Basketball Defense - Two Half-Court Defensive Strategies

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Deny the Wing Pass?

I sometimes hear coaches discussing which is a better defensive strategy, to allow or to deny the pass from the point guard to the wing.

Some believe the wing defenders should play "on the line" (see M2M Pressure Defense) and prevent the pass to the wing player. By denying the pass to the wing, you may be preventing one of their better shooters from getting the ball. Also, since the entry pass to the low post most often comes from the wing, you are making it more difficult for the offense to get the ball into the low post by contesting two passes (the point to wing pass, and the wing to low post pass). The disadvantages of this strategy include (1) the wing defender getting beat by the back-cut, and (2) dribble penetration up the lane by point guard who can shoot or dish off to the low post.

On the other hand, some coaches want to get the ball out of the point guard's hands and allow the pass to the wing uncontested, but then deny the pass back to the point guard. This philosophy has the ball getting into the hands of players who may not be as skilled ball-handlers as the point guard. This helps stop the point guard from being a big factor, but may allow easier access to the low post.

So which philosophy is best?

As is often the case in this game, I think you have to be flexible and adapt your strategy according to the team you are playing.

If your opponent has strong wing shooters, or likes to get the ball into the low post from the wing pass, then try to take this away from them by denying the wing pass.

If the opponent's strength is their excellent point guard who like to dribble penetrate, then pressure the point guard and get him to pass off to the wing. Then aggressively deny the pass back to the point and keep the ball out of his hands.

Double Teaming the Low Post

There are various ways to try to stop the low post star player. You could go zone (2-1-2 or 2-3) and pack the paint to make it difficult for him. Or you can use your man-to-man defense and double team him as discussed below. No matter what strategy, keep him off the offensive glass by boxing him out on every shot.

First, you may want to deny the point to wing pass as discussed above. This stops the first pass.

Then try to deny the second pass (wing to low post pass) by having your low post defender "half-front" or "three quarter front" him with a hand in front. If the post player receives the ball, his defender should prevent the move to the baseline, as I believe this is the easier, more natural move for most post players. So first take the drop step to the baseline away from him, and force him toward the lane. Then double team him with your weak-side guard, who prevents the move into the lane.

In this situation, when the ball is in the low post, your weak-side guard X3 slides down quickly to prevent the move to the lane. This should not be difficult as X3 should already be inside the paint in "help-side" position when the ball is on the wing and his man is two passes away from the ball. As soon as the pass goes into the low post, X3 should slide down and double team the post player from the lane side. This is a better strategy than double teaming with your weak-side low post defender (X5), which would open up the opposite offensive post player (O5) for a dish and open lay-up. Whereas, when the double team comes from the weak-side wing X3, the low post player may be forced to pass back out to the perimeter to the opposite wing. To defend against the outside shot, once the ball gets into the low post, X1 should move into the gap between O1 and O3, and may be able to deny or intercept the "kick-out" pass. If the pass goes to O3, X1 should cover O3, while X3 moves out to cover O1, resulting in a switch.