Teaching helpful defense

I can’t stress enough the value of helping players understand their role in making teammates better by playing intentional defense. The goal is to reach a point where they take pride in that role—approaching it almost like they’re their teammate’s personal trainer, shaping each rep to push them toward improvement.

Here are a few types of defense we use:

Predictable Defense

This defense simulates a specific decision and encourages similar types of solutions.

For example, we might use ultra aggressive closeouts to work on catch-and-shoot decisions. In this setup, the defender’s goal is to force the offensive player to dribble or use a shot fake before shooting. Predictable defense doesn’t remove variability entirely though, as each rep still plays out differently. The defender’s closeness, angle, and timing all influence the decision, leading to a variety of shooting solutions: catch-and-shoot, shot fake into a shot, side-dribble three, and more.

Another example we use is shoulder to chest driving. Here, the offensive player drives to the basket with the defender on their side and takes a layup outside their body. Even if the focus is on outside finishes, no two shots are the same. The defense’s length, contest, and physicality on the drive all impact how high, how far outside, and from what angle the driver finishes.

Unpredictable Defense

This defense invites a variety of decisions and counters in order to simulate various game-like scenarios and defensive tactics.

For example, in a unpredictable closeout drill, the defender might mix up their distance, speed, angle, and approach on each rep. The offense never knows exactly what’s coming, forcing them to read the defender’s cues and adapt in real time.

Live Defense

This defense that does whatever it takes based on the strengths and weaknesses of the offensive player to get a stop.

For example, in a live closeout drill, the defender isn’t limited to a certain tactic. They might fly out aggressively against a good shooter, sit back against a driver, or force a player to their weak hand. The goal is simple: use any tactic to make the offensive player miss.

Keep in mind: There is value to the players (not just the coaches) learning and executing these defenses. Anyone who plays defense will gain a better understanding on offense too as they learn specific visual cues and the appropriate solutions and counters.