Basketball is as much technical work and strategy as it is physical. Basketball players must establish and maintain effective defensive position to successfully play defense. Physical prowess and tenacity are important, but the most important defensive trait is establishing sound body position. Fundamentals of this include playing between your man and the basket at all times and playing active defense on the balls of your feet.
Square Up
Body position is crucial to defensive success. A basic defensive stance is square up to your opponent, with your weight on the balls of your feet, ready to move at a moment's notice. Your arms should be outstretched with your palms up, ready to slap, swat or swipe a loose ball away. You should get as low to the ground as possible while keeping your center of gravity stable and your back straight to leap high to block a potential shot.
Side Shuffle
Defenders must be able to move laterally as well as back and forth, and this starts with proper body position. If a defender falls back on his feet or becomes lazy with the footwork or body position, good offensive players seize the moment and blow past for an easy lay-up. Defenders should not let the basketball dictate their body position. Crafty offensive players can do plenty of fancy moves and dribbling tricks with the ball, many of which take them nowhere. Stay focused on guarding your man and remaining in solid body position at all times.
Defensive Principle
The goal of the defender is to remain between your man and the basket at all times, except in special situations like fronting the post man. Sound body position can accomplish this. As a defender, you must be aware of where the ball is on the court at all times and position yourself accordingly. This cuts down on passing lanes and confuses the offense, increasing the possibility of a turnover or missed shot.
Heads Up
When the ball comes to your man, keep your body position and posture, and close out into a comfortable position. You should be no more than an arm's length away from the offensive player. Better defenders -- with exceptional instincts and lateral quickness -- can play right up in the opponent's face, knowing they won't get beaten off the dribble. Weaker defenders, or defenders guarding very fast opponents, must sag off so they won't get beaten. Either way, it is important to maintain your position and posture at all costs.
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