Defense Archives - Basketball For Coaches

What is a Hedge in Basketball? (Simple 4-Step Guide)

One of the most commonly used offensive actions across the world is the pick-and-roll.

And one of the most common ways to defend the pick-and-roll is by “hedging.”

This is important to know, because whether you’re playing in the NBA Finals, for your HS team, or pickup at at the local court, it’s impossible to play a game without defending a pick-and-roll.

So you better understand how to do it well!

1-2-2 Press – Complete Coaching Guide (Includes Images)

Basketball is a game of flow.

When a team is playing well, they’re usually advancing the ball quickly down the court with an attacking mindset. The ball moves quickly and easily. Offensive players play confidently and decisively.

It’s the job of the defense to try to break the offensive team’s rhythm.

One way to do this is through full court zone pressure, which can create indecision and force the offense to reverse the ball multiple times to cross the half court line.

6 Tips for the Perfect Defensive Stance in Basketball

Many coaches emphasize the idea that good fundamentals should be the building blocks of any good basketball player.

However, often those fundamentals are only actually practiced on the offensive side of the ball, and defensive fundamentals go overlooked.

Building a strong defensive team starts with getting your players in a good defensive stance.

The Amoeba Defense – Complete Coaching Guide

Coach Jerry Tarkanian’s “Amoeba Defense” is an excellent option as a defensive changeup.

This is an aggressive zone defense that seeks to disrupt offensive flow and force turnovers.

Even a few possessions of something different can catch your opponent off-guard and change the momentum of the game.

Triangle and 2 Defense – Complete Coaching Guide

If you’re coaching against a team where two players do most of the scoring, it might be the perfect opportunity to implement the triangle and 2 defense.

The triangle and 2 defense is a “junk defense” that can give your team a unique option to stop an offense that revolves mostly around only two players.

Note: A ‘junk defense’ is a defense that combines man-to-man and zone principles together.

How to Run an Effective Full-Court Press in Basketball

A well-drilled team running a full-court press is exciting to watch and can be devastatingly effective against any opponent.

When your players are all on the same page and rotating as one unit, the press will give you many advantages that can turn a game in your favor.

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