Defense is NOT simply a reactionary task. Playing great defense starts way before you step on the court. You must embed the proper defensive stance, positioning and footwork in your brain so that it is always automatic. You should study your opponent prior to AND during the game so you learn their tendencies, how they move, what they like and don’t like to do, strengths and weaknesses. You need to understand angles, your position on the court, your opponents’ body language. You need to know how your teammates defend; you must understand their tendencies, along with your team’s defensive game plan. Becoming a better defender is a never-ending process. I have yet to meet a defender who holds every single player he guards to zero points every time…and better yet, I haven’t seen a team that gives up zero points. So until you AND your team are pitching shut-outs every single game…you better keep working on your D.
Check out the links to the right on the sidebar or the links below to see all our defense guides, info, and drills.
