Digital Playbook: 1-2-2 Ball Press

Benefits of the 1-2-2 Ball Press:

1. Opponents have to game plan specifically for us.

2. There isn’t a lot of variety in the ways opposing teams attack this defense.

3. It helps us dictate the tempo of the game.

4. It improves our ability to attack offensively in transition.

5. It provides us with ample opportunities to trap multiple spots on the floor.

6. Keeps us out of foul trouble.

7. Gives us flexibility to adjust our defense in multiple ways based on our game planning.

8. This defense is hard for opponents to simulate attacking in a limited amount of practice time.

9. Forces opponents to make unforced errors.

10. Defense is counterintuitive to the way players like to play offense in today’s game.

Requirements of the 1-2-2 Ball Press:

1. We have to be in great physical shape.

2. Our players have to communicate constantly on defense.

3. This is an anticipatory defense, not a reactionary defense.

4. No one within the defense can take a play off.

5. Our team has to be committed to your defense regardless of your style of play.

6. Players must be committed to making multiple plays on defense each possession.

Teaching Points:

1. Rotations must be on the air-time of the ball and not after the catch.

2. You must closeout and trap with the proper angles.

3. Hands and feet must be active at all times.

4. We must finish each possession with rebounding or toughness plays.

5. Against most teams, the ball should be pressured constantly.

6. The only time you slide is when guarding the ball - otherwise every movement should be a sprint.

7. Often, our players must be “physically here and mentally there” when anticipating the next offensive action.

8. The players guarding the ball must influence the ball handler to the desired location and keep them out of the trouble spots.

9. Don’t allow open threes or lay-ups - make the opponent .

Pick-Up Points:

One of the major benefits of the 1-2-2 Ball Press is in its flexibility. You can vary your pick-up points based on a variety of factors including whether you made a shot or missed one, after timeout situations, location of where the ball is inbounded, and what your game plan is against any given opponent. There are four pick-up points that we will utilize throughout the season.

Coverages:

• 12 Regular: Our basic rotations

• 12 Flathead: 1 Row plays flat with 2 Row creating a 3-2 look

• 12 Pinch: Pack to protect the paint and stop all dribble penetration

• 12 Tight: Same coverage as 12 Pinch, but without pressure on the ball

• 12 Shade: Shade towards a dangerous shooter

• 12 Lock: Extend zone and shade towards all players to prevent the 3

• 12 Thumb Up: Trap at half court

• 12 Thumb Down: Trap in the corner

Row Responsibilities - One Row:

Full Court

• Apply constant pressure on the ball handler (may vary based on game plan).

• Stop the ball in transition.

• Force the ball toward the sideline and trap with the wing if possible.

• Cover the middle if there is a trap with the 2 row and 3 row.

Row Responsibilities - Two Row:

Full Court 

• Help the 1 Row influence the ball toward the sideline and into a trap area.

• Let the ball come to you - don’t charge the basketball.

• Maintain proper spacing with 1 Row to avoid dribble splits.

• The weak side 2 Row player needs to prevent the pass to the middle whenever the ball is on the opposite wing; when the ball is reversed they can’t leave the middle until it is covered by another defender.

Row Responsibilities - Three Row:

Full Court

• Prevent long passes down the court especially up the sideline.

• If the ball handler is near, they must funnel the ball out of the middle and into the corner.

Full Court Rotations:

Basic Alignment

• In the full court, our default alignment is “60” or our 3/4 Court coverage.

• 1 Row should pick up just past the back court free throw line.

• 2 Row should be positioned near the back court volleyball lines.

• 3 Row should be set up just passed the front court volleyball lines.

• We could be in this alignment on both makes and misses depending on our game plan.

Vs. 2-1-2 Offensive Alignment

The most common offensive alignment used to attack the 1-2-2 Ball Press is a 2-1-2 alignment. In this case, use the following rotations:

• 1 Row influences the ball up the sideline.

• The strong side 2 Row waits for the ball handler.

• The weak side 2 Row takes away the middle man.

• The strong side 4 Row takes away the sideline pass down the floor.

• The weak side 3 Row guards against the deep diagonal pass and protects the basket.

• If the ball is reversed to the other side of the floor, the defensive players rotate accordingly.

• It’s important that the 2 Row does not leave their middle coverage until the opposite 2 Row is there to take away the pass.

Full Court Trapping

• The two main trap areas that can occur in the full court setting is the 1 Row/2 Row trap and the 2 Row/3 Row Trap.

• In a 1 Row/2 Row trap, the strong side 2 Row traps with the 1 Row, the weak side 2 Row protects middle and the pass to the opposite guard, the strong side 3 Row looks to shoot the sideline gap, and the the weak side 3 Row looks for the middle steal and protects against the deep diagonal pass.

• In a 2 Row/3 Row trap, the strong side 2 Row and 3 Row trap the ball, the 1 Row protects middle, the weak side 3 Row shoots the strong side sideline gap, and the weak side 2 Row protects middle and against the deep diagonal pass.

Half Court Rotations:

Basic Alignments:

• In the half court, our default alignment is “40."

• 1 Row pressures the ball beginning at half court.

• 2 Row guards the wings.

• If there is a high post offensive player, 2 Row pinches middle to prevent the pass to the high post.

• 3 Row should line-up above the volleyball line and should never set-up too low towards the baseline.

Basic Rotations:

Half Court Trapping: