Basketball defense isn't a monolith, especially against ball screens. Defense evolves to efficiency, much like capital flows to its most effective use.
3 Concepts. Define your top priority...defend at the rim or defend against the three, and accept mid-range shots.
7 of the top 10 defensive rating teams are also among leaders in defending the rim.
Develop coverage to achieve your priority. Coach Daniel's great video illustrates different philosophies. The Celtics switch, the Raptors fill the gap, and the Sixers priority is defending the three.
Coach Daniel's video breakdown clarifies the how and the results.
Know what our players can do. Last year, we had a superb rim protector, so we used drop coverage preferentially.
Drill. "Cartoon" version of a basic PnR drill.
Communication is key but we've had success at times attacking the dribbler. Stepping up makes life harder for the screener and easier to get over the top. The choice of coverage (hedge/"fake trap," switch, blitz, under, et cetera) is less important than everyone being on the same page and execution.
Set Play. From FastModel
Lagniappe: Finding edges. Zak Boisvert shares video illustrating the primacy of spacing, how "movement kills defense" and a cut for a score when a defender loses sight of his man "head turning."
No one in the country runs better 5-out than Northern Iowa pic.twitter.com/XCIzEWWkoR
— PickandPop (@PickAndPopNet) December 9, 2020
