Ideally we all want to play man to man defense, but should we play man to man under all circumstances? A team should really consider using a zone defense in the following situations:

1. When playing against a dominant post player that needs to be sandwiched from both front and behind
2. When needing to control a quick, penetrating  perimeter player (or players)
3. If your opponent is just better skilled from top to bottom and you can’t collectively guard them man to man
4. If your opponent doesn’t attack a zone defense very effectively, either because of bad choice of offenses, poor execution or a lack of shooters

The first three situations are pretty obvious but many coaches neglect #4.  They play only man to man because “We are a man to man team,” even though that may not give them the best chance to win the game. If you are coaching a youth team then by all means play strictly man to man so your players will develop quicker. If you are coaching at any level in a high school. do whatever it takes to win the game!

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The University of Arizona’s Sean Miller says there are 5 questions you must ask yourself when it comes to choosing and evaluating your defense.

1. Can it beat the best teams on your schedule?
2. Can it help you advance in tournaments?
3. Can it get you wins on the road?
4. Can you improve as a team as the season progresses?
5. Do the players in your program improve individually as defenders?

Coach Miller also says there are 5 things you should be measuring when it comes to defense:

1. Total FG%
2. 3 point FG % and attempts
3. Defensive Rebounding %
4. Forced Turnovers
5. Fouls Committed

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In an article written for Winning Hoops magazine in May 2009, Coach Kevin Sutton offered some great insight into what it takes to “own the paint.”  According to Coach Sutton, a player “rents” the paint by simply posting up on the block. If that player actually wants to “own” the paint then he needs to do the following things:

1. Have the proper mentality
2. Be legally physical
3. Score against contact
4. Be efficient with post moves
5. Get to the free throw line
6. Be a relentless rebounder

As a player you have to ask yourself whether or not the paint is just a place to hang out or is it really your “house” – a place that you own and dominate.

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76. Anytime a teammate is subbed, he should exchange a towel and tell his teammate who he is guarding. (The bench should also rise and clap.)

77. Have a bench captain.

78. At halftime talk about these things: a. Shooting % b. Rebound totals c. Turnovers d. Trips to the foul line e. Adjustments f. Deflections

79. Three most important times of a ball game are: a. First 2 minutes of the game b. Last 2 minutes of the half c. First 2 minutes of the 3rd quarter

80. Know opponent’s poor foul shooters.

81. Know your poor foul shooters.

82. Know the floor conditions and the basket conditions.

83. When you’re an obvious underdog, shorten the game as much as possible.

84. Know the opposing coaches strengths and weaknesses.

85. Have a 4-minute 4th quarter plan.

86. Have a 2-minute 4th quarter plan.

87. Your post scorer should get a touch every time in half court offense.

88. Have your assistants watch the weak side on offense and defense.

89. Use a soft press to control tempo.

90. Use a shot chart during the game.

91. Do not give up lay-ups.

92. Force opponents out of zones when you’re ahead.

93. Games are won or lost in mini-runs. 6-0, 6-2, 4-0. Understand these runs and they lead to major runs.

94. Remember, this is just a game.

95. Keep it fun for the kids. Get them to work hard and understand the effort needed but stress the essential ingredient—fun.

96. Practice free throw situations offensively and defensively.

97. Spend 15 minutes daily on pressure offense. 5 minutes against full court zone press. 5 minutes against 3/4 court zone press. 5 minutes against half court trapping defense.

98. Have one assistant on the bench in charge of match-ups.

99. When you have fouls to give in the 4th quarter, foul to run down the clock.

100. Special Situations: a. Up 3 and less than eight seconds remaining. Foul. Trust your player’s ability to defensive rebound all free throws. Practice this. b. Anytime it is a 2-possession game, look to score with a quick 2. Attack the rim. They do not want to foul. Then follow with a quick timeout. c. When up or down in the last 2-minutes, switch all screens. When tied, play it within your philosophy. d. On the road, down by 2. Best two offensive scorers are on the bench. Go for the win.

101. Chart your opponent’s last 3 games and take away all their shooting locations.

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51. Early in the season, institute a 6-pass rule.

