Contents > 2. Defense > 2.1. Player-to-Player, 1/4 Court Defense > 2.1.2. Deny Defense >
2.1.2.4. Inter-Position Transition (Deny/On-Ball)
(1) Q: When my assigned player has the ball and passes to another offensive player one pass away, how do I transition from on-ball defense to deny defense?
A: When transitioning from on-ball to deny defense, you want to “jump to the ball”. Jumping to the ball means you are immediately getting between your assigned player and the ball to prevent any ball-side cuts (the biggest threat when in deny defense).
(2) Q: What if I am in deny defense, for instance stunting or digging, and my assigned player gets passed the ball; how do I transition into on-ball defense?
A: You must as quickly as possible get back into on-ball defense, being able to prevent the dribble drive and the shot. (see the defender below in the white jersey). This is called a short close-out.
Skills Drills
Skills Drill #1: 2v2 Shell Drill
Offense Player 1 (O1) starts with the ball at the top of the key. Defense Player 1 (X1) is in on-ball defense.
O2 is one pass away on the wing. X2 is in deny defense.
O1 will pass to O2. X1 will jump to the ball, transitioning from on-ball to deny defense. X2 will short close-out to O2, transitioning from deny defense to on-ball defense.
O2 will then pass the ball back to O1, and the defensive players will transition into their new defenses. Offense will pass back and forth several times, allowing the defense to practice their transitions.
O2 and X2 can then switch to the other wing and repeat.
Skills Drill #2: Stunt with pass
O1 starts with the ball at the top of the key. X1 is in on-ball defense.
O2 is one pass away on the wing. X2 is in deny defense.
O1 will dribble in the direction of O2 towards the hoop. X1 will play on-ball defense. X2 will stunt on O1. O1 will then pass to O2. X2 will then recover and short close-out on O2.
Try this at three speeds: slow, medium, and fast. Let each player go several times.
Skills Drill #3: Dig with pass
O1 starts with the ball on the block. X1 is in on-ball post defense.
O2 is one pass away on the wing. X2 is in deny defense.
X2 will dig on O1, forcing them to pass to O2. X2 will then recover and short close-out on O2.
Try this at three speeds: slow, medium, and fast. Let each player go several times.
