Defense

Army Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach Zak Boisvert has put together some short clips with some NBA techniques for defending pick and rolls using a technique known as ICE to Switch Defensive Coverage.

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

He also is also very active on Twitter: @ZakBoisvert

He has an outstanding resource site for coaches. You can access it here: PickandPop.net

 

The videos are YouTube videos, so please make sure that you are on a network that allows YouTube access. Some school networks may block YouTube access.

The videos are from 2018 and Golden State’s roster has changed. The idea of the post is to give you an idea for a defensive tactic that you might be able to use at some point. Or at least be aware that you might see it employed against you.

Click the play arrow to watch the videos.

Please make sure that your sound is on as Coach Boisvert has narration to go along with the video clips.

ICE to Switch Pick and Roll Coverage

The Coach in the video is PGC Basketball Director Sam Allen.

This video was filmed at a PGC/Glazier Basketball Coaching Clinic.

You might not agree with this exact system, but I hope that it helps you think about ways to improve the way you teach and communicate your defensive conversion.

One concept I like is calling moving from defense to offense “transition” and from offense to defense conversion to be able to communicate more clearly to players

Click the play arrow to begin the video. Also, please make sure that your sound is on.

This post contains some pressing principles employed by the Arkansas mens program.

Adjust these to fit your players and philosophy and/or take bits and pieces to combine with what you already run.

The diagrams and notes are from the “Full Court Pressing Defenses Playbook” assembled by Chris Filios.

It is paired with the Houston Rockets Playbook (also written by Coach Filios) as this week’s 2 eBook special.

You can find out more about what is included in the bundle at this link:

Houston Rockets Playbook and Full Court Pressing Defenses

You can also get any two of our eBooks for $25 at this link: 2 eBooks for $25

If you have any questions about the eBoooks, feel free to call/text me at ‪317-721-1527 or email me at [email protected]

Diagram created with FastDraw

Principles

1. Don’t gamble- be fundamental and disciplined. Let the opponent make the mistake. Making a play on the ball with a small chance of success will put you/defense out of position and give advantage to the offense.

2. Eliminate the forward pass to the middle of the floor- the middle of the floor should always be covered. Defenders should never leave unless a teammate has rotated to cover.

3. Be active! Be pro-active and anticipate. Don’t be reactive. Jump and rotate hard to the ball. Communicate loud and often. Give high effort.

4. Eliminate bad fouls- when trapping, don’t reach! It is not your job to get a steal while on the ball. Establish good positing with feet and hands with great activity.

Responsibilities after the ball is entered

x1-the player defending the ball (x1) forces the ball handler down the sideline alley. He must not get beat to the middle of the floor.

x2-the guard opposite the ball defends the pass to the middle of the floor.

x3-the ball side forward is in a ball-you-man position, ready to trap near half court when the ball is advanced in the sideline alley.

x4- moves to the middle of the floor. Helps pinch with guard on any offensive player in middle. Also prepared to rotate to basket.

x5- basket protector. Will rotate out to sideline if there is a trap.

All 5 players are in the “box” (same side of the floor).

The diagrams and notes are from the “Full Court Pressing Defenses Playbook” assembled by Chris Filios.

It is paired with the Houston Rockets Playbook (also written by Coach Filios) as this week’s 2 eBook special.

You can find out more about what is included in the bundle at this link:

Houston Rockets Playbook and Full Court Pressing Defenses

You can also get any two of our eBooks for $25 at this link: 2 eBooks for $25

If you have any questions about the eBoooks, feel free to call/text me at ‪317-721-1527 or email me at [email protected]

Army Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach Zak Boisvert has put together some short clips with some NBA techniques for defending pick and rolls.

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

He also is also very active on Twitter: @ZakBoisvert

He has an outstanding resource site for coaches. You can access it here: PickandPop.net

The videos are You Tube videos, so please make sure that you are on a network that allows You Tube access. Some school networks may block You Tube access.

Click the play arrow to watch the videos.

Please make sure that your sound is on as Coach Boisvert has narration to go along with the video clips.

Pick and Roll Defense: Getting Through Screens

Pick and Roll Defense: Rearview Mirror Contest

This ideas was contributed by Randy Sherman to the FastModel Sports Basketball Plays and Drills Library.

Coach Sherman s the owner and founder of Radius Athletics – a basketball coaching consulting firm – where he consults with basketball coaches at all levels on coaching philosophy, practice planning, Xs & Os and teaching a conceptual style of basketball.

You can also find out more about FastModel Play Diagramming software by clicking this link: FastDraw

This post is to provide an idea to consider using in certain situations and against certain players as a part of the way you cover on ball screens. It is not meant to say that this is the only way you should defend ball screens or that it is right for every team at every level. As a coach, you have to make a decision as to whether or not it applies to your situation.

“Tilting” the offense to the left side of the floor and forcing players to use non-dominant hand in ball screens….

 

“TILT” – The purpose is to TILT the offense to left side of the floor and force ball handlers to use their left hand (assuming it is their weak hand)

 

 

 

Therefore, on any ball screen on the left side of the court we ICE the ball screen. Forcing them away from the screen makes the ball handler use left (weaker) hand.

X5 must alert the on-ball defender… “ICE! ICE!”

X1 adjusts to force the ball handler away from the screen

X5 gets in line between ball and rim to contain dribbler

On right side of the floor, we use OVER + DROP

X1 goes over the screen.

