In a game of basketball, approximately one-half of a player’s time will be spent at the defensive end of the court. Because of this, it’s a good idea to develop effective defensive attitudes and habits that will benefit your team and improve its chances of winning games. For example, if you score thirty points in a game and the player you defend scores twenty-five points, the only thin you have accomplished is neutralizing your opponent. However, if you score twenty-five points and hold an opposing player who is averaging twenty-five points per game to only ten points, you have really accomplished something.
Likewise, if you average only ten points per game but you hold an opposing player who is averaging twenty-five points per game to only tne points, you have also made a great contribution to your team. In both situations, you have decreased the opposing team’s offensive output by fifteen points. That is significant!
It does not take natural ability or great talent to play good defense. It only requires that you work hard and play with your heart. In basketball, on offense you must play with control and poise to be effective. On defense, you should play with aggressiveness and noise to get your opponent out of control and frustrated.
There are two main levels of effective defense. They are as follows:
Level 1: Defend The Basket
This level involves playing sound fundamental defense, which means staying between your opponent and the basket at all times. This is the way that most players and teams play defense. At level 1, you must always react or respond to what the offensive player wants to do because you are playng more of a passive defense to protect the basket.
Solid fundamentals such as footwork, help side defense, watching your opponent and the ball at all times, not allowing an easy shot to go uncontested, boxing out, and rebounding are all part of level 1 defense. Its goal is containment of your opponent, always keeping him or her from getting to the basket and preventing open shots, easy layups, or open three-point shots.
Level 2: Attack The Opponent
This level involves a great deal of physical aggressiveness and mental toughness. At this level of defense, you are going to attack your opponent to get a reaction from the offensive player. You will still defend the basket, but this also creates defensive pressure. The goal is to put more pressure on your opponent in a game than he or she is ever used to in practice.
Examples of level 2 defense include denying the ball or pass, denying cuts to the ball, fronting the low posts, bellying up on the opponent as he or she receives the ball, and yelling to create confusion. Contest everything, deny everything. You will be amazed at the results you get and the confusion you create. Good defenders attack their opponents and take away what the opponents want to do and block them from their favorite spots on the court.
By Coach John Scott – The BASKETBALL DOCTOR®
