Tons Of General Hints On Defense

To Be an All-Around Player  - You must undergo many hours of patient, determined practice without the ball - you must learn defense.

The first step is the proper guarding position or form.  Your position - hands, arms, and feet - varies with each move of your opponent.  Your distance from your opponent will vary.  Her/His ability to drive, her/his speed compared with your own speed, her/his ability to shoot from out on the court, etc., all must be considered when you are detailed to cover her/him.

From the crouched, knees-bent position, arms out, one hand up if within shooting distance, the other arm out to side, working it up and down to discourage a pass or possibly to deflect an attempted pass, elbows bent slightly for quicker arm movements, alert to anticipate her/his moves, you await her/him.  If s/he draws back to shoot, you take a slide step, advancing close to the floor.  If s/he fakes with a right step, you counter with a left oblique step, with the arm lowered on that side usually.

Fundamentally you keep between her/him and the basket, concentrating some on driving her/him toward the sidelines if s/he dribbles.  Always play her/him a little stronger to her/his right hand unless s/he is a "lefty", as that will usually be the way s/he would like to go in either dribbling or shooting.

Watch her/his waist - do not let her/him fake you with a poor fake. Experience will teach you much here, so start young.

If s/he dribbles, take a backward step on the side s/he goes toward and slide with her/him.  If her/his speed is too great for you to slide, take low, knees well-bent, running strides to force her/him and expect her/him to stop and shoot or try to change direction to your side.  Only bent knees and anticipation will enable you to stay with her/him properly.  When s/he is stopped, however, close in and try to stop her/his shot or bother her/his pass – s/he can no longer dribble around you.  But keep between her/him and the basket always, and keep good balance.

To all those who would like to become outstanding basketball players, we wish to state that your coach will never be happy unless you can "play defense".  You must learn that you have two objectives in the game of basketball - to score and to keep your opponent from scoring.  This is done through both individual and team effort.  

I consider the "desire to play defense" the most important requirement for one who would be a good defensive player. Sparkling defensive plays aren't listed in the box scores and the player who consistently makes them isn't given much newspaper publicity or crowd recognition, but s/he is very much recognized, appreciated, and honoured by her/his coach and teammates as being just as much "hot stuff" as the team's leading scorer.

Along with her/his "desire" a good defensive player needs to be aggressive, a pusher, a go-getter, a scrapper! When on defense, too many players start "defending" after their opponents have received the ball.  

The Fundamentals

1.                 What you should do is ANTICIPATE.  Make it difficult for your opponent to occupy a favourable position in which s/he can receive a pass. 

2.                 If the offensive opponent has already established her/his position, then your next most important job is to prevent her/his receiving the ball.  You must be quick and alert in moving into a position between your opponent and the ball. This is referred to as playing DENY basketball by being "in front of" or "on the side of" the offensive opponent.

3.                 Deny your check the opportunity to receive a pass (the ball) when one pass away from the opponent player with the ball.  Deny by stepping toward your check extending a hand into the passing lane while facing your check and looking at the opponent with the ball out of the corner of your eye. 

4.                 Now, if your opponent gains possession of the ball, it becomes your job to be close enough to her/him to block her/his shot or, at least to BOTHER the opponent when s/he attempts her/his field goal.  You can bother her/him by talking to her/him or motioning with your defensive hand, the one nearest the ball. 

5.                 While you should play close enough to the shooter to block her/his shot or bother her/him, you must not put yourself in such a position that s/he can move past you toward the basket. 

6.                ALWAYS keep between your opponent and her/his goal when s/he has possession of the ball. 

7.                 Be alert to shift to your opponent's most dangerous scoring threat when and if it becomes necessary to prevent her/his shooting. Help your teammates when opponents they are guarding get away from them.

8.                 Do not jump into the air while playing' defense unless you are POSITIVE you can block a pass or a shot.  If you have the habit of leaving your feet on defense, a smart opponent will fake a shot to make you jump, then move around you while you are off the floor.  This often gives her/him an easy lay-up shot.  Also, if you leave your feet and fail to prevent a field-goal attempt, you will be unable to box-out/block out on the rebound.

