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What Are You trying to accomplish on Defense?
Sounds like a simple enough question, right? As simple as it seems, I think that the way you choose to answer that question can affect the entire direction and philosophy of your team or program. I can think of three answers to the question off the top of my head. All three answers mean very different things. If I really mean what I’m saying, then I expect that the ‘products’ that I put onto the floor would look very different, depending on my answer.
The first, most obvious, and probably most common answer is undoubtedly my least favorite. of the three. That answer is: “to keep the other team from scoring“. I don’t like the answer for two reasons:
A more focused answer, and one that has more teeth is, “to limit high percentage shots“. This is an answer that can drive a defensive mindset and philosophy. This approach would likely focus heavily on transition defense (limiting layups off of the break), preventing passes into the basket area, and preventing penetration. The most prominent example that comes to mind is the Pack Line Defense, a fantastic defense made into a household name - in coach’s houses, at least - by Dick Bennett at Wisconsin.
The third answer, and my personal favorite, is “to get the ball back“. I like this answer because it is aggressive by nature. If I want to get the ball back, I’m going to pressure the other team all night long. I’m going to make the opposing point guard afraid to bring the ball up the floor because he knows that I’ll be right there, turning him, disrupting his vision and forcing him to focus on protecting the ball every single trip up the floor. I’m going to get into the passing lanes. And I’m going to create the tempo that we love, and that makes you uncomfortable.
There are several more possibilities. What’s your philosophy? What are you trying to accomplish on defense?
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