Those of you who know me, know that I am a big fan of defense in the game of basketball.  Scoring baskets is the easy part because most players do not take defense seriously and to pick them apart offensively is really quite easy; but defense is all about will power and discipline and that is what I love.  Do you as an individual have the will to stop your opponent?  Does your team have the discipline to work together as a unit and stop the other team?  If yes, then you and your team will go a long way in the game of basketball. 

Defending in basketball is not always that simple.  Will power and discipline are definitely a great start, but there are proper defensive fundamentals that need to be practiced and drilled in order to become a great defensive player and team.  Not to mention getting yourself in great shape in order to outlast your opponent on the court and defend the entire game, and not only in spots. 

In this blog, I have spoken on multiple occasions how players and coaches should use drills that work on multiple skills at once.  The following drill, (what I call) The Closeout, Slide, and Shoot Drill, is another perfect example of this.  In this drill, the player is once again working on a variety of basketball skills, two of which are defensive oriented.  The drill starts with the player on the baseline with a basketball and the coach at the top of the key.  The player passes the basketball to the coach and then closes out on him with proper form.  Proper form should include sprinting to the closeout.  My players never jog or slide or shuffle to their closeouts.  These methods of moving are too slow and the basketball moves incredibly fast for anyone to be sliding or shuffling to a closeout.  So, we sprint.  This requires two larger steps at first and then breaking down into choppy steps as your approach the offensive player.  The defensive player should be on balance throughout and as they approach the player have their hands and feet active in order to be prepared for any pass, dribble, or shot.  Once the player has closed out on the coach, he or she will defensive slide to the sideline, and then sprint back in for a wing jump shot.  Proper form should be maintained in the defensive slide as well as proper footwork and form on the jump shot.  Make sure the player is breaking down as they step into the shot with their knees bent and hands ready in order to insure a quick release and good arch on their shot.  You can also progress through this drill beyond just a step in jump shot, by using a jab series and then shooting off the dribble or attacking and finishing at the rim.  The possibilities are endless, so be creative, and if you come up with any good variations, as always share them with the Elite Basketball Training community.  Below is a diagram of the drill with more detailed instructions. 

Instructions

• The player is on the baseline with the basketball and the coach is at the top of the key.
• The player passes the basketball to the coach and closes out on him.
• He then defensive slides to the sideline.

• The player will then sprint in to the wing and receive a return pass from the coach for a wing jumper or drive to the basket.

Points of Emphasis:

• Proper closeout technique
• Sprint to closeout
• End with choppy steps, active hands, and active feet
• Proper sliding techniques (hips down, communicate, active hands, etc.)
• Sprint to the jump shot
• Proper footwork, hands ready, hips down, knees bent
• Finish all shots.

Motivation/Teaching Tips:

• Time the drill and compete against the clock
• Set a number of makes before moving on to the next variation of the drill.

Work hard, be efficient, and I will see you on the court!

Rich Stoner