 

9.                 Work with your teammates on defense.  Keep up a lively chatter with your buddies to let them know what you are trying to do.  This is particularly important on "switches", when, for any reason, you and a teammate switch the opponents you are guarding. 

10.             Dominate your opponent.  Outthink and outmaneuver your opponent!  Stay right on top of her/him every second. 

11.             Never permit an opponent a clear shot.  Don't just stand there motionless and let her/him shoot. Make SOME movement and effort.  Be aggressive. 

12.             Stay on your toes.  Defenders who find themselves on their heels are in danger of loosing their check, as it is hard to be quick when your feet are flat on the floor.

13.             Always consider your opponent's abilities and adjust your defensive position accordingly.  Play closer to an opponent who is not so fast but can shoot well from a distance.  Play farther away from an opponent who is fast, who can drive in, and who isn't too good a long-shot artist. (When both fast and a long-shot artist, good luck.  Work doubly hard.  Deny this type of check the ball.)

14.             When your opponent does not have the ball, but one of her/his teammates does, play closer to their goal and farther from the person you are guarding.  Play HELP DEFENSE big time.  Set your position so you can keep both your opponent and the ball in sight at the same time.  Start moving in on her/him when you think the ball is going to her/him. Move away from your check closer to the ball, as the ball rotates away from your person.  HELP.

 

15.     If your check shoots right handed, then defend primarily with your left hand up into the area where the shot is going to be taken from.  Obviously right hand up in a left handed person's shooting zone.

16.         Use the hand that is nearest the ball when attempting to block shots or steal dribbles. For example, if your opponent is on a dribble drive to your left, use your left hand to break up the dribble.  If you try to use your right hand, it is necessary for you to turn your body part way to the left.  When you do this you will find yourself out of position if the opponent suddenly changes her/his direction.

 

 

      

 

17.                If your offensive opponent always drives to the same side, adjust your defensive starting position about two feet in that direction.  When s/he always drives to the one side, it shows s/he is effective only with one hand.  By moving over and cutting off her/his drive, you stop her/him cold.  (Usually this mean taking away your checks use of their right hand i.e., force left your check.  Force them to drive left...or visa versa.)  Even if s/he gets a shot away, s/he is making it from a less favourable position and the odds are definitely against her/his making it good.

 

18.      Whenever your team loses possession of the ball, go IMMEDIATELY to your defensive assignment.

 

19.      NEVER CROSS YOUR FEET ON DEFENSE.

 

20.      Think DEFENSE as well as offense.

 

21.      Make individual defense your personal responsibility.  Don't let your teammates down by not guarding your opponent properly.

Above slightly adapted from: Basketball For Boys, by Chuck Osborn, Follet Publishing Company, Chicago, 1960, Pages 67-72.

INDIVIDUAL DEFENSE - PAGE 65

Individual defense based upon sound man-to-man principles is essential for good team defense.

A player's responsibilities in defense against an individual opponent may be listed as follows: 

v    discourage your opponent from shooting from a high percentage scoring area.  (The main high percentage areas are (1) in the key, (2) around the basket for lay-ups, and (3) straight out from the basket on the dead centre line though the key and out to where the circle and the three point line meet.)

v    anticipate her/his moves so as to discourage her/him from driving past you for a shot from closer to basket

v    make it difficult for your opponent to pass accurately, particularly passing into the high percentage scoring area.  Especially, close out on your check once they stop dribbling.  Harass the pass - big time.

v    prevent her/him from running past you to receive a pass or collect a rebound

v    perform the above without committing a foul

DEFENSIVE POSITION - page 65

Initially the defensive position will on the direct line between the opponent and the basket.  If the opponent is in a shooting position, the defender should be close enough to discourage the shot; should the opponent be away from the ball, the defender can sag off her/him towards the basket s/he is defending, changing her/his stance so as to be able to see the opponent and the ball and to offer teammates help on defense if needed.

THINKING ON DEFENSE - page 68

Good individual defense is played with the two ends of the body, the feet and the brain.  The feet are used to maintain a defensive position, the brain to work out what the attacking opponent may do.  Once you have brought your brain into action to help you defend you can use your hands and arms usefully.  If you have heart and are prepared to take pride in your defensive ability you will be a very useful member of any basketball team. 

