May 10, 2002, Newsletter Issue #57: DEVELOP A DEFENSIVE PHILOSOPHY

Tip of the Week

If you decide to play some Zone Defense pick a formation that suits your team. You can run an "even front zone" like a 2-3, 2-1-2, or an odd front such as a 1-1-3, 1-2-2, 1-3-1, 3-2. This choice should be based on the type of players you have. For example, if you have three big guys, put them under the basket in a 2-3. If you have a quick team, you may want to put more players on the perimeter.
You might run a zone that uses some man to man principles called a Match Up. This is difficult for the offense to attack, because sometimes it looks like a man to man and sometimes it looks like a zone.
Regardless of what defense you play, you probably want to have solid Man to Man defense fundamentals.
One of the most important man to man defensive concepts is the theory of keeping your body between your man and the basket. Your defensive positioning should always be between the ball and the man you are guarding. Be within an arms reach of your man, so you can put pressure on the ball. Focus on his belly button...where it goes, he will go. You can be faked out by his eyes, head and shoulder fakes.
When you are guarding a player without the ball in man to man defense, it is important to be aware of the "ball/man line." The ball/man line is an imaginary line between your man, and the man with the ball. You should be on the basket side of the ball man line and away from your man enough to help your teammates. This position helps form what is called the "defensive triangle."

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