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How to guard quick players in basketball

7 Tips For Stopping An Elite Guard

- By Joe Haefner

Home > Coaching > Basketball Defensive Strategy > 7 Tips For Stopping An Elite Guard

Swish! Another jump shot hits nothing but net. A couple of plays later the same player drives the ball down the lane at will and nails a tough shot in the lane. A couple of plays later, the same thing happens except the same player now throws the perfect pass at the perfect time to a wide open player underneath the basket for a dunk. And each and every time this happens, it seems like a dagger is being driven into your team's heart. We've all probably played against this type of guard throughout our career at least once.

Well, I know it drives me crazy when it seems like if all I could do is contain this elite player, it would give me a chance to win. Because of this, I've given you seven tips that have helped me in the past. And I hope these tips will help you for the next time you face that elite guard.

Play Underneath - If he's a great dribble penetrator, but his outside shot is fairly weak, you may want to sag off of him and play underneath screens.
Pressure - If he's a great shooter, but ball-handling is not his expertise, you will want to pressure him and stay very close, so that he can't receive any easy passes or get any room to get off a shot.
Sag Off Until 1st Pass - If you run into an elite player who can do everything, he will be much more difficult to stop. One thing you can do is sag off until the first pass. When the elite player has the ball, you make that first pass really easy for him and as soon as that first pass is thrown, you deny the pass back to him all the time.
Deny the Player - You can also deny the player the ball from the start. The player guarding the inbounder completely denies the star player while the defensive player assigned to the star player is on the opposite side. If he were to catch the ball, you could have the player denying the pass sprint back to the person he was initially guarding. You could also use the player guarding the inbounder to instantly form a double team to try to force the star player to get rid of the ball.
Double Team - If this player is still destroying you, you could flash a double-team at him whenever he touches the ball. Different tactics include double team from the person closest to the ball, from the weakest offensive player, and from the offensive player's back are few that you could try.
Take Charges - If you are also playing great help defense, you can take a couple of charges. This will make the player think twice before penetrating, and he'll start settling for the tough, outside shots.
Study Tendencies - As you go up in the levels of basketball, it's important to study the player's tendencies. You should know what shots they make at a high percentage and what shots they miss at a high percentage. If the player is very good at driving right and scoring the ball, shade them to their left. If the player always hits the corner jump shot, make sure to stay close to them when they're near the corner. If they catch the ball with space, close out hard and force them to put it on the ground.
When Shane Battier guards Kobe Bryant, he knows he can't stop him, but he tries to force him to take low-percentage shots. By studying game-film and statistics, Battier knows that if he can force Kobe to take certain type of shots, it increases his team's chances of winning.

Overall, the biggest thing is to make sure that the defender is focused, staying in front of him, and keeping his feet. For the most part, if you've got a marginally quick defensive player, he can stay in front of the elite player, cause him to take tough shots, and contain his penetration.

What are your thoughts on this? Please add your comments below.

Why Point Guard is the Hardest Position in Basketball

Point guards are often referred to as Floor Generals, and that is for good reason. On the vast majority of possessions, the point guard brings the ball up the floor, reads the defense, and calls and initiates the play. All of this while being guarded by the quickest player on the other team.

Like all basketball players, point guards must have extraordinary athletic ability. But being a point guard requires patience, vision, and decision-making as well.

Here are the reasons why being a point guard is so challenging.

The Role of the Point Guard

The point guard controls the whole flow of the team’s offense. They also usually direct the team’s defense, assuring their teammates are in the right coverages and anticipating what the opposing offense is planning.

Point guards operate on the perimeter of the floor unless they drive the paint for a close shot or to pass to a teammate. They initiate the play through a number of different avenues, whether they’re screened for, drive themselves, or execute the key pass to start a play.

They must know who is open (or will be open), when to pass, dribble, and when to shoot. The point guard should be the team’s primary ball-handler and has the highest usage rate on offense. The point guard is usually a team’s best passer, but they sometimes need to be the team’s best scorer as well.

The Responsibilities of the Point Guard

As the team’s leader, the point guard is called to do more than any other player on the floor.

The point guard has to know how to get the whole team into their preferred style of play and then execute the game plan correctly.

