Taking Man-to-Man Defense to a New Level

Basic man-to-man is a solid defense that can have unpredictable results, often vulnerable to effective offenses with good screens, mismatches, and isolations. But, teams must use a man-to-man matchup defense to put pressure on players, assist with assignments for blockouts/defensive rebounding, and deter the three-point shot.

To make the results of the man-to-man more favorable, players can integrate some additional measures into their defense to improve its effectiveness.

Make The Offense Uncomfortable

Read what the offense wants to do and make them do something else. A typical “between-the-man-and-the-basket” defense doesn’t force offensive players out of their comfort zone. The typical defense simply follows the offensive players as they execute their will and their offensive plays/sets. For everything the offensive player wants to do, the defensive player should make the player do something else. This works best for the on-ball defender. When the dribbler attempts to go one way, the defender can disrupt the dribbler who is typically attempting to run a plan, and make the defender go the other way. Or, minimally, the defender can make the dribbler consistently go to his weak hand. Those off-ball defenders can use body-bumps and other methods to disrupt the offensive players from executing their plays.

Be Unpredictable

Be unpredictable in your defense. Simply being in the defensive position and watching the offensive player offers no uncertainty to the offense. Unpredictable foot jabs, hand swipes, yelling, and sudden movements can distract the offensive player from focusing on his plays.

Collapsing with the Drives

Follow the lateral during offensive drives. The most dangerous moment in a man-to-man is during an offensive drive to the basket. As the dribbler passes through the players positioned higher on the court, the lower defenders (typically the bigs) have to leave their men to assist. This provides easy dishes and layups for the offense. This can be disrupted by ensuring that all defensive players are always no higher in the court as the dribbler when a drive begins. This ensures that as the bigs move over to help, there are other defenders coming in to prevent the dish or at least defend the player who receives the dish.

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Good defense requires sound basic fundamentals. An outstanding defense that gives you an edge must not abandon those fundamentals, but can incorporate some additional measures that further disrupt the offense. Besides – isn’t that what defense is all about?

Purpose and Principles of the Zone Defense

The zone defense is a good option for coaches when certain court circumstances exist. For instance, when the opposing team is significantly faster or taller and is able to easily penetrate through a man-to-man defense, or when a coach is willing to take a chance that the opponent will not be able to make a three-point shot.

There are two goals in executing the zone: ensure that the opposing team never gets the ball to one of their players inside of your zone “perimeter”, and to ensure that a three-point shot taken by the opposing team is challenged.

A zone defense does have some very significant weaknesses. When the opposing team is rapidly moving the ball around the zone perimeter, holes in the zone will open as defenders rotate. This allows for penetration of an opponent through the perimeter. If that perimeter is breached, the zone defenders tend to move all attention to the opponent with the ball, collapsing on that player. This leaves outside opponent shooters open for unchallenged shots or provides opportunities for slashing opponents to get deep into the zone, close to the bucket, for easy dishes and layups.

Scenarios that are often appropriate for zones:

1. Your team is consistently fouling the opposing team when on defense due to strong attacks the opponents are making.
2. Your team has a weaker rotation in. The zone provides an immediate “help defense” for all of your players.
3. You are leading a game by 2 or more points and only a few seconds left on the clock and the other team has to bring the ball all the way down the court and will probably have to rush a shot…little time to move the ball against the zone. Especially good if you want to do your best to prevent fouling an opposing player.

Scenarios that are often not appropriate for zones:

1. A team can easily move a ball and make three pointers. A good man-to-man will keep pressure on the shooters.
2. Your team is leading a game by 3 points or more, but has time for a good offensive set. Using man-to-man allows the other team to score a two pointer, but your team retains the lead. The danger of the man-to-man is the foul that can occur as the opponent tries to shoot the field goal.
3. Your team is behind in a game and there is little time remaining in the game. A zone defense will put less pressure on the opponent’s offense and may even allow the opposition to slow down the game. A man-to-man offers the pressure that may be needed to force quicker offensive sets and turnovers. Of course, overplaying in a man-to-man can cause fouls or easy buckets for the opponent.