Category: Winning Defense

"While the determination to play defense combined with the willingness to give up one's body physically are more important than technique, to be truly outstanding on defense an individual and team must combine intelligent technique with great desire." Key Takeaways Backscreens Cross-screens Downscreens Defending the off-ball screens starts with on-the-ball pressure. Our terminology is to … Continue reading Winning Defense: Defending Off-Ball Screens

"Basketball teams at every level commonly use a number of two-and three man play actions such as back-picking, down-picking, screen and roll, flex, pick-the-picker, and others." Key Takeaways: Evolution of 2-Man Action Defensive Approach Evolution of Pick & Roll The ballscreen has been historically relevant for decades. Yet, it didn't become popularized until Chuck Daly's … Continue reading Winning Defense: Defending the Pick & Roll

"A good defender should always be in a "read" position to help teammates by leaving his own man to trap or cover open shooters. Each man must have the confidence that when he leaves his man to attack the ball, a teammate behind him will rotate to cover for him." Key Takeaways: Wedge & Wall … Continue reading Winning Defense: Rotating Off Drives

"It's that kind of pride and joy in defense that builds a winner. It takes hard work and teamwork and everyone knows it. Champions have been willing to pay that price. And so it must continue to be true that champions at all levels will have enough players on the team that commit to defense … Continue reading Winning Defense: Traps & Rotations

Key Takeaways: Preventative Post Defense 45 Degree Bump & Release "5 Strong" on Weakside Help Post touches are scoring threats beyond making a move to score; it tends to force perimeter players to sag or ball watch which leaves the threat of basket-cutters or inside-out shooting. So, the best post defense is preventative in nature … Continue reading Winning Defense: Defending Set Offenses

"Regardless of how diligent the defense may be, the offense will beat the defense at times and the defenders will find themselves having to scramble to recover to stop an offense that has them outnumbered in transition." Key Takeaways: Big-In & Little-Out Concept "I Got Two" Build the Wall 2v1 "...(G)ood defenses would prefer to … Continue reading Winning Defense: Defending the Disadvantage

"The best defense is to be on offense. The opponent cannot score when our team has the ball, unless we're called for a technical foul. Therefore the team that goes after every rebound and loose ball is a better defensive team because they do the best denial defense of all - they get the ball … Continue reading Winning Defense: Rebound

"A good defense will not allow the ball to be reversed easily, since reversal breaks down the weakside defense and puts a lot of pressure on the inside defenders to change their body positions to prevent an inside pass. Any number of bad things can happen to the defense when the ball is reversed easily … Continue reading Winning Defense: Defending the Swing Spot & Switching

"Players other than the man defending the ballhandler must slow the advance of the ball, of course. And it's not enough for the rest of the team merely to run back quickly on defense, though that is the second-best strategy. The best strategy is for the teammates to make a quick transition with purpose. That … Continue reading Winning Defense: Transition & Early Halfcourt

"It's not overwhelmingly difficult for a committed group of players with other average individual basketball skills to put together a very good team defense. Many good defensive teams are far better than the sum of their parts." Winning Defense is set up into three (plus drills) separate parts: Developing Individually Within a Team Concept Rotating … Continue reading Winning Defense: Developing Individually Within a Team Concept