When playing defense in basketball, it is important to keep your hands active in order to clog the passing lanes and get steals. To do this, your hands should always be out at your sides when you are in a defensive stance and be moving depending on where the passing lanes are. In addition, a defender should have active feet in order to stay in front of the defender and force the offensive player to make difficult passes.
Proper Defensive Form
When playing a man with the ball, your weight should be on the balls of your feet with your knees bent and back straight. Your arms should be out from your body with your elbows slightly bent and palms up. When guarding a player, it is important to keep your eyes up and focus on the player's belly button or chest to avoid head and ball fakes.
On-Ball Defense
When in your defensive stance, it is important to move your feet laterally in order to stay in front of your man. Focusing on using short, quick steps that do not cross in front of each other and can quickly change direction helps you stay in front of your man. In addition, be sure to shade your man toward his nondominant hand, forcing him to dribble left is he is right-handed.
Anticipation
An important part of defense is anticipating where your man is going and where the passing lanes will be. Be sure to stay between your man and the player with the ball in order to clog the passing lanes and deny the man. Also be sure to keep your hands in front of your man's chest when denying him from getting the pass. In addition, be sure to keep your hands active when your man has the ball to make dribbling and passing more difficult.
Defensive Drills
A great defensive drill for one-on-one defense starts with having a defensive player underneath the basket and passing the ball to an offensive player above the free throw line. After the pass, the defensive player practices closing out on the offensive player and forcing him to either shoot or put the ball on the ground to drive. Once the defender reaches his man, he must practice moving his feet and keeping his hands active if the player chooses to drive to the hoop.
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