The other team’s best player has
been assigned to YOU! He dribbles across half court and you feel like you're on
an island. Here are 3 Tips to help you improve your on ball defense and lock
down the other team’s top scorer.
Stay low in your defensive stance.
Always remember that the lower man wins in basketball. You might be matched up
against players taller or shorter than you in basketball. Whether you are
playing in a practice, scrimmage or a pickup game always remember to stay low.
This will put your body in the most effective position to react to the
offensive player’s movements. Wall sits are a great drill to develop the
muscular endurance necessary to stay low when you are in a game setting. Simply
find a wall and slide your back down until your legs are at a 90 degree angle.
Be sure that your shoes are shoulder width apart and your knees do not protrude
past your toes. Try to hold it for as long as you can. Start with 30 seconds
and try to work your way up to 3 minutes. Over time you will be able to stay
low in a game because you have increased your muscular endurance.
Be more physical than your opponent.
Basketball is a contact sport. When you are guarding the ball you can't slap
your opponent or bump him especially on the perimeter but when your opponent
attempts to drive to the basket or go around a ball screen you can create
contact with them by using your forearm as long as it appears natural. Try to
be deceptive when you create contact. There are many subtle techniques you can
use to slow your opponent down while not drawing attention from the referees.
You must play a lot of games to see which techniques work for your style of play.
Test the limits until you get called for a foul. Eventually you will find the
happy medium that will make you an effective on ball defender. The most
important thing to remember here is that you can create contact with the
offense especially when they attempt to attack the basket as long as you are in
a legal guarding position.
Be a team player and know where your
help is positioned. It is crucial to understand where your teammates are
positioned. Communicate with your teammates and strategize on the most
effective way to be set up on defense. If you have a player that loves to drive
baseline then you want to make sure the post players understand that they need
to be positioned to provide help in that area. If the player has a tendency to
go left you could strategize to force him to go right and then communicate with
your team so that they can be there to provide extra help if necessary.
Communication is a key part to defensive success. You don't have to be on an
island if you can talk to your teammates on defense.
These 3 tips will help you improve
as an on ball defender. Defense is all about attitude and it is one of the most
overlooked aspects of becoming a great basketball player.
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