2.1.3. Help Defense

(1) Q: In player-to-player defensive positions, what is “Help” Defense?

A: If your assigned player is approximately two or more passes away from the ball-handler, you are in “help” defense.

(2) Q: How do we achieve the goal of forcing the lowest percentage shot when in “Help” Defense?

A: In order to force contested shots farther from the hoop, we need to:

a) Give the appearance of no clear dribble driving lanes to the basket, which may prevent a dribble drive (default positioning)

b) Stop penetration of the ball-handler who has gotten past your defensive teammate, forcing them to pass back out (Ball Threat Help)

c) If another defensive player is helping a beat teammate, helping the helper’s assigned player that is close to the basket (Help the Helper)

d) After forcing a pass back out, rotating quickly and efficiently so that all offensive players are guarded (Rotations)

We will talk more about each in the next sections.