Last One Holding The Chalk...Usually Wins!

(September 2007)

Assortment of plays, drills and ideas to help your program improve.

Some offensive ideas vs. man and zone

Quick Hitter vs. Zone Defense

Quick Hitter vs. Zone Defense (Larry Brown)

Set Play vs. Zone Defense (Tim Floyd)

Set Play vs. Man Defense

Set Play vs. Man Defense (Larry Brown)

More Basketball Thoughts...

JEFF VAN GUNDY

"Lock and Trail" vs. all screens except off the lane. If the screen is set wider than a NBA lane he wants
the Xcutter to "top lock" or go to the level of the screen and then get through instead of "trailing".
Vs. great catch and shoot players he will "trap the catch" off of the last screen with Xscreener.
Obviously, you become more vulnerable to the "slip". However, Xscreener first leaves to trap the catch
and shooter once the ball is in the air from the passer.

Anytime you are guarding a great shooter, give him one way to use a screen. Force him in a direction.
Don't allow him to have choices on where he will use screens. A second important point - give a
dramatic stunt from the passer as the cutter catches the ball off of a screen. This will allow Xcutter to
"trail" and Xscreener to "stunt" when ball is in the air. Xpasser will also "stunt" to form three players on
the catch before a quick recovery occurs.

On any perimeter catch by a post player that can't shoot, don't pressure him - stay in.
Never help with Xsmall when in the lane defending a screen when an Xbig is an option.
Versus offensive actions that use a Big as a ball reverser and this Big is not a skilled offensive player, let him catch the ball. Then, deny his next pass to disrupt the action and therefore making him a decision maker.

When denying a receiver in a "one pass away" situation, the defender should be able to see the passes
and his man at the same time. When his man goes backdoor, the defender should get his body back on the offensive player. The cutter should feel contact from Xcutter on his way backdoor. Players have a
difficult time making backdoor passes.

On a cross screen when guarding the cutter make contact with him before the cross screen happens.
"Box out" the cutter may be an option. If a screen occurs below the block, the Xscreener stays above the block.

LARRY BROWN

When in transition defense, I want guards to be more "attached to the offensive players".
Stay attached to a UCLA screen. Make it small.

On baseline drives, trap the dribbler aggressively by rotating. Once the trap occurs, two interceptors and a goaltender are formed.

XAVIER 4 ON 4 DEFENSIVE TRANSITION DRILL

1. The drill begins with live four on four action taking place at a basket. On the shot by the
offense or the command of "change" by a coach, a conversion takes place. If a shot is taken
two forwards or bigs attack the offensive glass while the two guards get back on the shot. A
coach is assigned the offensive rebounders and a second coach is assigned the two guards
"getting back."

2. On the conversion, all four defenders must cross the halfcourt line in 2.5 seconds or the
drill stops and the four converting defenders will run. As the drill continues the defense gets
set and live four on four action takes place at the other end. Once again, on a shot by the
offense or the command of "change" by a coach, a conversion takes place. There is no out of
bounds. This action takes place for several minutes. The coaches are paying particular
attention to offensive rebounding, getting the guards back on the shot and making sure all
four defenders cross halfcourt in 2.5 seconds or less.

3. To ensure more shot attempts the shotclock can be shortened for the offense promoting
more rebounding opportunities and more conversions.

XAVIER 4 ON 3 OFFENSIVE MOVEMENT DRILL

1. The drill begins with a coach having the ball on the baseline under the basket. Three
defensive players are facing the coach. There are four offensive players surrounding the
three point line.

2. The coach passes the ball to one of the four offensive players. On the catch by an
offensive player the offense can move anywhere in the halfcourt. Each offensive player is
allowed two dribbles.

3. The three defenders closeout on each catch by the offense and begin to work together.
One of the three defensive players must be guarding the basketball at all times. On a shot by
the offense it is a four on three rebounding advantage. The defense must find a way to
rebound the ball.