5 Mistakes to Avoid While on Defense

This week's post comes from a special guest, Kevin Germany, who works with The Sweet Spot's newest friends at Breakthrough Basketball .  Our friends at Breakthrough Basketball have a website that provides tips and information to help coaches and players get better at what they do. We are excited to share Kevin's contribution and hope that its helpful! Thank you Kevin and Breakthrough Basketball, we hope these tips prove helpful. 

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Five Mistakes to Avoid While on Defense

It is commonly said defense wins games. It should also be said bad defense loses games. A great offense cannot compensate for a poor defense. But, a great defense can compensate for a poor offense. A good defense often keeps less-talented teams in the game.

The Chicago Bulls are a perfect example. The Bulls’ 3^rd ranked total defense for the 2012-13 season has kept them in solid playoff position in spite of their league worst offense.

I realize not every coach is a defensive mastermind like Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau or a lockdown defender like Joakim Noah. Nevertheless, here are five things players should avoid while playing defense. This can apply for any level.

Mistake #1: Turning your back to your man

I will never forget my freshman year of high school when our JV team was playing our cross-town rival. On one possession, I thought I was playing good help defense… until my man cut backdoor on me for an easy layup. I never bothered to turn around to see where my man was located. The coach benched me for that defensive faux pas.

Do not make the same mistake I made. Always have a sense of where your man is located at all times.

Mistake #2: Jogging back on defense

SPRINT back on defense. NEVER jog on defense. Sprinting back instead of jogging back could decide the outcome of the game. Players should never think that sprinting back on defense is a waste of energy. That is why most coaches make their players run sprints in practice!

Mistake #3: Turning your back to the ball while getting back on defense 

Sprinting with the head turned away from the ball often leads to fatal defensive blunders. Instead, the defense should sprint back with one eye focused on the ball and the other eye on their man.

Doing this significantly improves transition defense because the offense will be unable to “sneak” past the defense for an easy layup. Attending one of our basketball camps will improve the footwork necessary to be able to do this.

Mistake #4: Fouling for no reason

I have never understood why players foul. I understand lack of coordination from unskilled players may cause a lot of the fouls at the lower levels of play. But fouling without any rhyme or reason makes no sense to me.

The only fouls players should commit is to either prevent an easy layup or in certain late game situations. Players should always have their hands straight up to avoid getting called for fouls under the basket.

Mistake #5: Not adjusting to opponents’ strengths and weaknesses

Military strategist Sun Tzu once said that knowing your enemy is half the battle. It always bothers me when a defender has no idea what the offensive player likes to do. Failing to observe the tendencies of an offensive player will significantly worsen team defense. For example, giving a great shooter more room to shoot usually spells disaster for the defense.

Never go in without having a general idea of your man’s tendencies!