Shell Drill: Baseline Penetration

Defending baseline penetration: Most half court man to man defenses in today’s game try to influence the ball handler to the sideline when the ball is in the middle of the floor and towards the baseline when the ball is on the side. The reason: Good players have more options and better angles (passing and shooting) in the middle than they do on the baseline.

As has been stated many times, we always want to contain the basketball – we don’t want to get beat baseline, even if we are influencing the ball to the sideline. This version of the shell covers how we rotate if we do get beat on the baseline side.

Keys:

1. The help defender must meet the ball handler outside of the key. We constantly emphasize giving early help. Help defenders have to be aware and react quickly. If as defender is late on this rotation, he will usually be called for a block.

2. The help defender must be set – i.e. stationary, no longer moving- with hands straight up in the air. Defenders constantly get called for reaching and over-the-back (my favorite non-call call – ‘over the back’ is neither a call, or a foul) because their arms are not straight up

3. The entire team helps by dropping in towards the baseline. We have to cover the player left open by the defender who helps on the drive. A common term for this rotation is “Help the Helper”.

Filed Under: Basketball Defense Drills

Spread The Word With Other Coaches: