Defense

St. Louis Men’s Basketball Coach Zak Boisvert posted these videos

Coach Boisvert has posted several videos of some of the better schemes he has seen. His YouTube channel is: Zak Boisvert You Tube Channel

Editor’s Note from Brian.  There are two videos on this page–the second is an older video of some defensive conversion concepts from Jeff Van Gundy.

There is no narration with this video.

This is a YouTube video. If you are having trouble viewing it, the reason could be that the network you are on blocks YouTube videos.

Click the play arrow to view the video.

Loading to the basketball

These are some of Coach Boisvert’s comments on the video. Here is a link to his complete article: http://pickandpop.net/2018/05/loading-to-the-ball-vs-great-transition-pg/

In order to stop the great transition point guard (in this case, Philly’s Ben Simmons), the defensive big sprints to get ahead of the ball and shows his body to prevent middle penetration by the ball-handler (effectively “building a wall”). A trailing big who can really shoot it can hurt this tactic, but as you can see in the video below, the strategy still allows the defender to get out to a proper closeout. The defensive bigs’ positioning in the gap ahead of the ball allows him “One Way Out” movement in that he’s not moving in to help on penetration and then moving back out, rather he’s already positioned to stop penetration and he just moves in one direction to closeout.

This would be a great video to show to your players. Ask your players to watch the constant pointing/talking being done by all 5 guys in a Celtics uniform. Also, have them pay attention to the last 2 clips that aren’t examples of the “Post Shadow” that’s discussed above, but it’s unbelievable effort by 5 players to get ahead of the ball and make Simmons see bodies in transition.

Here is a second post on Zak’s site: Jeff VanGundy Defensive System Edit

Embedded below is a defensive system tape put together by Jeff Van Gundy and his coaching staff (which included Tom Thibodeau and Steve Clifford, and ) in the late 1990s with the New York Knicks. This is a comprehensive guide to Van Gundy’s defense and a great resource for coaches at all levels. I appreciate Michael Bowden for posting this.

This defense technique for defending a wide pin down screen is with SMU Coach Tim Jankovich.

The video is hosted on You Tube.

You will need to be on a network that allows you to access that site.

The video is two minutes and 33 seconds long. He discusses the position of the ball as to when they deploy this technique.

The video is from the Championship Productions You Tube Channel

If you are interested in learning more about the Championship Productions Basketball Coaching Video (available in both DVD and Instant Video Format) that this drill came from, you can click the following link: Tim Jankovich: Defensive Concepts vs. Man and Zone Offenses

Click the play arrow to view the video.

There is narration with the video, so please make sure that your sound is on.

St. Louis Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach Zak Boisvert posted these videos.

Coach Boisvert has posted several videos of some of the better schemes he has seen.

His YouTube channel is: Zak Boisvert You Tube Channel

Editor’s Note from Brian. The post is provided as food for thought, not to imply that you should implement this in your defense.

If nothing else, at least you can see how other teams are defending.

There is narration with this video, so please make sure that your sound is on

This is a YouTube video. If you are having trouble viewing it, the reason could be that the network you are on blocks YouTube videos.

Click the play arrow to view the video.

NBA RED Post Defensive Coverage

This article on the tactics used by Loyola Chicago to double team the low post was posted to the FastModel Sports Basketball Plays and Drills Library by Matt Wheeler.

Some ideas for defending the low post if you have a lack of size.

They will usually bring the extra defender from one of three areas: from the top, from the baseline and from the closest perimeter player.

Skilled teams can make you pay for putting an extra player on the ball.

Passing it out of the double team will put the defense in outnumbered situations.

The Ramblers excel in rotating out of these situations to get matched up before the offense can make them pay.

Doubling from the Top

x3 double teams 5 in the post.

x2 cuts to the nail

x4 cuts to the rim.

 

 

Doubling from the Baseline

x4 double teams 5 in the post.

x3 cuts to the nail

x2 cuts to the rim.

 

 

Doubling from the Closest Perimeter Player

x1 double teams 5 in the post.

x2 cuts to the nail

x4 cuts to the rim.

x3 rotates to take away the pass to the wing.

 

Defensive Responsiblities w/ No Cut to the Basket

x3 denies the pass out to 1.

x2 takes the first pass to the top.

x4 takes the furthest pass to the corner opposite corner.

