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LET'S PLAY DEFENSE!!
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Defense is the unromantic phase of the game.
Few want to play it.
But to win, we must.
In short, defense is determination.
No team can win a championship without it.

Developing Defense:

  1. 1. We must develop discipline. This is understanding what we must do and then doing it every time. As coaches we must know it inside and out and then teach it.
  2. We must develop pride. Selling our defense by the coaches is key. The coaches also must believe in it 100%. The players must believe they are improving every day.
  3. We must develop an aggressive, intense and courageous nature. In other words, play defense how you would not like defense to be played against you. We need to possess an attitude of domination. An attitude of having no fear. An attitude to challenge our opponents.

Goals for Winning Defense:


  1. Never give open looks.
    Challenge all shots.
  2. Limit number of freethrows the other team attempts.
    We must learn a foul is a mistake!
    We must remember that players 6-10 can't be over eager.
    This is how teams give up high number of freethrows.
  3. Limit second and third shots.
    We can't relax when shot goes up.
    Remember the old Laker motto: "No rebounds, no rings."
  4. Disrupt the opponent's offense.
    We must take away the easy pass (one pass away).
    We must harass but contain the ballhandler.

Defensive Notes

Basketball is the ultimate team game. Sound defense requires that the athlete give up his natural selfishness for the good of the team.
Good defense teaches responsibility. No excuses.
Defense often times must become our offense (turnovers).
Great defense is just not a physical thing. It is an emotional experience. Players need to learn how to play on edge. DO NOT RELAX FOR A SINGLE MOMENT!!!
Play defense how you don't like defense to be played against you. Always help a teammate.

Defensive Trapping

On traps: two players trap, two players anticipate, one protects basket.
Second person on trap must lock knees.
Need to teach players to knock ball inbounds.
Don't over run a play. Either steal it or guard.
They can throw over us, under us, but never through us.
Let's take away vision of the passer. Can't let them see.
On traps shoulder points where offensive player wants to pass the ball. We rotate on defense with shoulder.

On Ball Pressure

"Let's get beat on defense because we applied too much pressure. We should never get beat because we applied not enough defensive pressure."
Bob Knight/Texas Tech University

  1. Players must hate getting beat on ball. On defense, they must have a fear of failure.
  2. We must be alert on defense. Being alert means we're wide. We must also push with our back leg. Do not drag!
  3. We will not reach on the ball. Reaching leads to fouls or getting beat off the dribble. We get all of our steals off the pass and not the dribble. We contain the ball. In other words, we play on ball defense with our feet--not our hands!
  4. Do not give up penetration to the center.
  5. Force the ball to be driven. Make them put it on the floor.
  6. Talk is crucial ("Blue", Shot).
  7. In the backcourt turn as many times as possible. In the frontcourt be between ball and man.
  8. Difference between offense and defense. Offense--Make it as easy as possible, Defense--Make it as difficult as possible.

Off Ball Pressure

"Great on ball pressure makes your defense tough, great help makes it successful."
Dick Bennett/UW Greenbay


  1. An average defensive team will react when the ball is caught. A great defensive team will react when the ball is in the air.
  2. We must learn to talk--communicate. "I got your help" "you're okay" "switch" "pick left" "pick right".
  3. When denying, the defender's body must be in the passing lane--not just the arm. We will deny one pass away including guard to guard.
  4. Force lob passes and backdoor passes.
  5. 5.We need to understand not everyone is capable of blocking shots. Guards should never leave the floor. We will teach the helpside charge and expect it! Understand: "Intimidation in key doesn't have to be shot blocking" (Hubie Brown)
  6. 6.We must go after every shooter even if it isn't the defender's man. Proper close out with a hand up.
  7. 7.Rotate hard....but only rotate when necessary.

Reasons for Pressing

  1. Few teams do it successfully. Most pick up either at half court or in shooting range. Few teams are use to it. Unfamiliarity causes problems.
  2. Players enjoy playing a wide open game. Few players like walking the ball down.
  3. A well conditioned team will wear down the opposition. Fatigue sets in. Constantly stress to your team that they will own the fourth quarter.
  4. An abundance of speed and athletic players.
  5. A deep bench.

Defense in Practice

  1. To build intensity use short hard bouts.
  2. Make practice competitive. A good defensive drill puts your players in a difficult situation where they have to find a way to be successful.
  3. Use defensive drills where players are constantly thinking. If a player makes a mental defensive mistake, stop practice and immediately correct that mistake.
  4. Good defensive habits come from daily repetition.
  5. When working on half court defense, enter from side and not at top.
  6. Below FT line--helpside 2 feet in Above FT line--helpside one foot in