Defense

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

These notes and diagrams On Jim Boeheim’s 2-3 Zone defense are a follow up to an earlier post I made about the Syracuses zone.

Here is the link to the original post: Syracuse 2-3 zone

The source of these notes is Coach Mike Neighbors newsletter. Email me if you would like me to pass your email address along to Coach Neighbors to add to his newsletter.

Most teams don’t play zone, so it is harder to prepare for in a short time frame.

It is tough for teams to get off a good shot against a zone with 10 seconds left.

 

 

2-3 Screening Drill

More teams are setting screens against the zone.

Guards at one end of the floor for this drill.

3 offensive players on the perimeter, 1 in the high post.

Post screens for the guards

Defense fights over the screen if it is a shooter, under the screen if it is a non shooter.

2-3 Short Corner Trap

X5 steps out

X3 doubles with X5

X4 comes across to the block

X2 drops

 

2-3 Corner Trap

X4 and X5 trap corner

X1 takes away the wing

X5 takes away the block

X3 takes away the midpost

Teams only make high post shot 20% of the time and we are in good rebounding position.

Baseline Inbounds Plays

Forwards can’t let the ball go to the corner

Guards take away the high post

 

 

 

Syracuse stays in the zone even when they are down 8 to 10 points.

They will go full court press and try to trap more.

If they are down 15 or more they will look to go man to man

If a team hits a couple of threes against you early, stay with the zone. If a team did that against you and you were playing man to man, you would take timeout and tell them to play better man to man. You wouldn’t change your defense.

Zone’s impact on Syracuse offense:

Players are in better position for transition game

Guards don’t get caught underneath

These notes and diagrams On Jim Boeheim’s 2-3 Zone defense came from Mike Neighbors newsletter. Email me if you would like me to pass your email address along to Coach Neighbors to add to his newsletter.

Here is a link to the second part of this post with some trapping ideas

Syracuse 2-3 zone Part 2

If a team is shooting 42% from 3, what would your assistants tell you to play?

They will tell you to play man. The opponent is shooting 42% against man to man, so they figured out how to get good shots against man to man, not necessarily against a zone.

 

2-3 Initial Alignment

5 defenders should be moving guards try to keep the ball out of the high post

On the perimeter, play 3 players with 2 guards and help from forwards

The top 2 guys must be close enough to touch hands.

2-3 Rotation on Pass to the Wing

Take away the 3 point shot–pressure shooters, get them off their spots.

Designate who to stop and all 5 guys are responsible for stopping him. Match up with him, no matter where he is.

The forward rule is if a man is open in front of you, pick him up.

First forward must close out on outside lane.

Forward bumps back into passing lane once guard gets there.

Center rotates to ballside block.

Helpside forward goes ot helpside block.

Helpside guard drops to foul line.

2-3 Rotation on Pass to High Post

If the ball goes to the high post, the center is responsible for playing the ball.

X3 and X4 drop to blocks.

X5 hesitates while the forwards drop to the blocks,then picks up the ball.

 
X1 and X2 go to the wings to take away the shooters.

If the ball is up top, the guard is up top against a shooter, but gives space against a penetrator or passer.

2-3 Rebounding Responsibilities

Weak side forward is alone on the weak side

If a team plays 4 out, they will not be as strong rebounding

There is no block out on the weak side, the weak side forward gets position on the edge

If the offense crashes the boards hard, Syracuse looks to run.

X5 gets position in the middle of the lane,

Ball side forward gets to the ball side block

The guard in the high post gets to the middle.

Ball side guard gets to the lane line.

Start teaching the zone with:

5 guys on the perimeter

Offense passes the ball for 25 to 30 seconds (this is how
long most teams take to attack the zone)

Defense moves on every pass.

