Basketball Defense - the Pack Line Defense (Sagging Man-to-Man)
By James Gels, from the Coach’s Clipboard Basketball Playbook, @ http://www.coachesclipboard.net  If you like this free page, please give us a "Like", a "+1" or a "Follow". Thanks! - Coach Gels |
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The pack-line defense is a variation of man-to-man defense developed by Dick Bennett for the Washington State University Cougars. Something similar has been used by Tom Izzo at Michigan State and also Sean Miller of Xavier University. |
The "pack line"
The pack line man-to-man defense is also called a "sagging" man-to-man defense. The idea is to clog the inside, protect the paint, and prevent dribble-penetration. Instead of defenders (whose man is one pass away) playing on the line in denial, they will sag back inside the imaginary "pack line". The pack line is an imaginary line two feet inside the 3-point arc (see diagram A). You will usually have one defender pressuring the ball outside, and the other four defenders inside the pack line. This allows the pass on the perimeter, but closes down the gaps and prevents dribble-penetration. The prime goal, as in any defense, is to stop the ball.Pressure the ball
When the ball is on the perimeter, tight, harassing pressure should be applied by the defender. He/she must stop the ball, make the ball-handler uncomfortable, and make it difficult for the ball-handler to see the floor. The on-ball defender does his/her best to contain and pressure the ball, but if he/she is beaten, the pack line gapping defenders are there to give help and stop the ball. So the on-ball defender can have some confidence and trust that his teammates will be there to help, even if the opponent is a little quicker.
Stopping the gaps
It's pretty hard to do all three things... deny, help and recover. In the pack line defense, gapping defenders only have to help and recover, and it is easier because the defender is already in position to give help. Gapping defenders are inside the pack line in a "ball-you-man" position, and must re-position themselves as the ball and the offensive players move. There is one instance wherein all players go into complete deny, and that is when there is a dead ball situation (the ball-handler has used up his/her dribble). Everyone will yell, "dead, dead, dead" and deny the next pass, looking for the 5-second call.Notice in diagram B above that X1 is pressuring the ball, while the remaining four defenders are inside the pack line. As O1 attempts to dribble-penetrate, the X2 defender slides in to help stop the dribble, but then immediately recovers to his own man O2, when the pass is dished back out to O2. In stopping the seams (gaps), the idea is that X2 will fake a trap on the ball just to stop the dribble, but instead of actually trapping, once the ball is stopped, will immediately recover to his man (assuming the pass goes there). Importantly, a gapping defender should always be able to see his own man and never turn his back to his man. Otherwise, his man could flare cut or back-cut uncontested.
Close-out with "high hands"
In diagram C above, the ball is passed to O3. O1 immediately drops back inside the pack line. X3 quickly closes-out and applies pressure on the ball (O3). Defenders should close-out with hands high in order to contest the outside shot, and then assume the usual defensive stance when the ball is put on the floor, or the initial shot is stopped. Yes, it is possible that the offensive player may attempt to dribble around the closing defender, but then we have the seams stopped with our other four defenders. Also, when closing out, this does not mean "flying" or leaping at the ball. The defender must keep his feet on the floor and contain the ball. Once the defender has closed-out on the ball, he/she maintains good pressure on the ball.Deny baseline
Another thing that is different from standard pressure man-to-man defense is that in the pack line defense, the ball is not forced to the baseline, but rather the baseline is denied. The ball is not actually forced to the middle... it's just that the baseline is denied. In diagram D, X2 overplays to prevent the ball from being dribbled baseline. If O2 dribbles into the top gap, X1 will help stop the seam. As the ball is passed out to O1, X1 closes-out with high hands.
