Defensive Faking

Effective coaches want their team to take on their persona. Most coaches have a single-mindedness about the mental and physical approach to the game.  They want players to combine both cerebral and aggressive play.

When we discuss deception and faking, most probably associate that with offensive basketball. That's not necessarily so.

In defending the pick-and-roll, many coaches favor the "show" or "hedge", but which Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski has called a "fake trap." The "fake trap" also regularly appears in the run and jump (jump switch) defense.

On ball defenders have several options that include faking. Just as an offensive player can upfake to try to get the defender to leave her feet, so the defensive player can upfake to try to get the offensive player to shoot. A defender can fake at the ballhandler or to one side, trying to induce a drive that the defender wants to defend and occasionally draw a charge.

The post defender can also use her craft to apply pressure (lean on) to the post player. When well-timed, she can "pull the chair" hoping to induce a travel.

The wing defender (ball on top) or top defender (ball on the wing) can "lie in the weeds" looking to spring to the ball for a steal. That might induce a lazy pass that the alert defender can intercept. 

Maybe the angriest I ever made a player was on this play. After a basket, X2 jogs (not looking at the ball) back on defense. Anticipate the inbounds pass by whirling to intercept the pass to 1. But if it works, don't anticipate making any friends.