Establishing defensive priorities like ball pressure, denying cuts, keeping the paint 'dry', challenging shots, and blocking out is great. But executing them takes your play to an ethereal level.
Coach Nick at BBallBreakdown.com examines why the Spurs' Kawhi Leonard earns the shutdown defender moniker.
The clip shows Leonard make Kevin Durant work for the ball, disallow him from playing in space, and then force him away from the paint.
Coach Nick makes some great points about the importance of impact defense, the flexibility to defend on and off the ball, and to pass both the 'eye test' and analytic excellence.
But remember to recognize and reward your players who make it happen on the defensive end.