Get more from studying basketball. Watching and SEEING aren't the same.
1. Spacing. What's the spacing? NBA and high level FIBA spacing separate themselves. Guys don't cut to occupied posts or clog a driver's lane.
2. "Color on color." What's the defensive proximity? Do the defenders move on the pass?
3. Is there ball pressure or "neighborhood" defense? Some defenders exert no pressure on the ball. "Don't back down."
4. Notice how elite players separate with and without the ball.
5. "It's a shoulders game." See how a 6'9" Jayson Tatum gets lower than defenders while attacking the basket. Playing upright is playing inefficiently.
6. "The ball has energy." Is the ball sticking or moving? Some players have 0.5 second decision-making capabilities.
7. "The help can never be beaten." Truth or lies.
8. Study the PnR defense. Are they 'icing' the ball, playing drop coverage, or maybe trapping, often exposing the defense to short-roll passing?
9. Corners get filled. Are defenders helping off the corner 3 and exposing one of the most efficient shots in professional basketball?
10.Multiples. Watch for the multiple actions of great offense and the multiple efforts of great defense.
11.Study the details of ball circulation. Ball reversal and paint touches into ball reversal often result in high quality scoring chances.
12.Notice how live-ball turnovers kill teams via the high points/possession transition chances.
13.Study the 'help' side, what we knew as weak side. Are defenders individualizing the degree of help. A guy like Rob Williams is not taking threes or long 2s, so defenders will sag more.
14.Where are the sets? Many teams run horns sets, ram screens into PnR, pistol action as early offense, etc.
15.Ball containment. Everyone isn't Ja Morant or Darius Garland, especially at the high school level. Defense starts with ball containment. If we can't contain the ball, then our defense won't be good.
16."Defense face." Guy scores and the camera gives us a closeup of him with "defense face." Grr. I'm going to defend, at least at the start of this possession. Show me guys who defend most possessions.
17.Impacting winning. Who's impacting winning when they come on the floor? Not to name names, but Malcolm Brogdon.
18.What's next? Coach calls time out, tie score with one possession left. What would you do this possession? The NBA usually means iso or spread PnR for the 'star'. Is that the best option or appeasement?
19.Is the help defense loading to the ball, shrinking space?
20.If watching in person, do you see the defense talking?
21.Does a player 'win in space' or do they continually drive or pass into traffic?
22.Does a player move without the ball?
23.Does a player rebound individually or block out so teammates can rebound?
24.Does a team have willing passers?
25.Does a team show toughness in setting screens, going to the floor, blocking out, taking charges?
Lagniappe. "Rarely is defense explained." Coach Hanlen does defense.