5 Keys to Better Close Outs
Here are 5 tips for better defensive play.
1. Be in your defensive stance.
If you are in an athletic stance with hips back and knees bent, this saves time because you are ready to sprint to the shooter.
"Be like a sprinter."
2. Sprint to the ball.
Sprinting to the shooter as quickly as possible is VERY important.
(a)- If the offence is going to shoot, they will have a contested shot which dramatically lowers their shooting percentage.
(b) - A properly timed close-out will make it more difficult to drive past you. If you delayed your closeout and are still sprinting to the shooter who already has the ball, they can easily use your momentum against you and drive past you.
3. Chop your steps.
You want to chop your steps or use a quick stop to slow your momentum so you can defend the dribble drive.
4. Hands Up
By having your hands up, this leads to a contested shot, prevents direct post passes, and results in more deflections for your team.
5. Mirror Offence and Force East-West
"Feet to feet."
"Belly button to belly button."
The purpose of mirroring the offence is to force the offence east-west and away from the basket. You don't want any easy straight line driving lanes to the basket because this typically breaks down the defence and gives more efficient scoring opportunities to the offence.
1. Be in your defensive stance.
If you are in an athletic stance with hips back and knees bent, this saves time because you are ready to sprint to the shooter.
"Be like a sprinter."
2. Sprint to the ball.
Sprinting to the shooter as quickly as possible is VERY important.
(a)- If the offence is going to shoot, they will have a contested shot which dramatically lowers their shooting percentage.
(b) - A properly timed close-out will make it more difficult to drive past you. If you delayed your closeout and are still sprinting to the shooter who already has the ball, they can easily use your momentum against you and drive past you.
3. Chop your steps.
You want to chop your steps or use a quick stop to slow your momentum so you can defend the dribble drive.
4. Hands Up
By having your hands up, this leads to a contested shot, prevents direct post passes, and results in more deflections for your team.
5. Mirror Offence and Force East-West
"Feet to feet."
"Belly button to belly button."
The purpose of mirroring the offence is to force the offence east-west and away from the basket. You don't want any easy straight line driving lanes to the basket because this typically breaks down the defence and gives more efficient scoring opportunities to the offence.
Defensive Tips
Here are 6 zone defense tips:
- Keep your hands high and active. This makes it more difficult to pass the ball inside, allows you to cover more space, and causes deflections (turnovers).
- Stay in your stance (knees bent, butt down) so you are ready to move at all times.
- Move on the flight of the ball (as the ball is leaving the passer's finger tips) to improve anticipation and quickness.
- Know where shooters are at all times. Be ready to anticipate and close out quickly on good shooters.
- Communicate and talk with each other to find the shooter, call out responsibilities, and so on.
- Keep the ball as far from the basket as possible. As with any defense you want to protect the basket, keeping the ball as far from the basket as possible and forcing the opponent to take difficult shots.