They need to get the ball into their teammates’ hands, and at the right opportunity for that player to be successful based on his/her skill sets and the opposing team’s defense. They must know how to get open and create shots for themselves and others. On defense, they need to disrupt these same responsibilities of the opposing point guard.

The Mental Aspect of the Position

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of a point guard is usually someone calm and collected.

This player can get control of the team in a difficult situation and make the right decision. A great point guard knows when to be aggressive and play it safe. They know when to call timeout and when to push the tempo. They know how to lead their team under pressure, how to calm the team down, and how to lift their team.

There is a great deal of anticipation involved in playing point guard. Defenses, teammates, and game situations can change the play-to-play. They have to constantly adapt to opposing coaches, the flow of the game, and even the referees. On one play you’re facing a zone defense with four bigs on the floor, and the next you’re being picked up in a full-court press by a line-up of guards.

All of this calls for smarts, experience, and boundless energy.

The Physical Aspect of the Position

The point guard will invariably run more than any other player over the course of a game or season. Not to mention an incredible amount of defensive sliding, avoiding screens, and chasing the opposing point guard all over the floor. It’s an extremely physically demanding position to play.

Often the fastest and quickest player on the team, point guards have to know how to use these abilities to their advantage. They need to have quick hands and feet to handle ball pressure throughout the game. They’re tasked with breaking down a defense either in a set play, against press coverage, or on fast breaks.

A good point guard can kill a defense in a number of ways, including taking the ball to the rim where there will usually be contacted with much bigger and stronger defenders.

Conclusion

Point Guard is the most difficult position on the basketball court, and also often the most important. As the saying goes, “As the point guard goes, the team goes”.

If you want to learn more about what it takes to be a point guard or just improve your overall basketball knowledge, head over to Area Scouts Sports.

We’ve got all the information you need!

Zone Defense | Tactics of the game

This system consists in the fact that each player guards a certain place (zone) of the court, keeping any of the opponents in his zone throughout the game. This is where the name of the system comes from. Depending on the actions of the players, the zone defense system has two options. At the first variant (Fig. 86) each of the players, defending his zone, moves from the initial positions indicated in the figure to the shield itself. This option is suitable for teams in which players are of equal height with good mobility.

With the second variant (Fig. 87) there is always a certain pair of players under the shield. To ensure reliable protection and possession of the ball when it is reflected from the backboard, it is desirable to have tall players behind.

The positioning of players in zone defense can be different and depends on the opponent's game. On fig. 86-87 there are two players under the shield and three in front. This arrangement is called 2-3.

It is used against teams dominated by long distance shots. There may also be a reverse placement - 3-2 (Fig. 88), when three players stand under the shield and two are ahead. So it is more profitable to play against teams whose players throw mainly from under the shield and from the corners of the site.

There is also a formation 2-1-2 (fig. 89), in which two players are placed under the shield and on the front line and one in the middle. This setup justifies itself against teams using the centre-attack option.

When distributing zones between players, it is advisable to take into account the following: 1) that there should always be at least one player under the backboard who is tall or has a good jump, who can take possession of the ball when rebounding from the backboard; 2) in the front line there should be the fastest players who move well and prevent throws from a distance. Their speed is also important for the timely transition to a counterattack; 3) in the option with one player in the center, the place of the central defender is occupied by the most experienced player, who must manage the entire defense.

The zone defense system requires great attention and the timely and coordinated movement of the entire five in the direction from which the threat of attack is created. If the opponents are concentrating on the left side, then it is necessary, without violating the zonal principle, for all players to move symmetrically in the threatened direction. There is a kind of rotation of the site along with the players (Fig. 90).

In the same way, one should move if opponents threaten from the other side.

The team assumes a defensive position immediately after the opponents have taken possession of the ball. Each player is obliged to occupy the place assigned to him. He must always move on bent legs, arms outstretched to the sides. This position of the players prevents the passing of the ball and the movement of opponents. In some cases, temporary changes of places by players are permissible, but at the first opportunity, it is necessary to take each place again. In zone defense, each player is in his own zone and leaves it only in certain cases. Such cases include the situation when two opponents are in the zone of one player, and one of them may be behind the defender. In a similar position, the defender from the nearest zone is obliged to take on a dangerous opponent.

