Basketball Drills - Attacking the Defender - 1-on-1 and 2-on-1 Drills

From the Coach’s Clipboard Basketball Playbook, @ http://www.coachesclipboard.net

1-on-1 Drill

We use this drill as both an offensive and defensive drill. Defenders try to stop the offense 1-on-1. The offensive player attacks and tries to beat his/her man 1-on-1. In this drill, each player has a partner (opponent) that he/she goes 1-on-1 against. Each pair has a ball. Use both ends of the court. The player with the ball starts at the top of the key and tries to make a move, or shoot the outside shot and score on the defender. The defender must stop the offense, box-out and get the rebound. The offense gets a point for (1) each basket made, (2) for each offensive rebound and (3) if the defender fouls. No second shots are allowed. Each pair keeps track of their score. Have post players paired up with post players, and guards paired up with guards. Play to 5 (each player gets five offensive attempts). At the end, the losers do 5-10 push-ups.

Rotation (see arrows in the diagram)
After a pair has finished their duel, they get in line on the other end of the floor, but switch offense and defense for the next possession.

With this drill we want our offensive players working on their 1-on-1 moves... jab step, shot fake, dribble moves (in-and-out, crossover), etc. The offensive player must quickly attack the defender to simulate what really happens in a game... He/she can't just slowly back him down in the paint (which hardly ever happens in a game situation). In addition to running this drill from the top of the key, you can also run it with the players starting from either wing.

2-on-1 Drill

This offensive drill helps players read the defense in a 2 on 1 situation, and helps them to learn when to take it to the hoop or pass off to their teammate.

Setup:
Make two lines, one with perimeter players out at half court on the left sideline. The other line is made up of your post players, and is opposite along the right baseline. There is a token defender (maybe a manager or an assistant) on the guards. One of your post players is the other defender in the paint area and will try to stop the 2 on 1 break.

The Drill:
Player #1 has the ball, makes a fake or jab step, and goes around the token defender. He/she then dribbles toward the hoop, and tries to exploit the 2-on-1 situation with the defender. Th first player in the post line along the baseline is his/her teammate. The guard has to decide whether to take it to the hoop, stop and pop a jumper, or pass off to his/her teammate. He/she should try to get the defender to commit. If the defender comes up, he/she should pass to the post player. The post player should maintain proper spacing and take it strong to the hoop and lay it in off the glass (or slam dunk it). If the defender lays back, the guard should take it to the hoop. In this drill, discourage the outside jumper. The offense should try to get a lay-up every time.

The rotation is that #1 now starts a new line on the right sideline (see the diagram to the right). #2 starts a new post line along the left baseline. Use the same defender until all the post players have been on offense, then use another post player as the defender.

Related pages: 2-on-1 Continuous Transition Drill