Favorite Basketball Defensive Drills

As a middle school coach, I prioritized offensive development because I thought that was the quickest way to develop varsity players. Two are still playing in D1, Cecilia Kay at St. Joseph's and Samantha Dewey in Richmond. In reality, defensive drills help develop defenders and offensive players.

Here are five activities that develop both: 

1) Two-on-two. Learn the "two man game" defending two. Start with a variety of geometries - two on the perimeter (e.g. slot to slot), top and elbow, top and wing. This creates classic defensive challenges:

• Pick-and-roll including slipping the screen
• Give-and-go
• Back door cutting 

2) Manmaker (via Shaka Smart). Full court three-on-three with constraints of "staying in your lane" and being restricted to one dribble after each touch. Defenders are always in full denial. 

3) Three-on-three inside the split. Scrimmage with confined areas. With two coaches, 3 on 3 work allows supervision at both ends without too much interrruption. 

It also facilitates teaching a variety of offensive initiators. 

4) Rollouts teach closeouts and more. 

"Rollouts" before games are another way to get into 3 on 3 action. It prioritizes closeouts, defensive communication, player and ball movement. Add constraints like time, number of dribbles, and defenders not allowed to cover the player in front of them.

5) Scrimmaging. Scrimmaging assembles all the pieces. Add constraints such as full court defense, full denial defense, and/or no dribbling offense. Offense learns to pass and cut and defense to communicate, deny cutters, and help and recover. 

6) Live "shell drill." With so many offenses playing out of spread spacing, "live shell" teaches players to shrink space and more. 

1. Perimeter passing (position check)

2. Pass and cut through (looking for give and go offense and defense)

3. Pass and screen away

4. Pass corner with drive and defensive rotation

Lagniappe. Bring and share energy. Coaches and point guards must supply energy all the time. 

Lagniappe 2. Repost (finally found this). 

Golden State at their peak thrived with high points/possession via cutting and transition scoring. We know statistically that ball reversal and paint touches help break down defenses. (Not sure of graphic source)

Lagniappe 3. Develop PnR players and defenders. 

Alert, pick/roll game defenders tight switch, at the proper angle, onto the dribbler. The new exchanger is "up," in coverage, w/ 1) talking 2) timing 3) moving 4) flicking 5) hounding intensity. D containment is pride!

— Gordon Chiesa (@gchiesaohmy) September 16, 2025