Thoughts on Defending the 5 Out/Spread Offenses

I've always used 'shell drill' in various iterations as team defense training. If I coach again, I'd replace it with 5 - out defense. Here's why.

• Spacing is offense, shrinking space is defense. 
• It teaches 'man' principles such as stopping give-and-go plays, back cuts, and defending both the ball and 'weak'/help side. 
• It demands ball containment. 
• It requires off-ball defense and defending screens.
• It's competitive. 
• It's important, relevant, and TRUE (to what appears in games). 

Defensive efforts:

1) Jump to the ball, stop give-and-go

2) Off ball - decide switch, go through or go under (don't lock and trail away in my opinion)

3) Defend DHO (deny and go under, see video)

4) Defend backcut 

5) Defend high ball screen

6) Defend slip 

7) Defend direct drive (ball containment)

8) Defend drive and kick 

Are we developing 'stoppers' and rim protectors? The Warriors contained the elite Mavericks offense. How? 

1) Make the star player work harder (extended defense) and use more shot clock.

2) Protect the basket with a rim protector.

3) Make lower percentage shooters get the three-point shots above the break (longer shots).

4) Make direct drives harder with help.

5) Peel switching to diminish offensive 'time and space'.

6) 3-2 zone 

7) Box-and-1 (covered boxes and elbows, help on drives)
8) Change the matchups (if applicable)

Lagniappe. "Movement kills defenses." Screening doesn't have to be complex to work.  

Lagniappe 2. Young players should watch more video and extract lessons. There's initial spacing, advantage creation, and execution. 

First, a still picture. What's next? 

• Will Jaylen Brown (7, top) basket cut? 
• Will D.White (9) come off a stagger (Smart, Tatum) and curl?
• Something else? 

"Great offense is multiple actions." 

Advantage comes off player and ball movement. 

• Draw 2
• Pass to force help and rotation.
• "One more" creates long closeout and open corner 3.