Try to analyze your opponents moves, her/his strengths and weaknesses: 

v    Is s/he a good dribbler?

v    Can s/he use either hand?

v    Does she shoot; what is her/his range?

v    When s/he drives does/she always go the same way?

v    Does s/he bounce the ball before every shot?

v    Does s/he signal and move to free her/himself for a shot?

v    Does s/he use the same fake every time?

v    Does s/he react to a defensive fake?

v    If you fake to steal the ball will s/he stop her/his dribble?

Answers to these questions should enable you to anticipate possible moves and help you to reduce your opponent's potential as an attacking player.

Above slightly adapted from: Play Basketball by Brian Coleman and Peter Ray: Coles Publishing Co. Ltd., Toronto – 1977

DEFENSE

The A-B-C's of good defensive play are:

Alertness,

Balance, and

Concentration

You must be alert to follow every move of the man you are guarding; you must be properly balanced so you can react to her/his movements correctly; you must concentrate on your job and not be distracted by the movements of other players.

The stance taken by the defensive player has feet spread about eighteen to twenty-four inches apart, knees bent and back straight. One foot is placed slightly ahead of the other.

Which foot you place ahead of the other will depend on your position on the court.  If you are near the sideline on your right, place the right foot forward and keep the right hand up, waving it at your opponent.  Near the left sideline, advance the left foot and keep the left hand up.  At mid-court, you can take your choice, but it is best to keep the foot back on the side toward which your opponent is most likely to drive

Never go off your feet unless your man leaves the floor for a shot or a pass.  Never lean so far in one direction that you become overbalanced and are unable to recover in time when your man shoots off in another direction.  Always be ready to move in any direction at top speed, for you must allow for the half-second or so which it will take for you to react to your opponent's moves.

Almost always, you should play between your man and the basket. The one exception is when you are playing a pivot man.  Then it may be better to get beside her/him or even in front of her/him to try to intercept or bat away a pass.

Remember that, in man-to-man defense, you are covering the man, not the ball.  Use split vision, always seeing your man out of the corner of your eyes and as much of the rest of the action as possible.  The split-second your eyes are away from your man will be enough for her/him to cut by you and take a return pass for an easy basket.

With experience, you will learn almost every player has certain habits which help to tip off what s/he intends to do.  S/He also has habits which make her/him follow a certain pattern in her/his moves on the court, the way s/he dribbles, passes and shoots.  Watch for these habits and use them to your defensive advantage.  This knowledge will be a big help to your defensive play, for you may be able to think one step ahead of her/him and anticipate her/his next move.

Above from: Basketball, by Joe Hut ton and Vern B. Hoffman, Creative Educational Society, Inc., Mankato, Minn. 1969 edition, page 172.

Still More Good Stuff On Defense

Generally speaking, you have certain responsibilities:

1.     You must stop your man from shooting over you.

2.     You must not let her/him dribble by you.

3.     You must not let her/him run by you and get the ball in a good shooting position.

4.     You must try to keep her/him from making perfect passes and unopposed shots.

5.     You must tie her/him up at every opportunity.

6.     You must combine with your teammates in helping out as much as you can while still covering your own man. Remember, however, cover your own man first and help out second, but if someone else's check gets loose AND has the ball, quickly pick-up this type of loose check...REMEMBER...

 

                     

Your man may see you going behind the screener.  Then s/he will often stop and shoot over her/his teammate.  Your teammate is the one who should leave her/his man and step out to stop the shot.  You will switch and pick the other man at once.

These are the three options you have, then, when you have the two on two situation:

1.     Squeeze around with her/him - forcing your body around the screener and sticking with your own man

2.     Your teammate will take a short step backward and you will run through between her/him and her/his man

3.     You will switch off and your teammate will pick up your man as s/he comes around the screener.

You will soon learn that you must anticipate the offensive movements. You must practice on the fundamentals of stopping and starting suddenly, changing direction without getting your feet tangled up in the process. In other words, keep fine body balance.  Keep your legs under your trunk. Stretching out and leaning ahead will not do the job properly. Use your arms for balance.

Do not throw both arms up in the air - it has a tendency to bring you up off the floor too much.  Use one arm and hand to wave and disconcert your man, but keep the other arm down below shoulder height and bent.

