Defensive Basketball Plays: MAN DEFENSE

The following defensive basketball plays all utilize a Man Defense, effective when the opposing team has great shooters or when a zone defense is not working.

IMPORTANT: If you're truly serious about winning, make sure to see the ultimate basketball coaching system, guiding you step-by-step with every drill, play, stategy, & secret you need to create a highly skilled, un-stoppable team:

Check Out the Elite Basketball Coaching System

Now, this page is pretty long, in order to make it easier for you to print and manage. Please scroll down to view everything!

Start by viewing the first defensive basketball play below:

50 MAN TO MAN PRINCIPLES

Defensive Basketball Play #1: 50 MAN TO MAN PRINCIPLES

"50" starts with ball pressure and communication. All five defenders must be talking. Hands are active looking for deflections and we must keep the ball out of the center of the floor. We want to "fan out" to a side and then keep the ball at that side. Once the "strong or ball" side has been established we will deny any ball reversals.

Here x1 denies the ball reversal pass from 2 to 1.

Fronting the post. We front the post when the ball is below the foul line extended and the offensive player is on the block (player 5). If the ball goes above the foul line extended then we three quarter the post with an arm and leg. Remember you should have weak side help against any lob pass.

If the offensive player goes off the block then we play behind the post.

x2 will force 2 towards the corner of the floor. He cannot let 2 take the dotted angle towards the basket. x2 cannot let 2 get into the center of the floor. Too many bad things will happen if 2 penetrates from the middle of the court. This follows the concept of keeping the ball to one side of the floor.

From here x2 will play 2 "straight up," but x2 still cannot let 2 get into the lane.

When playing any defense it is important to "jump to the ball" on every pass. If you are guarding the ball, and you do not jump to the ball on the pass, the offensive player can cut in front of the defender for a basket cut. Do not let anyone cut in front of your face.

On the pass, x2 and x4 jump to the ball, x1 takes the ball.

We teach our players to "GET TO RIM" while giving weak side help. This means that x3 and x5 need to have one foot even on the imaginary line that separates ball and weak side. We do not want to be "hugging our man" on the weak side. All players should be talking when giving help.

Note: We front the ball side low post when the post player is on the block.

From the corner:

The key to any rotation is not to get beat in the first place. But if it happens players must be in their "get to rim" positions on the help (weak) side.

In this situation, x5 would slide over. If 4 picks up his dribble on the baseline x4 and x5 should trap him there. x3 rotates down to protect the basket, and x1 wants to get into a position where he can see x3's man and take away a skip pass to his man.

Get wide when rotating, arms extended ready to intercept.

In this situation x4 will stay with man, because it is an easy dump off pass for 2.

x5 will rotate to stop the ball, and possible trap. x3 and x1 rotate.

The key again is not to get beat off the dribble.

When the offensive player cuts to the basket and we are in a one pass away denial stance, we will "quick head" instead of opening up to see the ball.

x2 will just turn his head and switch from his left arm denying to his (inside) right arm denying the pass to 2.

THE DOWNSCREEN: The key to defending screens is not to let the offensive team set the screen. "Don't get hit on a screen." The defender must be HIGHER than the offensive player. Here x2 is higher or on the top side of 2.

Proper defensive positioning by "jumping to the ball," and communication is very important. x4 would yell "screen!", and give x2 a LANE TO GET THROUGH.

In this situation we will "shadow" the offensive player.

As 2 runs across the baseline to the opposite wing he is looking to come off of 4's screen. x4 will yell "screen," and hedge out to help x2. x2 will" shadow" 2 by trailing him past the screen then deny the pass on the wing.

We defend the pick 'n roll two ways. 90% of the time we will hedge and get through, but we also depending on the opponent can double the dribbler and zone up.

If we hedge, x4 must make the dribbler go away from his basket. x2 goes over the top of the screen to guard the dribbler. x4 recovers onto his man. Weak side defenders need to be at rim to help.

x4 again forces the dribbler away from his basket. x2 gets through the screen then traps the dribbler with x4.

The other three defenders need to rotate and zone up.

Our rules for defending the flex offense are to get solid ball pressure, deny ball reversals, and force the flex cut low.

x3 will get his shoulders perpendicular with the screener (4). x4 will "shadow" his man, so he does not double screen x3. x3 must beat 3 to the spot as 3 makes his flex cut.