Individual and team defenses, if properly practiced and trained, will pay off with many wins. Defensive dividends in basketball depend on the individual player knowing their ABC’s of defensive basketball.
Always feel proud of your defensive work, always stay between your opponent and the basket. Aggressive defense is winning basketball. Hurry in defense, it’s worth it!
To be alert. Be ready for defensive changes or be ready to help out as needed.
Focus on your opponent, study him. Check your strengths and his weaknesses. Know how to break them down with a good “D”.
Determine that you will improve your defense. Do it now – today; tomorrow is too late, you will be sitting on the bench.
Evaluation – You are constantly being evaluated as a player. Coaches in their scouting reports are always looking for the weakest defensive player to attack. Stay crouched, move your feet, and be active with your hands.
The lack of recovery on defense has lost games. Face your opponent, turn your back and he will score. Lazy players soon find a way to the bench.
Grab those boards. Get inside your opponent and box. Get up on all the rebounds. Go for the ball, you won’t reach it, jumping is a must.
Push yourself on defense. Hustle is that intangible factor that makes basketball win and team morale. Remember, next to heart, hustle is the greatest asset a defensive player possesses. Do you rush or lazy?
I f I player: if I had picked up my homework earlier, if I didn’t turn my head, if I didn’t cross my feet, if I didn’t stand up in “D”. Are you a gamer type if me?
Jack knife and jump on all the rebounds. Just reaching, just wishing, SOLO won’t get you the rebound. You must JUMP!
Don’t lose your reason; dumb players make dumb crowds. Keep your eyes on the ball and the man; keep the right angle: Ball – You – Man. Keep your opponent locked up. He keeps rushing you.
Learn the ABC’s of solid defense. He LOVES the game on the defensive end too!
Man to man is the basis of all defenses. Know your man-to-man rules and you will be able to adapt to any defense. Remember: Ball – Deny – Defensive Help Rules.
Never underestimate your opponent. Never walk on “D”. Never stop communicating with your teammates. Never, never, never give up!
Opportunity – Take advantage of the opportunities that playing good defense gives you and your teammates; take the load, a steal, a deflection and a defensive rebound.
Basketball percentage win games. Can you average 45% on field goals and 75% on free throws? On defense, what percentage of rebounds do you get or do you let a teammate do it? How many units do you stop? How many interceptions do you make or turnovers do you force per game? Pay the price: Conditioning will prepare you to play aggressive defense.
Fast Reflexes: Cat reflexes can be acquired if you practice at game speed every day. Dropouts rarely go all-in on defense – the defense requires an overhaul.
Rebounding is the backbone of winning basketball. Offense sells tickets, defense wins games, and rebounding wins championships.
Speed on defense is important. Using your head is more important. Spirit, speed and brains are hard to beat.
Talk about defense. If the man with the ball is yours, he calls “ball,” if you’re a pass away, he calls “deny,” and if you’re in the help-side position, he calls “help.”
United we stand, divided we fall. Understand defensive team concepts. The individual defense must be strong for the team defense to be strong. Don’t be the weak link opponents are looking for. Take pride in your defense.
The victory depends on the good defensive play of the team. It’s not enough to say, “I stopped mine.” Be mentally and physically prepared to play hard, smart and together.
Winning games is accomplished by defending, which requires heart, haste, and guts. Help your companions. Think TEAM first. Think “D”.
The X marks the place where your Red Zone or “No Man’s Land” is located, the place that you and your teammates must defend at all costs. In other words, a commitment to stop the advance and not allow your opponent two easy points.
Zones – In addition to man-to-man defense, you also need to know the proper techniques for playing zone defense. Playground defense is not a rest stop. Let them fire on you and around you, but not in the middle of your defense zone. Make them work for a good shot. Box and get those rebounds.
