Every solid team defends, but we have to score to win. There is too much offensive talent around to win by defending alone.
Using the principle of inversion, exploit hard to defend actions. Be specific. This is far from complete, because it doesn't include having a great post player, creating long closeouts, and pick-and-roll basketball!
1. Explosive dribble penetration. If you have that 'guy' with burst and finish, count your lucky stars. Pack line defenses designed to stop dribble penetration can be one answer, but it's easy to imagine workarounds.
2. Urgent cutting.
3. Sequential screening such as Iverson actions.
I keep showing this because Pentucket broke up a close game against our high school in a sectional semifinal, scoring five points on two possessions with Iverson action. Good teams space and "create space." And space creates quality shots, defensive mistakes, and time. "Space makes time."
4. Complex screening. 23 Bury.
Screens are hard to defend. They create edges through space and mismatches. Here's one we haven't used from the STS (screen-the-screener) collection.
Lagniappe. "Every day is player development day." Explosive athletes add technique to create high quality SPACE leading to quality chances.