Be able to move backward fast.  Alternately running backward and sudden stops, can be practiced any place.  Do not become discouraged if you are slow and awkward when you are young - you will grow out of that stage by concentrated effort.

As basketball coaches say - the only way you can learn to run backward is to run backward.  It can be developed through practice only, just as basket shooting is learned by shooting baskets.

Defensive Pointers

1.                    Be intense, determined and aggressive.

2.                    Do not concede one basket without doing your best to stop the shot.

3.                    When you have definitely lost the ball, run back fast, picking out your man as you drop back.  Point her/him out if s/he is a new man entering the game so two of you will not be caught covering the same man. Yell, “I've got 22” to straighten out the situation with your teammates.

4.                    Be sure and drop back to about the free throw circle area - their shooting area.  Poor defensive players often jog back up the floor only to find their opponent coming at full speed and getting by them before they wake up. 

5.                    Vary your tactics - look for an interception.

 

6.                     If your man is within shooting distance, have one arm up in his face or above, the other out to the side and slightly bent. 

7.                    Keep your front foot flat on the floor to be ready to push rapidly back- ward, or start a lateral slide.

8.                    Keep the trunk up - do not lean forward too far over your front leg, or you cannot recover quickly enough when your man goes around you.

9.                    When your man has the ball, be alert to avoid a screen.  You will learn to anticipate the screen and work for position to avoid it.

10.                Block your man away from the rebound.  After the shot is taken, watch her/him for a second or two then turn in her/his path and do not let her/him force you too far toward the backboard.  Keep your elbows out slightly and resist pressure from the rear - hold her/him off, giving way gradually as you see where the rebound is going.  If each man did her/his job perfectly, the ball would bounce on the floor off the board.

11.                Do not commit yourself easily.

12.                When your man is dribbling try to force her/him away from the basket - to the outside.

13.                Be a little ahead of a man cutting across the free throw lane, especially if s/he is going from left to right so s/he does not get a right hand push shot off on you. 

14.                If s/he cuts across and does not have the ball at the time, run low and a couple of feet ahead of her/him. Be close to her/him, and then they will often not try to pass to her/him because s/he is so closely guarded. The only thing s/he can do is stop and try to go around the other way on you - you must be ready for this maneuver.

15.                If you shoot, and your man stays out to the side, turn and go part way in only.  If you go deep and the opponents get the ball, a quick pass up court to your man will give them a sure basket.

16.                When your man is on the side of floor or out in front and does not have the ball, drop away to help plug up their offense.  Keep an eye on her/him always - try to look between the action and your man with split vision to know what is going on regarding your teammates.  In this way you learn when to help out, pick up a free man who is dangerous at the time, and possibly to intercept a pass.

17.                Avoid the foolish fouls - it will result in nothing except you will be forced out of the game and the opponent makes points from the free throw line. 

18.                Do not lose your temper – it will mean fouling, and poor playing on your part.  The best player is the cool, calm, collected type, never ruffled, never showing his emotions.

19.                Pay no attention to the crowd, the booing, or insulting remarks - there are only five men against you on the playing court, and no one else can help those five.  You have five against them.

20.                Play your man according to your speed and her/his speed. If s/he is faster, you have to play further away from her/him.  If s/he is slower, get on him more aggressively.

 

21.                Always try to dominate your man.  If you fail to cover properly do not let it get you down - work harder to make up for the mistake.

22.                If you are a small man and you are forced into a situation where you have to switch and take a tall forward or the center, s/he may go into the pivot position.  Play in front of her/him and watch for the pass in to her/him.  If s/he comes out to the free throw line play behind her/him.  As soon as it is apparent they are going to try and take advantage of this height difference, your teammates must sag more to help you out.  Better a shot from farther out on the floor than a sure basket from close in.

23.                If your man gets away and goes down the floor on a solo flight, chase her/him all the way - do not concede what seems to be a sure basket. Get as close as you can, and leap when s/he does for her/his shot and yell just as s/he takes her/his shot.  Many times it seems futile, but many times the shooter is bothered just enough in this manner to make her/him miss what should be a sure two points. Moreover, if he does miss, you will be right there for the rebound.