March 11, 2005, Newsletter Issue #205: THE ONLY PLAYER WHO CAN SCORE IS THE ONE WITH THE BALL

Tip of the Week

The bottom line to a good defensive system puts players in position to contest as many shots as possible. Simply because players miss contested shots. And they tend to make open shots. Pedrag Stojakovic of the NBA Sacramento Kings gets alot of credit for being a great shooter. I`ve even heard announcers comment on how the defense rarely bothers him. But the reality is that, through the first half of the season, Peja makes 82% of his "wide open" shots and only 13% of "heavily contested" shots.(http://82games.com/saccon.htm)

Defenders should always make an attempt to play good team defense and get out on shooters. Even if it is not their man. Close out, get a hand up and make that player shoot a contested shot. Even if you have to rush out and the defender is able to put the ball on the floor and go by you, that is not what they normally practice. They would then have to dribble, stop, and shoot without traveling or even stop and pass to a teammate. Other defensive teammates then can help play team defense and the offense would have to make a good pass and be able to catch it and execute all of those things without a turnover.

So force the offense to be able to make a play. That is why there are so many average to poor defensive teams out there. Too many players will not leave their man to help a teammate and not enough coaches demand it.

Don`t worry - a teammate will help you.

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