Post defense
In defending the low post, defenders should be full-fronting when the ball is at the top (diagram C), or in the corner (diagram E). When the ball is on the wing (diagram D), a 3/4 front from the top side is used by many coaches. This works with this defense because the wing defenders deny the baseline. If the ball does get into the post, you must decide whether you are going to play this with your post defender sliding between the ball and the basket and playing this 1-on-1, or whether you want to double-team with either the opposite post player, or a perimeter player. This may depend on your opponent... a strong post player, double-team the post. A weak post player and good outside shooters, play the post 1-on-1. Remember that denying and defending the low post has more to do with hard work, aggressiveness, determination, and being tough than technique.In defending the high post, try to deny that pass as well by 1/2-fronting. The defender must be careful however, not to get pinned outside and get beaten by the lob pass. Notice in diagram F that the pack line defense tends to clog the high post fairly well due to the position of the gapping wing defenders.
Pick and roll screens
The pick and roll is fairly well-defended, as the paint area is clogged with defenders. In diagram G, there is a pick and roll on the wing. Diagrams H and I show a pick and roll with the high post player stepping out to screen and roll. X4 "shows" over the top of the screen to stop the ball and then recovers back to O4. Notice that X3 is in a position to help X4 in stopping O4 cutting inside off the screen. X3 then has to be able to recover to O3 if the pass goes there. Optionally, X2 (instead of X3) could give the initial help on O4 until X4 recovers. As in any defense, communication is key in dealing with screens.
In summary, the pack line defense will help a less-athletic team compete with a stronger, quicker team. And you still can use a full-court press, but then drop back into the half-court pack line defense. There are some disadvantages, however. If you play at a level where there is no shot clock, the offense can take as much time as they want, until they get the good shot, and you allow them to dictate a slower tempo. With the shot clock rule, as the offense gets deeper into the shot clock, there is more urgency to shoot, and the pack line defense is more effective here.
Also, if you are behind late in the game, the offense can "run the clock", unless you come out and start denying passes. So the pack line defense is a problem here. Now you are caught in a situation of having to play deny defense with more pressure on the outside, and this is often difficult to do when you are not used to playing that way. In fact, it is usually easier for a typical pressure-deny man-to-man defense to drop back and play the pack line defense, than vice-versa.
Some teams might want to use both... the usual man-to-man pressure defense (call it "Red"), and the pack line defense (call it "Blue"). Using the pack line defense can help a good man-to-man team that is having difficulty stopping a good point guard and dribble-penetration.
Other sources:
Pack Line Pressure Man-to-Man Defense
More info on the Pack line defense...
Here's a helpful DVD from Dick Bennett on the Packline defense.
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Dick Bennett: The "Pack-Line" Pressure Defense By Dick Bennett, Washington State University Head Coach; former University of Wisconsin Head Coach. It has been 20 years since Coach Dick Bennett released his best selling "Pressure Defense" video. Now Bennett is back to share how his pressure defense has evolved into the unstoppable "Pack-Line" defense that have earned his WSU Cougars back-to-back scoring defense titles. By utilizing the "Pack-Line," the defense shuts down penetration and the post... (more info) Price: $39.99 
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Chris Mack: Drills to Build the Pack Line Defense with Chris Mack, Xavier University Head Coach; 2010 A-10 Coach of the Year; 2x A-10 regular season champs; 2009 Basketball Times Rookie Coach of the Year In this on-court clinic presentation, Chris Mack shares everyday drills that are the backbone of his aggressive pack line defensive system. Coach Mack teaches the defensive basics using individual and team drills... (more info) Price: $39.99
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Building Blocks of the Pack Line Defense with Jim Boone, Delta State University Head Coach; former West Virginia Wesleyan Head Coach; has won over 400 games at the Division I and II levels, 2 Final Four appearances, 9 NCAA Tournament appearances West Virginia Wesleyan head coach Jim Boone puts his 25 years of head coaching experience on display revealing his philosophy and knowledge of how to build and execute the pressure pack line defense. This proven defense will keep your opponents off guard, force them into tough shots, and keep them out of the paint. Coach Boone provides you with drills to maximize ball pressure, while sealing gaps against ball penetration into the paint area... (more info) Price: $39.99
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