St. John’s HSB Basketball - DEFENSE

General Defensive Principles - All players should know and understand these principles

• BE ALERT: There is NEVER a time to relax on defense. Every player always has an active responsibility

  • This means: ALWAYS be in a defensive posture, ready to sprint, box out, or rebound

• The PAINT is a NO-ENTRY ZONE - All players, no matter what, ALWAYS must defend the paint and the basket:

  • No matter who your man is in man-to-man defense - stop anyone trying to enter the paint

  • No matter what your zone position is in zone defense - stop anyone trying to enter the paint

• Pressure the ball at all times - we do not allow the offense free time to set up and organize their half-court offense.

• Call out shot when the offense shoots … SHOT!!

• Rebounders - make body contact & box out when you hear “SHOT”

• Wing players - be alert to transition to fast break running wide lanes

PRESS DEFENSE

Our press defense denies opponents the chance to control the game when they have possession. It is a “1-2-2 Press Defense”

• We can press with 1-2-2 FULL court, 3/4 court, or even 1/2 court

• The point guard and one wing side defends the inbounded ball; the goal is to force the ball to the sideline, but deny advancing up-court on the sideline

• Initial ball pressure is forcing sideways direction, using up the 10s; not a smothering or trapping

• Full trapping is activated ONLY when the dribble is picked up

• Deny passing into the middle court -

  • Off-ball wing player covers middle court looking to intercept pass attempts to middle-court

  • Back court players are ALERT for pass attempts to the middle-court

  • Back court players are ALERT for the “home run” pass attempt at the basket

Here’s a video of this 1-2-2 press defense by Villanova