X5 provides a flat hedge and gives ground (drops) as dribble attacks. Keep an eye on the second hand of the dribbler touching the ball. That’s when you must contest the pull up.

Ball handler is attacking with left (weaker) hand and giving cushion baits him/her into the midrange two off the dribble.

 

By dropping, we’ve induced Player 1 into the midrange pull up.

X1 makes a “rear contest” and attempts to swipe at, block or change the shot from behind

 

This post came from Army Men’s Assistant Zak Boisvert’s PickandPop.net site.

The site has a lot of quality coaching ideas and information.  Definitely worth a look!

Sean Miller – University of Arizona (Nike Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona).  Sent to Zak by Ash Arnott

DEFENSIVE PHILOSOPHIES
o Times are always changing.
o IMPORTANT when developing your defensive philosophies: “How you teach it, how you build it”.
o Question to ask yourself: Are you playing the way you have “built it”.
o The way we track success at University of Arizona is:
• Points per possession;
• FG% Defense;
• 3FG% Defense (Good teams are vulnerable) & attempts;
• Defensive Rebound %;
• Fouls – We don’t want to foul.
o 80-20 Rule – We use the same defensive principles 80% of the time, we leave 20% for adjustments.
o For Example: We don’t switch ball screens, we may need to make the adjustment during the game and start switching ball screens.
o DO WHAT WE DO!

CLOSE OUTS
Start every practice with close outs:
o Big step, we want to cover ground – Chop your feet, while chopping feet your butt goes down and your hands go up.
o Hands ! Elbows bent (makes it easier to get hands to passes, dribble and shot).
o One hand challenges shot.
o The distance the defender should be from the shooter = Reach out & touch him.
The defenders hand should not go past his opponent’s body; this is how defense fouls (too close to offensive player). Every player will have different distances due to his or her arm length.
o If CONTACT is made = Hands UP & OUT

ON FAKES:
o Back foot leads the way – JUMP BACK.
o Fake = Chop back, when ball is brought back to shooting position = Chop forward. Arms
are active at all times.
o We don’t get beat to the outside of our defense (baseline drive in this case)
= CARDINAL SIN.

Diagrams created with FastDraw

DRILL
Vegas Closeouts
• Lines start on the baseline. (Can have managers, coaches, other players at three spots around the three point line)
• First in line step out – Pass to the coach.
• Close out – Using our closeout rules.

Progression:
• Bring it back to one line.
• Have player on wing – Coach at the point.
• Defender works from “GAP” position to Closeout.

Progression:
• Can have Wing player cut up and down the sideline – Making the defender have to move.
• Defender needs to continue to see MAN & BALL, and adjust his/her defense when the ball is in the air.

BALLSCREENS
o We believe in keeping it simple with the way we defend our ballscreens.
o It can become confusing for a player trying to remember how to defend ball screens. An athlete can get lost trying to remember how to defend middle, wing, step up screens and remembering what defense is needed with each player; over, under, double or switch.
o We DO NOT go UNDER the ball screen unless it’s a STEP UP SCREEN. (Remember good teams are vulnerable to good teams shooting high 3FG %).
o THE FUNNEL.
If a screen is inside the funnel – Go back to your own man.

Keys
1. We want to be tough on the ball. Most important when defending the ballscreen.
2. We don’t need to bully through the ballscreen – It never ends well (FOULS). Don’t get hit & chase the ball handler.
3. Screener Defender – LOUD, EARLY & CONTINOUS.
The athlete needs to call the screen loudly, needs to be called early, and needs to continuously communicate that the screen is coming.
4. All 5 guys on the court help defend the ballscreen ! You see a ballscreen, sprint to it.

“JUMP”
o Vs. Pick & Pop
o We jump side ballscreens or a middle screen by a shooter.
o It allows us get back to a shooter quicker.

SCREENER’S DEFENDER
o Is loud, early & continuous. Call “JUMP, JUMP, JUMP”
o Match screener’s feet (VERY IMPORTANT).
The wrong angle of defenders feet can result in offensive player splitting the screen, or penetrating right past defender to the basket.
o “JUMP” = Take a big step out (Remember we are matching the screener’s feet) and then slide with high hands (No direct penetrations to the basket).
o Mindset – I am not fouling.

ON BALL DEFENDER:
o Tough on the ball
o No baseline drives.
o Go over the screen and under your teammate. (Very important)

IF SCREENER IS A SHOOTER:
o “X” Action.
o When guarding a ball screen the low man (in this case the 5) and the screener’s defender (in this case the 4) switch the men they are guarding. The bottom defender must be verbal and tell the man guarding the ballscreen where to go.
o The player X-ing out is the “The Taker”.
o The GUARD helping the posts by staying in front
of the opposite post is “The Holder”.
o The Screeners defender needs to sprint back as quickly as possible and defend the post (Defend the post by your ‘rules – ¾ front, full front etc.).

“PLUG”
o Vs. Roller
o We plug screens that are set in the middle of the floor
Ash Arnott
o It allows the defender to get back to the roller quicker.
SCREENER’S DEFENDER
o The defender who “PLUGS” is in a boxer’s stance – Outside foot and hand up – Active.
o Doesn’t let the roller get below him. (Kaleb Tarczewski did a great job for us).
o Match the screener’s feet.
o Stop the ball – Your job is to contain and wait till the guard can get back to man, then you worry about your man.

You can read the rest of the post and download the notes and diagrams at this link: Sean Miller Arizona Defense