In "Inside Man," Stanley Tucci, a criminologist on death row asks what wasn't seen during the crime?
Basketball coaches should ask the same question, "what aren't you seeing in your games?" When teams improve in these areas, they increase their chances of success.
1. Ball pressure
Many teams pay "lip service" to ball pressure and containment. In 2010 I saw a point guard put so much pressure on the opposing PG that she was my MVP despite scoring three points. She totally prevented her opponents from getting their shots in their spots.
No ball pressure allows opponents to get into their offense and decreases late-clock shots. If you're not seeing "color on color" pressure, you're leaving money on the table.
2. Talk
"Silent teams lose." The only way to get talk in games is to get talk at practice. Coaches get what we allow. If we allow silent defense, we're behind the eight ball.
3. Rejecting the ball screen
Pick-and-roll (PnR) offense is fundamental to good offense. Some teams play almost exclusively zone because they can't play PnR defense. Rejecting the ball screen "keeps defenders honest." I've watched too many high school games without any screen rejections.
4. Complex Screening
Complex screens often come off play calls. Some examples that appear too infrequently:
- Screen-the-screener (pick-the-picker)
- Staggered screens (e.g. Iverson action)
- Sequence screening (player sets serial screens)
- Spain PnR (backscreen the roller)
View on Threads
