Following on the TNT Fundamentals series, let's take a look at Emeka Okafor of the Charlotte Bobcats. When Okafor was in college, he was one of the most dominating defensive centers of all time and won games simply through his presence down low, much like Greg Oden did last year. In fact, UConn would routinely feed the ball-penetration along the baseline where Okafor would come in for the weak-side block. Watch the video and then you can read my thoughts below.
Our Varsity team has a dominant low post defensive player. He single-handily won games last year by getting some monster blocks early in games. Nobody would drive to the net after the first quarter, settling for perimeter shots. Though I don't usually promote the use of the block as a defensive fundamental (as most players simply don't have the athleticism to block shots properly and end up fouling or jumping at shot fakes), if you have a dominant defensive center, you definitely want to use it to your advantage.
Here are the key points from the video:
1. Timing, blocking shots is all about timing. Blocks need to be timed so that you don't catch the ball on the way down or bite on shot fakes.
2. Body control, you must keep your body under control so that you don't foul the opponent. The foul is the worst case here, because they could end up scoring, get a free-throw, and adds to the foul total.
As Okafor points out, you don't necessarily need block every shot, but as long as you alter the opponents shot and force them to miss, you've done your job. The altered shot is just as good as the blocked one.
Also, I think keeping the ball inbounds is more important than Okafor states in the clip. By keeping the ball in play, you can start the fast break and get easy baskets, much better than giving you opponent possession of the ball again.
If you're looking for a video to help in developing your big men, check out Steve Alford's DVD on Post Development. I have plenty of notes on post development, so be sure to check out the X's and O's Basketball forum.
Once in a while, you'll play a team that has that all-state point guard. The one that averages 30 ppg, can break defenders down with the dribble, has a deadly shot. Sometimes, the whole team is just this one player. The best way to defend is to play man-to-man using your best defender, but sometimes the opposing player is just too good, or maybe you want to give a different look sometimes.
Often times, the team will use a 3-2 high set and the ball-side wing will simply clear out to the opposite corner. Allowing for a 1-on-1 matchup with the low block empty of defenders. This will allow their player to either break the defense 1-on-1, or if sagging, shoot over top. In this case, doubling the point on the wing may be a good option.
Setup:
Most teams with a dominant point guard, will start with a high set, so that they bring the defense up and keep the the lane clear. They will also have the right side wing clear out (this is typically the worst player as well so that is the player we want to leave open).
So what you want to do is have X3 show follow with P3, then v-cut hard to cut off P1. X1 will play off P1 knowing that P3 will be coming hard to double. Your other defenders want to be in regular defense, not necessarily deny, because we want the ball out of their best players hands.
The Double:
So X1 and X3 are doubling hard. You want to force P1 to pick up the dribble. If P1 tries to dribble through or around, X1 and X3 need to work together to trap, this needs to be drilled to be effective. Force P1 to the sideline and trap never allow middle penetration.
Once the trap is set, everyone else, X2, X5 and X4 should be in deny. We want to either force a turnover or a rushed shot. If P1 is able to get the ball to P3 somehow, then X4 and X5 need to show help. X4 and X5 need to watch underneath the basket.
Remember, at the high school level, you want the double-team defender to be from the worst offensive option on the other team. Many times, this player is not comfortable scoring, even when undefended. Use this to your advantage, this will allow your defense to recover should their worst offensive player get the ball.
Summary:
The whole key here is to force the opposing player's best player, the point guard, into passing the ball to a less capable offensive threat, or forcing a tough shot, or turnover. Point guards that score 20-plus points a game are used to taking advantage of 1-on-1 matchups, so take that away. Force the other players to be an offensive threat.
For a great video on specific defensive breakdowns, I recommend Tom Izzo's Defensive Drills DVD. Coach Izzo does a great job breaking down the fundamentals of man-to-man with progressions from 1x1 to 5x5. Plus coach Izzo goes through rebounding fundamentals. Check out the X's and O's of Basketball Forum for more defensive notes to download.
I was reading some notes and came across this play. It's from Gregg Popovich in what they call 15 Rub Top Head. How many times have we seen Big Shot Bob hit that clutch 3-pointer to win the game? This is a play for that kind of situation. If you're looking for a transition 3-pointer, click here.
15 Rub Top Head:
This is very simple play, there isn't much going on here. It's basically a pick n roll at the top with 3 spot up 3-point shooters. P1 here is Tony Parker, P5 is Tim Duncan, P2 is Bruce Bowen and P3 is Manu Ginobili and P4 is Robert Horry.