 

 

Defensive Responsiblities w/ Cut to Basket

x3 denies the pass out to 1.

x2 bumps the cutter then must close out on the two furthest passes.

x4 denies the cutter and protects the rim.

 

 

St.Louis Men’s Basketball Coach Zak Boisvert posted these videos.

Coach Boisvert has posted several videos of some of the better schemes he has seen. His You Tube channel is: Zak Boisvert You Tube Channel

Editor’s Note from Brian.  The post is provided as food for thought, not to imply that you should implement this in your defense.

If nothing else, at least you can see how other teams are defending.

 

X Switch for Chin and Back Screens

And, another post he made on using X Switch when defending STS.

X Out Switch for Defending Screen the Screener

This post was submitted by Coach Tom Kelsey.  Coach Kelsey has been a Head Coach at Belhaven University, Faulkner University, and Greater Atlanta Christian High School.  He has also been an assistant at LSU, Alabama, Murray State, and Lipscomb.  He played at Lipscomb under Coach Don Meyer.

Does your team have a defensive identity?

Do your players know what you want on the defensive end of the floor?

Can you quickly state what you want your team to be known for on the defensively?

What defensive concepts will help put your team in the best position to win your league?

All these questions you need to answer when putting together your defensive philosophy.

Taking ideas from years of coaching and finding how respected coaches teach their teams.

Here is a list I have used with my teams and it helps remind me as a coach the areas we need to concentrate on for each game and practice.

Defensive Philosophy

1. Transition

As soon as the ball changes hands (made shot, missed shot, turnover) we are sprinting back to half court to pick up our defensive assignment. Whether man or zone, we make every defensive transition a sprint to half court. Once we get to half court, our next immediate job  is to find the person we are guarding. If we are in a zone, our job is to pick up shooters in our defensive area.

2. Stop the Ball

It is the point guard’s responsibility to stop the ball from getting into a penetration area (inside the three-point area). Off the break, we are going to keep our opponent outside the three-point line.

3. Pressure the Ball

Once a team enters into their offensive set or motion offense, we will keep an extreme amount of pressure on the basketball. We do not want the offensive at any time to be able to pick apart our defense. Point guards will pick up the ball from the half court area and all other players are to keep pressure on their man if they have the ball within 25 feet of the basket.

4. Contain the Dribble

Players will keep the ball in front of them. Containing the dribble is a key component to us having success on the defensive end of the floor. We have to each be able to contain the dribble by being aware of how close we can guard the offensive player.

5. Deny the next penetrating pass

We will have a hand in the passing lane when the player we are guarding is the next possible receiver and they are a penetrating pass away. Our goal is to deny each penetrating pass for the player with the ball.

6. Helpside defense

Our ball side defense will make us tough and our help side defense will make us great. Our defense each possession is a team defense. We have a particular player to guard, but we will guard them as a team. Each player must be ready and willing to rotate spots as the ball changes positions on the floor. We will not allow easy drives to the basket in our half-court defense.

7. Fronting the Post

We teach each post player to defend the post. When the ball is above the baseline, we will front on the high side. When the ball gets to the baseline, we will rotate our position and guard from the low side. We never want to be directly behind a post player unless our scouting report dictates that is the only way we can guard that particular post player.

8. Doubling the Post

We will double in the post from different areas of the floor. Depending on the player and the opposing team, we will double from different areas of the floor. We will never double the post leaving a shooter open on the floor.

9. Guarding Screens

Our way of guarding screens will vary from game to game depending on the opponent. We will start the season by not switching any screens in the post or on the perimeter that are away from the ball.

10. Guarding Ball screens

On ball screens, we will work on switching the screen, going on top of the screen and staying with our man and we will work on trapping the ball screen.

11. Closing Out

We will contest each shot taken by our opponent. Each day we will work on our closeout position and stance. We will sprint half way to the opponent then break down in a defensive stance using short chopping steps to closeout. Our weight will be back and our hands will always be up with one hand contesting the shot. We will leave our feet each time to closeout on the shot.

12. Block out and Rebound

We take pride in making sure to have a good block out each time an opponent takes a shot from the field or free throw line. Our goal is to give our opponent only one shot each time they come down the floor. Once the ball comes off the rim or backboard, we want to put the basketball under the chin with our elbows out.