Then, add two offensive players in the post and
play 5 defense on 7 offense

Here is a link to the second part of this post with some trapping ideas Syracuse 2-3 zone Part 2

These drills for the run and jump press are from the University of Washington Women’s basketball coaching Newsletter. If you would like to subscribe, email me and I will forward your interest on to Coach Mike Neighbors,

Yesterday, I posted some notes on playing the defense. You can see those here: Run and Jump

The drills are from the Run and Jump Press that is run by Coach Eddie Antrist of the University of Wisconsin-Stout

 

 

 

 

 

Dig-Dig- Catch up- Dig Drill

 

Start with foot fire

Slide…sprint to recover…slide….repeat

You must have active hands, high and wide

 

 

 

 

Tip Drill

 

Tipping the ball from behind is important

Tip the ball with your left hand vs. a right hand dribble, reverse vs. left hand dribble.

 

 

 

 

 

2 on 2 Run Jump (frame 1)

 

When I jump I will call out my teammates name.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 on 2 Run Jump (frame 2)

 

when you rotate up you must have high hands

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 on 1 Tip from Behind

2 on 2 Trap Sideline (Blue)

 

In the drill steer sideline, the inbound defender must quickly get below the level of the ball.

Once the ball starts to dribble you must get away from the offense, there is no reason to be close (you will foul).

Run drill at both ends the same time.

 

 

 

3 on 3 Positioning Dill (full court)

Offense advances the ball with the pass up the floor, while the defense sprints to the proper position.

Ball will go from one sideline to the next as the offense advances the ball up the floor.

3 on 3 Run and Jump Rotation Drill

Same set up as 3 on 3 positioning drill, allow the dribble by the offense

The defense will now attack with the run and jump

3 on 3 Live

Run the same drill live.

Make your rotations (only run and jump) on your own.

Put a coach back as a lone defender to prevent the long over the top pass,, as soon as the ball crosses half court he is out of the play

Diamond and Box Set Alignments- 4 on 4 Live Drill

5 on 5 live – Free Throw Drill

Color scheme for the defense
White Basic Run and Jump
Blue Sideline Trap
Red Immediate Trop in bounds
Black Denial on inbounds

You don’t need to necessarily call the colors your players need to learn when to RJ and when to trap.

Use “red” when they clear out

You can combine some of the colors.

When playing a great ball handler “black” and run “white” on the other guard
You can run black with two players, and double team the inbound pass the great player.

These notes and diagrams of the run and jump press are from the University of Wahington Women’s basketball coaching Newsletter.

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

The drills for the press are at this link

The notes are from the Run and Jump Press that is run by Coach Eddie Antrist of the University of Wisconsin-Stout

When running the press you do not need to steal the ball

If you think steal you will reach and foul
You want the offense to make mistakes
Teams that press tend to be over anxious

When starting the press you want to Pressure the ball right away.

You don’t want the ball to be thrown in quickly
Better if one of your bigger players is on the ball.
Whoever scores is immediately on the ball.

 

X1 and X2 do not deny the inbounds

Stay behind the offense and allow them to catch the ball.
We want them to catch the ball in front of us.
If the ball is inbounded above the FT extended we are
automatically in the Run and Jump.
If they screen we will switch.

X4 and X5 are in a side position

We do not want the ball thrown over the top.
Not a total denial, nor behind

 

 

When the ball is thrown in (Frame 2) X1will put immediate pressure on the ball.

We are not worried about getting beat

Inbound defender must get below the line of the basketball into a gap position.

X2 and X3 must be on the ball side of the midline.

 

 

 

As you pressure the ball your objective is to get the ball into an uncontrolled dribble.

If they dribble to the middle we run and jump.

X1 will continue along that line and settle in the middle of the floor.

We do not want a reach and a foul.
Don’t let the offense be comfortable.
We are not thinking steal, they will throw it away.

Get high hands on every run and jump situation.

If 4 or 5 would flash to the middle, the defender must take away the flash

 

If the ball is dribbled sideline, You could run and jump with the second line defender.

The original ball defender would continue along the same line

We do not want the deep defender (X4) to jump; it makes to pass over the top too easy.

 

 

 

 

Sideline Trapping (Blue Look)

When the ball is dribbled up the sideline, we will is turn and sprint and cut the offensive player off at some point.

We will chase from behind at get a trap near ½ court.

Trap could happen all the way down the court

You don’t always know who is going to rotate. X2 could cut off the dribble while X1 traps from behind.