Purpose: To teach the defender to closeout, defend on-ball, jump to the ball in denial position, recover to defend the shot and blockout. This drill also stresses quick and efficient defensive footwork.
Drill: Three offensive men start as shown in the diagram. The defensive man starts about midway between the baseline and free throw line with a basketball.
To start the drill, the defender passes the ball to the offensive point man. The point catches the ball in triple threat position as the defender closes out on him. The assumption is made that the offensive player does not have a dribble (therefore, he cannot attempt to drive on the defender). The defender should also be yelling ‘dead’ at this point.
Once with the ball, the offensive player will move the ball around to varying positions, while the defender reacts accordingly by following the ball with his hands. The offensive player will then pass to either one of the wing players, at which time the defender jumps to the denial position. He should also now be yelling ‘Help right‘ or ‘Help left‘. The wing player takes one hard dribble toward the middle, forcing the defender to help-and-recover. The wing then passes back to the point, who shoots a jump shot. The defensive player slides back to get a hand up on the shot.
Once the shot is taken, the defender will block out and go after the rebound. When he rebounds the ball, he will pivot on the outside foot and outlest to the same-side wing player. The wing will then pass the ball back to the defensive player who is moving back to the middle of the lane where the drill began.
Continue in this manner for five possessions and then rotate.
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