Now, coach Popovich draws it up simply as the pick and roll with Parker finding Horry who rotates to the top of the key and shoots the 3-pointer.
Secondary Option:
But the way I've seen it run by the Spurs is Parker comes off the pick and actually penetrates into the lane and kicks it out to Bowen in the corner. Bowen fakes the 3-pointer to get the defender who is closing out on him to jump and try to block. Bowen takes a couple of dribbles to show penetration which causes a defensive rotation as Horry's defender comes down to help. Bowen kicks it out to Horry who is wide open at the top of the key for the 3-pointer. That is the killer play.
Horry can fake the 3 is he isn't open then penetrate and kick to Ginobili to his left who can shoot the 3 and so on and so on.
The Spurs are able to use Parker's quickness to break teams down. With Duncan on the pick and roll, they are very efficient and difficult to defend. The whole Spurs team philosophy is to value each possession and use the 3-pointer to their advantage.
I've never watched Coach Popovich's DVD on his favorite plays and drills, but I'm sure it's very good. Again, the Spurs philosophy on valuing each possession is one that is sometimes lost in the ever-popular transition game, but when you talk about big games, playoff games, championship games, you must have an efficient half-court offense that maximizes shot opportunities. Check out the X's and O's of Basketball Forum for notes including Spurs stuff.
I was watching some older tape I had from the NCAA season last year and I came across one with UofL against USF. Tom Collen left Louisville in March but I like his half-court sets so I drew up one of their favorite M2M quick hitters. I'm not sure what coach Collen called it, but I like to call it the Hi-lo pick and roll.
Setup:
It's a 1-4 high set. This is a very quick play, almost an early offense play. Louisville ran it many times as their first look before going to motion.
So what's going to happen is P5 will come up and set a ball screen on P1 who will dribble off the screen. P4 will come to the top of the key and get in position to screen P5 who rolls off the ball screen and rubs off of P4's shoulders.
Hi-lo:
The timing is key here. You need to make sure P1 waits for P5 to set the screen properly and P4 should already be coming up to the top of the key once P5 has set the ball screen.
P1 passes to P4 at the top of the key after P5 clears. Once P4 gets the ball, she will pivot to the basket and immediately look for the lob or shot pass into P5. P5 should briefly hesitate after coming off P4's screen then cut hard to the basket. This is important because the change of speed will allow P5 to get open underneath for an easy layup.
The video I saw, UofL must've ran this play about 20 times. A couple of times, the defense read the play and intercepted the Hi-lo lob pass to P5, so it's key to tell your players not to force the ball. If the pass isn't there, pass back to the wing and setup your motion.
For high-post offensive development, I like Gene Auriemma's DVD on the High Post Offense. Coach Auriemma does a good job going through all the different progressions and various ways to attack both zone and M2M defenses through the high post. I have notes from coach Auriemma so head over to the X's and O's of Basketball Forum to request them.
Any guard who wants to further develop their dribbling will benefit tremendously by using 2-balls at all times. Practicing with 2-balls at all times will help develop both hands and build strength in the fingers. This is a video clip of a high school player demonstrating good 2-ball dribbling form. Watch the video and then you can read my thoughts below.
Ball-handling is one of those skills that I find have generally been improving over the past decade or so, especially since the growth of playground ball, a lot of players have developed this area. With the increasing use of offenses that rely on the dribble like the Dribble Drive Motion, this is a critical area that all your players must develop including post-players. However, having said that, a lot of players are underdeveloped on their weak hand which the 2-ball dribbling should improve.
Here are the key points from the video:
1. Keep your head up. You'll notice the player is always looking ahead. You can't see your teammates if you're looking down at the ball. Always keep your eyes on the rest of the court to see your teammates and the hoop.
2. Use your fingers. You must develop strong finger strength. You dribble with your fingers and not the palm of your hand.
3. Pound that ball. The reason why the video goes in slow motion is because the player is pounding the ball so hard that you can't even see the crossover. That is how you beat your defender, by pounding the ball hard.
For DVDs and videos, Gagnon Baker has some good ball-handling fundamentals, but I like Lorenzo Romar's DVD on game-relevant ball-handling. I also have plenty of notes so head over the X's and O's Basketball Forum to take a look and see what I have.
I've always advocated pressure defense. This is a half-court press that our team has used in past years to disrupt the offense and create a ton of transition baskets. The reason why we love the 1-2-2 is because once the ball-handler has crossed half, it compresses the area to trap and it thus creates more turnovers than a full-court press. Also, since the backcourt is mostly empty, a turnover usually results in an uncontested layup the other way.
