MAN-TO-MAN DEFENSIVE PRINCIPLES

Every defense will have man to man principles, and the concepts of NO PENETRATION, NO OPEN LOOKS, AND NO FOULS are vital to the "50"

"50" starts with ball pressure and communication. All five defenders must be talking. Hands are active looking for deflections and we must keep the ball out of the center of the floor. We want to "fan out" to a side and then keep the ball at that side. Once the "strong or ball" side has been established we will deny any ball reversals.

DENY BALL REVERSAL

D1 denies the ball reversal pass from O2 to O1 with a hand in the passing lane.

POST DEFENSE

Fronting the post. We front the post when the ball is below the foul line extended and the offensive player is on the block (player 5). If the ball goes above the foul line extended then we three quarter the post with an arm and leg. Remember you should have weak side help against any lob pass.

If the offensive player goes off the block then we play behind the post.

Defensive stance from the wing.

D2 will force O2 towards the corner of the floor. He cannot let O2 take the dotted angle towards the basket. D2 cannot let O2 get into the center of the floor. Too many bad things will happen if O2 penetrates from the middle of the court. This follows the concept of keeping the ball to one side of the floor.

Defensive stance from the corners of the court.

From here D2 will play O2 "straight up," but D2 still cannot let O2 get into the lane.

"JUMP TO THE BALL"

When playing any defense it is important to "jump to the ball" on every pass. If you are guarding the ball, and you do not jump to the ball on the pass, the offensive player can cut in front of the defender for a basket cut. Do not let anyone cut in front of your face.

On the pass, D2 jumps to the ball with a hand in the passing lane, D1 takes the ball ("BALL!") and D4 moves into a shallow triangle as he is two-passes away.

WEAKSIDE HELP-"SPLITLINE"

We teach our weak side players that are two or more passes away to get on the split line while giving weak side help. This means that D3 and D5 need to have one foot on the imaginary line that runs between the two baskets.  We do not want to be "hugging our man" on the weak side.  All players should be talking when giving help.

Note:
We front the ball side low post. When the post player is on the block.

DEFENSIVE ROTATION ON A BASELINE (WING) DRIVE

From the corner:

The key to any rotation is not to get beat in the first place. But if it happens players must be in their "split line" positions on the help (weak) side.

In this situation, D5 would slide over. If O4 picks up his dribble on the baseline D4 and D5 should trap him there.  D3 rotates down to protect the basket, and D1 wants to get into a position where he can see D3's man  and take away a skip pass to his man.

Get wide when rotating, arms extended ready to intercept.

ROTATION WHEN THERE IS A MID OR HIGH POST BALLSIDE.

In this situation D4 will stay with man, because it is an easy dump off pass for 2.

D5 will rotate to stop the ball, and possible trap. D3 and D1 rotate.

The key again is not to get beat off the dribble.

DEFENDING BACKCUTS: "quick head"

When the offensive player backcuts to the basket and the defense is in a one pass away denial stance, we will "quick head" instead of opening up to see the ball.

O2 will do a V-cut to get open on the wing.  D2 denies.  O2 must get both feet outside the 3-point line, then do a back cut.

D2 will just turn his head and switch from denying with his left arm, to denying with his (inside) right arm.

Coach will throw the pass so that the defence gets practise deflecting it.

CLOSEOUTS

Defense starts on the split line facing the coach at half-court.  Offense starts with a ball on the side.  

On a signal from the coach, the defenders turn, take several quick steps toward the offense.  The defense comes under control by staying low (low butt, head back, hands up) and taking either several small stutter steps or bunny hops at the end.

Offense takes one jab step toward the basket.  Defense must execute a drop-step in the same direction.

DEFENDING SCREENS

THE DOWNSCREEN:
The key to defending screens is not to let the offensive team set the screen. "Don't get hit on a screen."  The defender must be HIGHER than the offensive player. Here D2 is higher or on the top side of O2.
Proper defensive positioning by "jumping to the ball," and communication is very important. D4 would yell "screen!", and give D2 a LANE TO GET THROUGH.

BASELINE SCREENS: "shadow"

In this situation we will "shadow" the offensive player.  

As O2 runs across the baseline to the opposite wing he is looking to come off of O4's screen. D4 will yell "screen," and hedge out to help D2.

D2 will "shadow" O2 by trailing him past the screen then deny the pass on the wing.

DEFENDING THE PICK 'N ROLL

We defend the pick 'n roll two ways. 90% of the time we will hedge and get through, but we also depending on the opponent can double the dribbler and zone up.

If we hedge, D4 must make the dribbler go away from his basket. D2 goes over the top of the screen to guard the dribbler. D4 recovers onto his man. Weak side defenders need to be at rim to help.

DOUBLING THE PICK ' N ROLL

D4 again forces the dribbler away from his basket. D2 gets through the screen then traps the dribbler with D4.  

The other three defender need to rotate and zone up.

DEFENDING THE FLEX CUT

Our rules for defending the flex offense are to get solid ball pressure, deny ball reversals, and force the flex cut low.

D3 will get his shoulders perpendicular with the screener (4). D4 will "shadow" his man, so he does not double screen D3. D3 must beat O3 to the spot as O3 makes his flex cut.