Defense Wins Championships

Larry Shyatt, assistant coach at the University of Florida, spoke at the 2009 COBA Can-Am On-Court Coaching Clinic, and these were his detailed notes about his defensive system. The detailed notes can be found here. Coach Shyatt was an excellent teacher. His language was precise and his intensity and passion was evident during every drill. Here is Coach Shyatt teaching a Ballscreen Shooting drill so you can see his passionate teaching. We are excited about this year's clinic as it is always wonderful to be around such excellent teacher's of the game.

Teach differently

To best demonstrate to their team that players need to have an open mind, and try new techniques, coaches should be acting in the same manner. As coaches, one of many responsibilities is to truly practice what we preach - we also need to seek to grow in the game.

Watch the following clip (thanks to Coach Pat) that shows a different way of teaching the shell drill. You will note the emphasis is on the hands, but the subtle focus is that the feet end up doing the work - fantastic. In order to emphasize the hand and arm positioning, some coaches have suggested using a skipping rope stretched behind the heads of defensive players. Others have offered that players put their thumbs in their arm pits and point their elbows at the ball and their player. This clip uses towels. The end result is that defenders have their hands up, thumbs in, palms out, and are pointing at the ball and their check.

http://www.youtube.com/user/CoachPat30#p/u/10/PUnY_EkLZ9o

TALK on defense

Communicate! Talk! Speak to the ball! Go to a gym, especially at the higher levels of the game, and you will hear coaches imploring their team to talk on defense. The old axiom is that a loud gym is a winning gym - in both practices and games. Teams, especially on defense, need to TALK:

T - Tell your team what you are doing, what you see, how you are helping.
A - Accept your responsibility in team defense - your player, the ball, your help, be unselfish.
L - Listen to your coach, and for how your teammates are helping you.
K - Keep talking - the moment you stop, others think they can do the same.

Kevin Eastman defensive teaching

Thanks to Coach Rich Stoner for the reminder of these excellent points from Kevin Eastman (Boston Celtics Asst. Coach). At a recent coaches' clinic, Coach Eastman outlined some pertinent thoughts regarding transition defense. As one of the premier teachers in the game today, Coach Eastman emphasizes the following components of transition defense:

• TALK, TALK, TALK
• get back and get set
• apply intelligent pressure
• keep the ball out of the paint
• only give up a contested two point attempt
• GANG REBOUND
• take care of the paint, the ball, and 3 point attempts
• be a "hit first" team
• close out properly and help (SPRINT to both)
  

Defending screens

In previous posts, the defending of ballscreens has been covered. This post covers defending screens away from the ball, specifically a down screen and a baseline screen. Points to consider:

• with either a down screen or baseline screen, especially if the screen is set by a big, the defense must avoid separation from the screener
• screeners will look to a seal and post up defenders as soon as they have space to do so (can establish and win a foot fight on or near the lane)
• therefore, screen defenders should hold close to the screen and defenders of cutters should chase on down screens or baseline screens
  
• chasing off a down screen is more aggressive, avoids defenders getting jammed in the lane, and does not allow a reception and step back shot by cutter
• chasing a baseline screen is again more aggressive and avoids a middle jam of a defender going over the top, plus does not allow the cutter to fade off the screen to an uncontested shot (along the baseline)
  
• chasing cutters means that the screen and cutter defenders stay with their respective responsibilities (defensively much more aggressive)
  
• to further improve the action, the three defenders not involved in the screen need to help it in every way possible (jam cutter, bluff coverage, see it, talk, etc.)
  

Bob Knight - switch screens

In the brief clip below, legendary coach Bob Knight, reviews the defensive reads when switching a downscreen. Watch carefully as he patiently goes through the scenarios of the cutter accepting or rejecting the downscreen. Coach also gives some teaching points for if the cutter accepts then pops back from the screen (as if about to catch a pass and shoot behind that screen). Thanks to the YouTube channel of Championship Productions for the clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPd1zS-umwY&feature=channel

Making a difference

The concept that coaches "get what they accept" is so simple and so true. At the peak of any season, beyond a team sharing the ball and making their shots, coaches often comment that championships come down to aspects such as defense, rebounding, and ball protection.

That said, why are players allowed to come in to the gym and not work with a purpose, even if they are in for extra/leisure time? The small changes will make the big difference. Granted, the sport needs to be fun but consider the following:

• if a player walks in to an empty gym and sees a ball they will likely pick it up and dribble it - they would be more effective going through a short series of dribble moves
• if a player is simply taking shots, get them to move to new spots, move laterally or inside/outside, chart their progress, take a set number, don't just shoot
• emphasize footwork, don't simply shoot close to the rim, self-pass to imitate a post reception and then work on various moves to each shoulder
• throw the ball off the backboard, work on rebounds, catch above the head with two hands, protect the ball at the chin, work on strong wide pivots with a look downcourt
• pass the ball off a wall, practice good pass reception to strong ball protection - applies to post players and perimeter players, vary the body location of the catch (chin, overhead, hip, etc)
• work on slides, digs, loose balls, close-outs - these can be done without a partner
  

Post Defense Strategy

An example of a defender digging on the post to disrupt the offensive player's post move Digging on the post is a great way to disrupt the offensive post player without committing 100% to a double team. How to execute a dig: The closest ballside defender faces the baseline or top (depending on your preference of positioning. When the ball is entered into the post, the ballside wing defender moves into position halfway between the post and their check. On the post offensive players dribble they attack the ball for a second and recover to their check.

Look Opposite

Sometimes, in order to truly grasp a concept, players need to look at the opposite of what is requested or required. What does that mean? Essentially, they need to BE the type of player that they do NOT like to play against. This theory has been promoted by successful coaches (Knight, Hurley, etc) over the decades. Examples:

• if a guard struggles against an aggressive defender that gives them no space to work then that guard should defend that way when they don't have the ball
• if a post player does not like to take a beating when working in the attack areas close to the rim then they should be a punishing post defender themselves
• if a perimeter defender feels that they play good close-out defense but still manage to be late versus a quick shooter then they need to improve their own quick shot release
• defensively, if a player does not like to defend versus big, quick, strong attackers that are constantly working then they should be that way when they are on offense
• offensively, if a player does not like to be punished by a defender that makes plenty of contact, gives no space, and seems to react properly to every move then they themselves need to defend in that manner