The division of the court into zones is done for the orientation of the players and should not interfere with their movement on the court when necessary.

The zone defense system is suitable for a team with players that are tall and lack mobility, and against teams that do not use long range shots.

The alternation of zone and personal defense systems in the same game brings great benefit. Changing the defense system confuses the opposing team, which contributes to the overall success.

The positive side of the zone defense: a) it is difficult for opponents to approach the shield, due to which they have to throw from a distance, which greatly reduces the result; b) you can easily receive the ball after it bounces off the backboard; c) in comparison with other defense systems, it is necessary to make fewer jerks and stops, which saves the energy of the players.

Disadvantages of the system: a) does not provide full protection when several attackers are grouped within the same zone; b) little advantageous with accurate throws from a distance; c) it becomes more difficult to keep the best player of the opponent; d) the defense is passive, so if the team loses, then it completely loses the initiative. In some cases, some teams use this type of protection as a combination of personal and zone systems. For example, four players form a zone, and one player holds the most dangerous opponent.

After describing the zone defense system, it is necessary to return to the offensive tactics again, pointing out how to build an attack against the zone defense.

The most effective way is the speed of runs and passes, i.e. a typical swift attack. Due to the speed of movement of the players and the ball, not all opponents have time to take their places according to the accepted arrangement, and it is possible to attack the basket through the formed passage.

But if all five players have taken the correct defensive position, then the result can only be achieved with the help of thoughtful combinations. Below are some examples of offense against a zone defense:
1) Two or three attackers concentrate on one of the flanks and, using short passes between themselves, get the opportunity to approach the throwing board.

2) All five players are placed in the frontcourt, as if surrounding the defenders. Then begins a quick transfer of the ball from one player to another, first in one direction and then back. Defenders are forced to move all the time in the direction where the ball is, but it is clear that they cannot keep up with the flight of the ball, and this is what the attackers should use. A player with the ball rushes into the formed passage to bring up and make a throw, or a player without the ball runs out, to whom the ball should be immediately passed.

3) One or two players (usually defenders) are at the back, while the attackers change places in different directions, trying to run into the free throw area from the sideline or endline. All players must be very careful to take advantage of any good move by a teammate and pass the ball to him without delay.

4) If there are one or two players in the team who accurately throw from the corners of the square, they immediately take their starting position, and one of the partners comes out to screen the opponent closest to the thrower. Thus, conditions are created for an aimed throw. At the time of the throw, the tallest player must run up to the post to catch the ball from the backboard in case of a miss.

5) When attacking with the center, the following combination is appropriate: four players position themselves so that they can freely pass the ball to each other, and the center takes place in the free-throw area. In the process of transfers, players No. 4 and No. 5 periodically approach the arc of a semicircle (Fig. 91). Opponent No. 2, who holds the post, usually does not move more than one or two steps away from him, so that players No. 4 and No. 5, being close to the arc, have a real opportunity to shoot the ball into the basket. If opponent No. 2, insuring the throw of player No. 5, approaches him, then the latter passes the ball to the center player (Fig. 92). Having received the ball, the post player can immediately shoot to the basket or bring the ball closer to the backboard. Almost certainly, if the center player takes the ball to the backboard, either one or both opponents (No. 4 and No. 5) will go to him, then he will be able to pass the ball to partners No. 1 or No. 3, running out under the shield from the sidelines (Fig. 93) . This combination requires a long preparation and accurate calculation. Finishing combinations when attacking against a zone defense depend primarily on the capabilities of the team, as well as on how the zone defense is built.

Travel, stops and turns | Basic Techniques

Basketball technique, except for ball possession (catching, passing, dribbling and throwing into the ring), includes the player's movement on the court. A basketball player must be able to run at different paces, stop quickly, change direction, make unexpected turns, good jumps and a whole range of distracting movements that disorientate the opponent and help the player's freedom of action on the field.

The movements of a basketball player must be varied, based on jerks in various directions. A basketball player during the game should always be at the start before the maximum exertion of forces, all the time he should be ready either for a rapid breakthrough or for an abrupt stop.

