Defense

The following defensive stunting techniques came from the Encyclopedia of pick and roll defense playbook assembled by Chris Filios for Scott Peterman’s Basketball HoopScoop.

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Regular Stunt

If the screener is not a perimeter shooting threat and is a limited play-making threat, the defense will use a standard stunt.

In a regular stunt, x2 will stunt/bluff at the ball as it is arriving to pop man/screener. On the catch, the big will see the guard motioning toward him creating indecision in the big.

x2 will not over or fully rotate to the ball. It is a couple hard steps at the ball and recover back to his man.

“Quick” Stunt

If the big is not a great shooter or perimeter threat…the defensive will give a quick stunt.

As guard is picking up dribble, the defense will quickly stunt at the popping big. This will create indecision with the ball-handler and buy time for the defensive big to get back to his man.

This will also be used in case the defensive player stunting is guarding a good perimeter shooter.

*This is slightly different from a regular stunt as the stunt occurs PRIOR to the guard picking the ball up.

In a regular stunt coverage, the help side defender will stunt as the ball is arriving to the pop man.

 

“Hold” Stunt

If the big is good perimeter shooter, the defense can “hold” stunt.

The guard rotating will stunt at the ball and will stay until defensive big can recover to the ball.

This should force the offensive big to become a non-threat, thinking pass.

Full Rotation

This is another option when guarding against a skilled big that is a threat from the perimeter. It can also be used in an emergency situation.

The rotating guard will fully commit to taking the ball. Thus taking away any jump shot or driving opportunity. This neutralizes the threat from the
offensive big.

In this case, instead of the defensive big recovering to his man he and the other help defenders are forced to rotate as the ball is moved.

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St. Louis Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach Zak Boisvert posted these videos to his YouTube Channel

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

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

This is a YouTube video.

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

These are Coach Boisvert’s comments on the video:

Embedded below is a video compilation of the “Scram Switch” the Celtics have been executing when Cleveland attempts to post the smaller Boston guards. The coverage differs slightly from the “Kick Out” scheme the Celtics have been deploying most of the year. With the “Kick-Out” coverage, a weakside big is looking to switch onto the screener as soon as he begins rolling. As you can see in the clips, the “Scram” doesn’t happen until the ball is thrown into the post.

-As I mention in the video, Golden State was the first team I saw utilize the “Scram Switch.” For a video of their Scrams, click HERE. For my post on all of Golden State’s switching concepts, click HERE.

-It seems that in the past 2 games, Stevens has started to encourage his guards to front the post with the “Scram” still coming as soon as the ball is thrown. With the post front, this scheme very much resembles the “Red” coverage that was featured last month.

Boston Celtics Scram Switch

Click the play arrow to view the video.

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.