One of the teams that I've seen use the 1-2-2 half-court or 3/4 court press is Marquette. Tom Crean will switch to the 1-2-2 3/4 matchup press to change the tempo of the game and force turnovers.
With the 1-2-2 half-court press, the main thing you want to accomplish is to increase tempo. This is a great press to use to force the game to be played at a faster pace. This is great to use against teams that like to settle into a half-court set. The best way to defend them is to not let them setup.
Setup:
In terms of personnel, you need a great on-ball defender that can really agitate the dribbler. You need your wings to have great reaction skills and they must be able to really closeout. Finally, your X4 and X5 need to be athletic and capable of covering a lot of ground.
In terms of positioning, X1 should be in the backcourt guiding the dribbler to a side. X2 and X3 must not come up too soon and wait until the dribbler crosses half. X4 (side where the ball is coming to) must anticipate the dribbler crossing half and getting up to cover the sideline player. X5 must stay low in case P5 pops into the key and gets a quick pass downcourt for an easy layup (which happens occasionally).
Now, if the opposing team keeps a safety back (probably P2), and they reverse the ball to P2, X1 must sprint to the other side and force the trap on the other side.
Trap the dribbler:
As soon as the dribbler passes half, X1 and X3 must trap P1 in the corner right away. If the trap is set properly with both players forming a T with their legs and hands in the face intimidating P1, it will be easy pickins' for your team all night.
If the other team has not prepared for your trap, P1 will probably force a pass to P3 on the sideline, so X4 must be prepared to intercept the pass and start the break. P2 sometimes will come to the middle so X2 must follow P2 and deny the pass. X5 should be checking P5 down low in case P1 is somehow able to get a pass down there, we don't want to give up a layup here.
The cross-court pass to P4 is the only pass we want to allow. And many times, because it is a lob, X5 can anticipate the pass and jump it to intercept. But you must tell your X5 that P5 is their priority. If they get the pass to P4, X2 will need to rotate down and we'll be in our base half-court defense.
Secondary Trap:
Sometimes, the team is able to get the pass into P3, especially if your X4 comes just a shade late. What we want to do if that pass is made is set the secondary trap.
X3 and X4 will set the secondary trap as soon as P3 gets the ball. X1 will deny the pass back up top. X5 will deny the pass down low. X2 is splitting the 2 backside defenders.
Oftentimes, you will also get turnovers off of the secondary trap. The cross-court pass is especially susceptible and usually results in a one-on-none the other way.
Summary:
There is a couple of flaws with this press. The obvious on is if the other team brings P4 up to the middle near the top of the key. If that happens, you'll have to switch to a different press as once the ball gets into the middle, everything breaks down from there. Also, that early deep pass from P1 to P5 before P1 crosses half is one you have to watch for.
We use this press as our starter press, to increase the tempo and force the opposing team to adjust to our pressure. Sometimes, they never do, and it will be a long night for them. Well coached teams will switch and put a guy in the middle, then we'll switch again to a full-court press like the 1-2-1-1 or another 3/4 press.
Tom Crean hasn't created a DVD yet with any of his pressure defenses but this Bobby Gonzalez DVD shows you how to run it. Be sure to check out the X's and O's Basketball forum to discuss or request notes.
Always a hot topic is the area of the press break. While my general philosophy is to keep things simple and to play through pressure by facing it straight up, at times you may want to use a little trickery to change things up. I read this several months ago and thought I would share with you all if you are indeed looking for a unique press break that will make the defense think twice about pressing you.
I first heard of John Brady at LSU using this but I'm sure a few others have used it in the past as well. The primary trick behind the play is the use of 2 inbounders. 
Both P1 and P2 are on the baseline. P2 passes sideways to P1 who is also out of bounds. P5 comes and sets a downscreen for P2 who sprints down the floor. P1 makes a n over the top pass to a sprinting P2 (much like a football over the shoulder pass). P3 and P4 cut to the ball (in case P2 isn't open) clearing out for P2 then v-cut straight down the sideline to trail the play.
Now based on this basic 2-inbounder set the possibilities are endless. This should give the defense pressing you a different look that they might not have prepared for.
To see what other tricks are up his sleeve, check out John Brady's DVD on the press-break offense. I have some more notes on John Brady, so be sure to check out the X's and O's Basketball forum to see what I have.
