Digital Playbook: Guarding Specific Actions in Pack Line

Whenever a player cuts through the arc, the defender guarding him should deny him the ball as long as he’s inside the paint and one pass away.

When guarding a pass-cut action, the defender should jump to the ball as soon as the pass is made.

When the cutter makes his move, the defender should deny him.

In this example, the cutter fills out on the perimeter on the weak side of the court. If this is the case, the man guarding him should hold at the helpline as soon as the cutter moves past it.

In this example, #3 cuts to the rim and fills out to the wing. 

Throughout his entire cut, he is still one pass away from the ball. 

x3 should remain in denial until #3 clears outside of the three point line.

Since #3 is still one pass away once he clears outside of the three point line, as soon as #3 clears the line x3 should jump to the ball and position himself in the gap.

In this example, x5 is guarding #5, who is more than two passes away from the ball and on the weak side of the floor.

x5 is at the helpline and is in proper position

#5 starts to cut through and x5 meets him at the helpline

As #5 clears the helpline, x5 denies him through the arc.

As soon as he clears the arc, since #5 ends up being one pass away, x5 jumps to the ball and fills the gap.

Note: In a screen situation, cutters should still be denied inside the three point line. 

If an offensive post player flashes to the high post, the defensive man has to jam the cutter and deny his cut up the lane to the high post.

If there is a weak side interchange on the perimeter, x2 should create an opening for x5 to move through. If the defensive players are in the correct positioning to begin with, this is an easy task.

x5 would go through the opening.

x2 would settle back in normal help position.

This defensive action is called an “open and through.”

Against screens, if the defensive players are in their correct help positions they should avoid most screens altogether. 

On a weak side perimeter down screen, the men guarding the players involved in the screening action should complete an “open and through.”

x5 would go through the opening.

x2 would settle back in normal help position.

On a strong side down screen, the men guarding the players involved with the screens should “swag and tail.” 

x5 and x4 are guarding the screeners. They must sag off their men and open up to protect the basket.

x3 and x2 are guarding the cutters. They should “t-bone” the cutters, forcing them to use the screens. 

When the cutters use the screens, the defenders should chase, or "tail," them and try to deny them the pass until they clear the three point line.  

If the offense sets a flare screen, the defenders involved in the screen should “chase and space.”

The man guarding the screener (x5) should hold at the helpline, off his man and protecting the paint.

The man guarding the cutter (x2) should chase him over the top of the screen.  

On a back screen, the defensive players should go “ball side, reattach, and swag.”

x5 opens up and holds in the lane

x2 goes ball side around the screen and then reattaches to deny their man

On a post to post cross screen, the defensive players should “face and fight.”

x4 has his back to the baseline.

x5 takes a step towards his man, gets his back to the ball side sideline, "faces and fights" the cutter, going the same side as the cutter.

x4 protects the block until his teammate has recovered defensively.

The weak side wing defender should cover down to protect the opposite block.

When guarding a pin screen action, the man guarding the screen should deny his man up the lane and get between him and the ball so that the screener doesn’t slip to the basket.

The man guarding the cutter should get on his back and tail him through the screen.

When guarding a double staggered screen on the perimeter, all three defenders in the action have their own responsibilities.

The man guarding the first screener (x4) should “swag” off his man and protect the paint.

The man guarding the second screen should “show and help” on the cutter on the perimeter.

The man guarding the cutter (x3) should go under the first screen and tail over the top of the second screen.

Two adjustments that can be made based on player personnel are going man side on both screens or going under both screens.

On a blast screen, the man guarding the cutter (x2) should get on his back and tail him around the screen.

The man guarding the screener closest to the ball should show and help on the cutter.

The man guarding the screener farthest away from the ball should swag off and protect the middle of the paint.

When guarding the cutter, do not try to go through the middle of the blast screen.

Using green defense (switching) against a ball screen requires both players involved in the screen to communicate that it’s coming. 

As soon as the screen is set, the defenders switch men.

Note: when switching to the ball handler on a ball screen, the defender going to the ball must “switch up” to him to prevent a pull-up jump shot. The defender going to guard the screener after the switch must switch under the screen to prevent the roll to the rim.

When a big or a mismatch is involved in the ball screen that prevents us from switching, we should be in our over the top series. 

If the ball handler is not a great shooter, we will be in "drop coverage."

When the ball screen occurs, x4 must call out the screen.

x1 changes his foot positioning to force #1 to use the screen.

x1 goes over the top of the screen, trying to cut off the ball handler when he recovers.

x2 "corners up" to prevent the drive/kick to the corner for a 3.

x4 drops inside the lane to force #1 to make a midrange shot.

x3 "bumps" #4 rolling to the basket until x4 can recover.

If the ball handler has an effective mid-range game, we will be in "string coverage."

When the ball screen occurs, x4 must call out the screen.

x1 changes his foot positioning to force #1 to use the screen.

x1 goes over the top of the screen, trying to cut off the ball handler when he recovers.

x2 "corners up" to prevent the drive/kick to the corner for a 3.

x4 slides with the ball, keeping it in front of them, until x1 can recover.

x3 "bumps" #4 rolling to the basket until x4 can recover

If the ball handler has an effective mid-range game, we will be in "hedge coverage."

When the ball screen occurs, x4 must call out the screen.

x1 changes his foot positioning to force #1 to use the screen.

x2 "corners up" to prevent the drive/kick to the corner for a 3.

x4 and x1 trap the ball handler.

x3 "bumps" #4 rolling to the basket until x4 can recover.

Finally, if #1 is a very poor shooter (potential "Monster") we may go under the screen and enter "drop coverage."

When you ice ball screen, the man guarding the ball handler (x1) should change his foot positioning, turning his body on the half court side of the player to force him to reject the screen and drive to the baseline corner.

The man guarding the screener (x4) should swag to protect the lane.

Our primary coverage against dribble handoffs is green defense (switch), or switch the DHO.

Using green defense against a DHO requires both players involved in the screen to communicate that it is coming. 

As soon as DHO action is made, the defenders switch men.

Follow the same switching rules as we would in pick and roll situations.

As an adjustment to guarding a dribble handoff, we will go open and through.

When you open and through a dribble handoff, the man guarding the original ball handler (x4) should take a step off the play to make room for his teammate to come through.

The man guarding the player receiving the handoff (x2) should come through the middle of the action and his teammate.