Contents > 2. Defense > 2.1. Player-to-Player, 1/4 Court Defense
2.1.1. On-Ball Defense
(1) Q: What is “on-ball” defense?
A: If your assigned player has the ball, you are in “on-ball” defense. The person with the ball is the most dangerous threat on the court to score. It is ultimately your responsibility to force a low percentage shot by them.
(2) Q: How do we achieve the goal of forcing a low percentage shot when in “on-ball” defense?
A: Remember the lowest percentage shots are the ones that are farther from the hoop and contested:
Contain: Stay between the offensive player with the ball and the basket, not allowing the offensive player to get close to the basket
Force Baseline and Sideline: Prevent the offensive player with the ball from going into the middle (into the key), forcing them to the baseline and sideline.
Contest the:
Shot: Prevent the offensive player from taking a clear shot
Pass: Prevent the offensive player from giving a clear pass to another teammate.
(3) Q: Why do we not want the offense to go to the middle (into the key)?
A: There are many reasons; here are a few:
A shot from the middle is usually a higher percentage shot than from the sideline or baseline (we will talk about this more on offense).
In the middle, the offense can pass and dribble in all directions, but on the sideline/baseline the offense has fewer directions to pass and dribble (the sideline/baseline acts as another defender!)
By forcing to the sideline/baseline, the entire defense knows where the offense will be going.
(4) Q: What are the steps to achieve the goals for on-ball defense?
A: We can break on-ball defense down into three phases that the offensive player who has the ball will be in:
Phase 1: Before Dribbling (when the offensive player is in “triple threat”)
Phase 2: Dribbling
Phase 3: After dribbling
(5) Q: What is “triple threat”?
A: Triple threat is the stance the offensive player who has the ball is in in order to have three options: score, dribble, or pass.
