"The ball scores." Everything begins with on-ball defense. When our teams cannot contain the ball, bad things happen. That forces help and rotation and breaks down defense.
Containing the ball means denying dribble and pass penetration and making the ball handler uncomfortable. You remember the scene from Hoosiers where Gene Hackman asks the player what kind of gum his cover is chewing?
It begins with mindset. "Nose on the ball" or "crawl up into them." I called it "reach out and touch someone" because you have to be that close. Think DEFENSIVE DISRUPTION. Take away what the offense wants to do. Conversely, all too often we see "dead man's defense" because the defender is six feet under the ball. That does nothing. The ball handler can have his coffee and donut.
Stance matters. Different coaches will argue for a neutral stance (not forcing either direction) or forcing stance, to the "weak hand." On offense, think non-dominant hand because we have no weak hand. On defense, there is often a weak hand to exploit. Everyone is not Kyrie Irving. Play on the balls of your feet, knees bent, weight balanced. Kevin Eastman says, "low man wins; it's a shoulders game."
Starting out, I recommend head even with the ball and focus on the "belt buckle." Where the waist goes, the body follows. Hands "probe" for opportunity. Ball side hand mirrors the ball. Coach Pitino recommends that the thumbs point up. Who am I to argue?
Drills.
Dog drill (Kevin Eastman)
Manmaker (stay in your lane)
I spent my junior year figuratively "chicken chasing" a guy name Frank, who tormented me but made me a better defender.
Suggestions:
- "Show your hands." Let the ref know you are NOT fouling. As a coach, I'll yell "show your hands" because I'm letting the refs know we're NOT reaching in.
- Turnovers create a zero percent possession. Guys like Kawhi go for the ball on the downbeat of the dribble. I found it easier to "read" the upbeat of the dribble to go for steals. Be selective and be intentional.
- Successful "gamblers" have an edge. You cannot play (gamble) every hand.
- Contest shots without fouling. In the Leonard video or a McHale video, note how they contest right handed shots with their left hand (reduces likelihood of fouling).
- "Move your feet." Defenders foul habitually by reaching instead of getting in front and by 'chesting' into the ballhandler. "If it looks like a foul, it's a foul."
- "Get on the floor."
Clarity of you HELP SYSTEM allows you to have more confidence as the on-ball defender.