In the Eastern Conference semi-finals, Miami has given the Toronto Raptors various problems in defending their small ball line-up. Toronto continues to struggle keeping their men in front (defending dribble penetration). Here is a set Miami uses to create a mismatch, ultimately getting drive and kick play. See More
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In the Eastern Conference semi-finals, Miami has given the Toronto Raptors various problems in defending their small ball line-up. Toronto continues to struggle keeping their men in front (defending dribble penetration). See More
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In the Eastern Conference semi-finals, Miami has given the Toronto Raptors various problems in defending their small ball line-up. Toronto continues to struggle keeping their men in front (defending dribble penetration). Here is a set Miami uses to create a mismatch or create an advantage, ultimately getting drive and kick play. See More
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In the Eastern Conference semi-finals, Miami has given the Toronto Raptors various problems in defending their small ball line-up. Toronto continues to struggle keeping their men in front (defending dribble penetration). Here is a set Miami uses to create a mismatch, ultimately getting drive and kick play. See More
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In the Eastern Conference semi-finals, Miami has given the Toronto Raptors various problems in defending their small ball line-up. Toronto continues to struggle keeping their men in front (defending dribble penetration). Here is an ATO Miami uses to create dribble penetration. Ultimately using slip as counter - using this action throughout the series... Wade rejects high ball from Winslow. See More
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Here is a Horns set Miami uses to create a dribble penetration for Dragic against Toronto in Game 7. 2 either back cuts or curls wide pin-down from Dragic. See More
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Here is a set Miami uses to create drive and kick play. If 2's man goes under on the DHO, 1 must set screen on the low side of 5.. If 2's man goes over on the DHO, 1 must set screen on the high side. See More
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Miami Heat ran this against the Toronto Raptors late in third quarter (Game 7) to get Dragic in Middle Ball Screen. Ultimately Winslow (4) gets catch and shoot 3pt. See More
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We start by forming a triple stack on either block with our player being guarded M2M on top. To initiate the action, the point guard uses a freeze dribble to attack the top defender in the box and the players forming the stack set a double screen on the low box defender and the middle guard looks to pop out to shooting range. If the bottom of the zone shifts out quickly to defended the short corner/corner shot, the ball side post immediately screens away and brings weak side post across the hoop for a baseline bounce pass. If nothing develops on this action a quick pass to the point guard followed by a ball screen by the guarded player and the action can be run to the other side. If at anytime the bottom box defender anticipates the corner pass, the point guard can ball fake and immediately hit the post player slipping the screen on the block. You can also run this play with your player being guarded M2M as the baseline runner. See More
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Your point guard needs to initiate the action by dribbling opposite your guarded player setting up a side ball screen with your low posted player. Your other players unguarded players ( 4 and 2 ) fill the ball side corner and weak side slot area. Most zones go under ball screens, so as th point guard comes off ball screen she should immediately look to penetrate elbow are for a shot. If the defender goes under the ball screen we teach our post player to "bury" the defender by performing a reverse pivot and sealing off defender and allowing the point guard to attack elbow area for a shot, pitch ahead, or a pitch back. See More
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The beauty of this set is its simplicity and freedom. The point guard looks to attack the top defender and drag off the point while the weak side post player flashes hard to the elbow for a potential shot. After the pass, the point guard cuts hard to hoop and then opposite block looking for a quick give and go. The weak side post player waits for point guard to clear and then flashes to elbow and the continuity continues. Another nice option off of "elbow" is creating a high low pass. After a post passes to elbow and cuts to opposite block, the flashing offensive player can immediately look to dump it inside to low posted player sealing off zone defender. See More
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Keeper (X3) - We try to put a player that has great length and has a nose for the basketball. Often times this may be your tallest guard or a more athletic post player. The keeper's main responsibility is to make ball reversal difficult and to "keep" the ball on one side of the floor as much as possible. The keeper should also lead your team in rebounds due to the fact they have great positioning to read the flight shots from the corners and wings. Pushers (X4 and X2) - By far the most important position in this defense due to the demands we place on them. We usually put our best rebounding guard/post on the left side of the floor (X4) due to the high volume of shots taken from right side of the floor. We want our best athlete (our Michael Jordan) to be the right side pusher (X2) in our initial set up. We like having an undersized guard on the right side so they can pressure the initial entry pass, possible trap the dribbler at half court, and steal skip passes from the left baseline corner. Clogger (X5) - The clogger is usually your tallest post player or a physical guard if you have a small team. The clogger must do several things well to be successful. First and most important is to keep the ball off the high post. Second, they must always have high hands to aid in distorting diagonal passes to the block area. Finally, they must attack dribble penetration at 3pt line and keep ball out of the paint. Warrior (X1) - The warrior is usually our point guard but any guard can play this position. The warrior must always be in line vertically with the basketball. They must not allow anyone to screen them or pin them in at any time. They must cover corner to corner so someone with speed, quickness and great instincts works well in this position. Before looking at coverages and slides in the 1-3-1, we must first talk about the most important concept when playing this defense or any zone defense. Our players positioning is always in relationship to where the basketball is regardless of offensive alignment. In part 1 of our player positioning, you can see the basic slides and coverages when the offense passes guard to guard. See More
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One of my favorite things about the 1-3-1 defense is its ability to keep the ball out of the paint. By having three defenders always near the ball, you can force ball handlers into what we call an umbrella trap. You can see in this diagram our coverages and adjustments based upon dribble penetration. It is very important not to foul in the umbrella trap. Fouling negates hustle! See More
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This is the last drill we do as a team to work on our team slides and communication. Defense is obviously at a disadvantage so they must have tremendous bounce, effort, and communication. Drill is live and offense tries to score but penetration can only come from the 4 corners of the floor. Block players are stationary and the elbow offensive player goes elbow to elbow. This is a competitive drill and we keep score of both points and offensive rebounds. By putting the defense at a disadvantage by guarding 7 players, we feel guarding 5 will be much easier. See More
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Drill Set-up: Two offensive players 1 and 2 in the slot and wing position and two defenders X1 and X2. Players 4 and 5 can be players, coaches, or managers. On coaches whistle or command "exchange", the offensive players exchange spots and both X1 and X2 open up, jump to the ball and fight thru exchange 1 player removed.After players exchange, coach passes to player in the slot and both defenders assume guarding position. X1 closes out with high hands choppy feet yelling "ball" and X2 sprints to help or deny depending on your defensive philosophy. 1 passes back to player 4 and again exchanges with offensive player on the wing and both defensive players open up, jump to the ball and fight thru exchange 1 player removed. During any point in the drill when the coach has the ball on the wing he/she may pass to the corner and the corner player drives the ball hard to the basket. The low player in the help side "I" meets offensive player outside of the paint and the top side "I" defender helps the helper and takes the hoop. The offensive player or coach passes back out to either offensive player 1 or 2 and then the defense must closeout and play live. X1 an X2 must communicate and scramble accordingly. X2 takes 1st pass out and X1 sprints to help. See More
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