Especially important is the ability to move with and without the ball at a variable pace. It is not difficult for a defender to "hold" an attacker who is constantly moving at the same pace and in the same direction. Having adapted to this pace, he easily copes with this task. Another thing is if the attacking player often and abruptly changes the pace and direction of the run. A sudden stop after a dash and a new dash in the other direction completely disorients the defender and allows the attacker to break free of his control even for a moment. This time is enough to receive the ball and shoot the basket.

Skillful movement of the player on the field helps him to increase his maneuverability in difficult conditions of the game, i. e. the ability to act actively. The player's maneuverability depends on his ability to maintain the balance of his body in any position. Balance depends on the location of the body weight, which should be distributed on both legs as much as possible at all times. Loss of balance most often occurs if the player acts on straight legs. Legs bent at the knees allow the player to always maintain balance and move equally well in any direction, stop abruptly and change direction.

If a basketball player has lost his balance, then, if necessary, to change the direction of movement, he must first expend time and energy to restore balance and only then change direction. Unskillful movement requires an extra expenditure of energy, time and causes many errors.

A player of the attacking team, using his movement skills (good start, sudden stop), seeks to break away from the defender and go to an empty place to receive the ball or go with the ball to the backboard.

Running . The player's run on the court must be very fast and varied. A basketball player must be able to run forward, backward, sideways, etc. Due to the small size of the court, he rarely has to run more than 12–15 m, more often 5–7 m. It is known that in basketball it is quite enough to break away from the opponent by 60-90 cm to receive the ball or even throw it into the basket. This requires a sharp start and speed of the first steps. For these one or two steps you can always get an advantage of 30-40 cm; this is enough to be inaccessible to the enemy. The effectiveness of a jump start is increased by its unexpectedness.

The start of the movement depends only on the attacking player, and this gives him a great opportunity to take the initiative. The start can be taken from a place and on the move - a change in pace with a jerk. A sharp decrease in pace or a sudden stop can also help to break away (behind) from the opponent. A sharp start, a fast run and a different pace of running (acceleration and deceleration) are necessary for every basketball player.

Player stop . A basketball player in a game, moving along the court with or without the ball, if necessary, must be able to stop abruptly at any speed without making a run so as not to lose the ball. The art of a good stop can be mastered only through long and hard work. The faster the movement, the harder it is to stop. The stop mainly depends on the work of the legs (their strength and ability to place the soles of the feet correctly) and the work of the torso.

When moving slowly, a stop can be made with a large step of one (either) foot forward to stop.

Harder to stop when running fast or very fast. To stop while running fast, the player takes one longer step and puts the main emphasis on the foot that first touches the ground after this step. The second leg, landing later, consolidates the stop and, together with the back tilt of the body, eliminates the danger of further movement by inertia (jogging or falling).

When running very fast, the stop must be carried out by jumping with simultaneous landing on both half-bent legs and turning the body by 90 °. The player, in addition to turning, must deflect the body in the direction opposite to the movement. This is necessary to overcome the inertia of the body obtained during fast running. After the jump, the legs should be shoulder-width apart and land simultaneously on full feet with the desire to switch to gliding. Stopping after any pace of progress, the basketball player must strive to maintain the balance of the body on both legs at all times.

Jumping . The game uses a wide variety of jumps. With the help of a jump, you can intercept a high-flying ball sent by a partner or opponent, take possession of the ball after rebounding from the shield in the fight against the enemy. The jump allows the player to free himself from the opponent in order to shoot the basket or pass the ball to a partner. The ability to jump high gives an advantage in the fight against the enemy during the initial rally of the ball or during a controversial throw.

Jumping can be done with one or two feet, with or without the help of hands. Jumps are made from a place and from a run. All types of jumps are equally important and are used equally often in the game. The small size of the court, the large crowding of players in small areas often require it from a basketball player using running jumps to take off only up without moving forward. The inability to jump only up can cause collisions and, consequently, personal errors. Stubborn struggle for the ball sometimes requires athletes to perform several jumps in a row from a place.

The complexity and variety of applications of jumping in the game require intensive work on increasing jumping ability.

Turns . In basketball, a player can only take one or two steps with the ball, after which he must pass the ball to a partner, throw it into the basket or dribble. Opponent resistance often deprives the player of this opportunity. In this case, in order to free himself from the opponent, protect the ball or throw it into the basket, the attacker uses a turn.