52. Look to bomb twice a game on opponents made field goals.

53. Have a FREAK defense.

54. Use fouls at the end of a ball game to stop clock and lengthen the game.

55. Have offensive and defensive subs at the end of the ball game.

56. Huddle on all free throws.

57. Save all great set plays for the end of the game.

58. Develop a hierarchy of scorers.

59. Develop a spark plug or sixth man. (Have a man for instant offense and instant defense.)

60. Your point guard should be coaching on all dead ball situations.

61. Use non-verbal communication.

62. Listen to your players. (Your learning should never stop)

63. No technical fouls. Leave the refs alone and coach your kids.

64. Always be thinking ahead.

65. Play possession by possession; always make the quarters like CBA games. (This can also be charted in the games within the games.)

66. Foul hard on drivers and post players early in the game to set the tone.

67. Be physical, bump cutters, screen hard, go hard through screens, always box out, take charges and dive for loose balls.

68. When defending a star: a. Deny him the ball. b. Trap him occasionally to make him give up the ball. c. Be physical and attack him on offense. d. Make him run through a lot of screens. e. Try to draw charges.

69. Be positive, tough, and challenging with your team.

70. Do not be afraid of your players.

71. Whenever you are up or down big at the end of a ball game, do not stop coaching.

72. Always practice game ending situations.

73. Give your team a chance to win every night, no matter what the style

74. No talking before the game, make things tense.

75. Save the Knute Rockne stuff for the big games when you really need it.

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26. When playing a crazy team, play conservative; do not extend the floor. Make sure to walk the ball up the floor.

27. Be inside oriented. You can do this with post-ups, drives, passing and cutting, offensive rebounds and pick and roll.

28. Look to get multiples in the steal and lay-up department. Man who makes the lay-up pressures the ball.

29. When playing a team that sends five to the offensive glass, send a rabbit or cherry picker deep.

30. Use a match-up zone to confuse opponents.

31. Swing the ball with a purpose on offense. Don’t just whip the ball around and go nowhere.

32. Clear out against all man-to-man pressure and against a run and jump. You may want to have a big man bring the ball up the floor.

33. Your set plays should be for: a. Lay-ups b. Jumpers c. Backdoors d. Drives

34. Have conditions of play. They serve as a traffic light. You gain the ability to control situations without a timeout. Red - Danger, must increase tempo, in trouble White - Normal style of play (your philosophy) Blue - Blue skies everything is fine. No fouls, no 3′s; limit to one shot

35. During timeouts keep it simple. Mention 1 offensive idea and 2 defensive ideas at the most.

36. Chart the games within the game. a. Score first in each quarter. b. Timeout situations; do we score or do they? c. Do we effectively score on offensive out-of-bounds plays and do we defend them effectively.

37. Have designated spot-ups for players and situations and work on them during practice.

38. Have an organized offensive rebounding system.

39. Rebound, Rebound, REBOUND!!!

40. On all defensive rebounding situations for free throws, have 5 guys on the line.

41. During offensive free throws, have at least two guys back.

42. Tip out all offensive rebounds when you can’t get two hands on the ball.

43. Have a saving location. Everyone on your team should know that if someone jumps out-of-bounds that they are going to save the ball to the same spot.

44. Look to find and utilize mismatches.

45. Sub and change strategy on free throw situations.

46. If you are below average, play only 7 players, if you are average play 8 players, if you are above average play nine, and if you are outstanding play 10.

47. Know how to play at three speeds: slow, medium and fast.

48. Have 2 to 3 control games.

49. Develop a balanced offense.

50. 3-point shots should come after post entry.

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1. Have a jump-ball play. (Make the opposing coach start coaching from the beginning.)

2. Your first possession should go inside. (Try to get the opposing big man in foul trouble early.)

3. Zone all baseline out-of-bounds.

4. Take a timeout after three straight scores by an opponent.

5. Get to the bonus first.

6. Don’t foul.

7. Make as many free throws as your opponent’s attempt.

8. If a player gets his second foul in the first quarter, sub him, and bring him back with 6 minutes to go in the second quarter.

9. 45 seconds or less — hold for the last shot of the quarter.

