scouting report. It should be a sense of pride when in your scouting report. It should be a point in your pre-game speech that they are going to face a key defensive challenge.
• Fouling is a sin – some players see it as a badge of their physical nature. They need to see it as a mistake and strive to correct it.
• Teach them to be physical while being subtle in his/her approach. A term I got from Better Basketball’s Dynamic Defense was ESP – External Signs of Passivity.
• A stopper needs to be able to concentrate the entire possession, demand it. How often do you see a defender fall asleep when his man passes the ball or doesn’t make that last slide to cut off the baseline. The conditioning level of a stopper must be at the highest level, he needs to relish in wearing out his opponent mentally and physically.
• They understand the game within the game, they love seeing the frustration level in their opponent.
• They must be tough mentally and physically. It is great to have athletic ability but with concentration, toughness, and intensity it will be wasted.

A final defensive thought to leave you with, if you have an offensive player you can’t control don’t waste your best defender on him.

Put your worst defender on him and have your best defenders in position to help and control him when he/she penetrates.

These notes and diagrams on playing a 1-3-1 zone defense were provided by Cecil Kegans.

The notes were from Coach Kegans files of watching when John Beilein played a 1-3-1 defense.

I know that there are different versions of a 1-3-1 zone and that Coach Beilein played various styles as he adjusted to fit his personnel. I also know that Coach Beilein finished his college coaching career with teams that played outstanding man to man defense.

I am presenting these notes so that if you feel these rules would help your team, then experiment in practice to see if you are right.

Maybe there is only an idea or two that you can use. Maybe this post stimulates your thinking or discussion among your staff about your defense.

I am merely presenting this idea for your use as you do or do not see fit. I am not suggesting that you take this and incorporate as is.

T (Thief/Top) – Is always halfway direct line of the person with the ball and the guard on the opposite side . He is always facing the ball never flat
C (Clogger/Center) – Is always between the ball and the rim. Always has it’s hands wide to take away high post pass

P (Pushers/Wing) – Always in direct line of the ball and the
corner pass strong or weakside

W (Warrior/Bottom) – Is always matched up with the ball. If a post is down there will play on outside to run the corner pass

As you notice here when the ball is one side of the floor the opposite wing must drop to take weak side skip becuase the warrior has to follow the ball.

 

 

On a corner pass:

T- Must take high post

C- Must take the block( Always between ball and basket)

P- Turn around and perform same action

W- Takes the corner pass. The Warrior must closeout on the basline side as he never ants to give up baseline

On a skip pass

T- Will run to a direct line halfway between the ball and the guard on other sIde. Must be wide and facing the ball

C- Will run directly between the ball and the basket and hand wide to eflect high post pass

P- Baliside pusher will run in direct line of ball and corner pass. Weakside take away weakside corner pass

On penetration

T- Will move towards the ball attempting to tip away.

C- Staying between ball and rim

P- Job is to push up and make them retreat out of scoring area

W- Aiways matched up with ball

Once the dribbler has retreated, the defense returns to regular rules.

 

 

 

Dribbling in the Funnel

T Must stunt and play with ballhandler’s ball

P Must stunt and play with ball

C Stay between ball and basket

W Matched up with ball