10. Change defenses every timeout.

11. Have 3 CARDINAL RULES on offense and on defense that match your philosophy.

12. Have a set play on every opponent’s score. (Assure yourself of a great shot.)

13. On made field goals use a soft press.

14. On missed field goals match up man-to-man full-court.

15. On any violation use a 1-3-1 trap.

16. On made free throws 1-2-1-1 press.

17. On missed free throws 2-2-1 press.

18. Know opponent’s post players preferred shoulder.

19. Know opponent’s guards weak hand.

20. Know opponent’s offensive tendencies.

21. Know opponent’s defensive weaknesses.

22. Come out of a timeout running a play.

23. When playing great guards, use junk defenses or extension zones. (Examples would be a 1-3-1 extended or a box-and-one)

24. When playing against great big man, use a sagging man or zone.

25. Show man, play zone and vice-versa. (Make the opposing team think. It makes them slow.)

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While the Run and Jump is primarily a full court pressing system, it can also be run effectively in the half court as well. In 2006 Coach Jim Larranaga used a Run and Jump style half court defense that he called the “Scramble” to lead George Mason University to the NCAA Final Four. (Coach Larranaga has since moved on to the University of Miami)

In the Scramble, the on-ball defender picks up the ballhandler full court and attempts to turn him at least three times before he crosses half court. Once the ball crosses half court the defense executes one of two tactics that are called “Thumbs Up” or “Thumbs Down.”

In “Thumbs Up” the nearest off ball defender rushes the ballhandler just like he would when handling a clear out situation during a full court Run and Jump. Other defenders rotate and look for a possible steal. If the next pass is downward, towards the basket, the trapper follows the ball and sets a second trap. If the pass is horizontal, the defenders fall back and match up with an offensive man once again.

In “Thumbs Down” the trap is going to be set on the first pass receiver in the front court. Since the first pass is usually made to a wing player, the on-ball defender’s goal is to actually beat the pass to the wing. From there, all the principles and rotations are exactly the same as the ones used in the full court Run and Jump. As in “Thumbs Up” the trapper (the original on-ball defender) will rotate off and set a second trap on any downward passes.

This defense can be extremely disruptive by itself but if combined or alternated with the full court Run and Jump, the results could be lethal to the offense!

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The topic for this blog comes from a question asked by fellow coach in Idaho. Last week JT contacted us regarding switching screens in his man-to-man defense. Although the answer seems simple, the underlying message is one that I think every coach could benefit from.

JT’s question: “What is the real point of switching screens in a typical man-to-man defense?”

Now like many of you when I first read this question I started to immediately think of reasons why a coach might call a “switch everything” defense.

1. Switching screens allows your players to stay in the passing lanes and gives them a better chance to get a steal.
2. Switching screens puts your players in a better position to take a charge.
3. Switching screens might surprise the ball handler forcing him or her to pick up their dribble.
4. Switching screens gives the offense a different look and challenge that could easily disrupt their offensive momentum and flow.
5. Switching screens neutralizes those offenses that rely solely on screens to start their offense or to free up their shooters for open shots.

The real answer to JT’s questions is that you switch screen in hopes of taking something away from your opponent.  You are adjusting your defense in hopes of causing panic and frenzy for the offense that will in return result in more possessions for your team.

I HOPE THIS HELPS!!!

Remember if you have a question that you would like answered on the blog please feel free to contact us here at HoopSkills

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I always have to laugh when our team is pressing and I hear fans start yelling “Somebody run up there and help them!” or something to that affect

The offense brings multiple players up to help break a press because they think it gives them an advantage.  At first glance this may appear to be true but when taking a closer look, these types of formations may actually help the defense more than the offense. First of all, more offensive players in the backcourt means that you can have more defenders in the backcourt as well. More defenders results in shorter closeouts and more opportunities to trap. Advantage = defense!

The second thing to consider if this – using a multiple player formation such as the four across may very well make it easier for the offense to inbound the ball. But what happens if the player always receiving the inbounds pass is a team’s center or maybe even their worse ball handler? That player can be pressured and trapped much easier than an experienced guard. If it is indeed a post player who receives the inbounds pass, all other players can then be denied a return pass, and the post player can be pressured and forced to dribble the ball down the sideline. Even if he manages to advance the ball without committing a turnover, how many offenses do you know of that are initiated with a post player dribbling down the side line? Advantage = defense!

If your opponent insists on bringing more players up to “help” just make sure that you don’t get beat with the deep “homerun” pass and force them to pass the inbounds pass to a non ballhandler. If you can accomplish those two things your press has a chance to be very, very effective.

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