Digital Playbook: Transition Defense

Our defensive transition success will be determined by the:

1. Decisions by our perimeter players

2. Effort by our bigs

We will not give up:

• Lay-ups/Deep Post Ups

• Open Threes

• Unnecessary Fouls/Free Throws

Steps to Great Defensive Transition Teams:

1. Get ahead of the ball and see the ball early

2. Stop the ball above the three point line

3. Communicate “ELC” - Early, Loud, and Consistently

4. Understand that every transition situation is a scramble situation - match up on the fly

5. Load to the ball side

6. Think “help early"

Major Reasons Teams/Players Don’t Get Back:

1. Disappointment/Frustration

2. Celebrating a great play

3. Complaining to a referee about a “no call”

4. Waiting a split second before starting to sprint back

Transition Defense Rules:

When we attempt a shot:

• • If an offensive player is in the lane, they crash the offensive glass.

  • If an offensive player is near or above the three point line, they get back in transition.

  • If an offensive player is in the mid-range, they make the decision whether to crash the glass or get back in transition initially.

  • If we don’t secure the offensive rebound, the players that crashed the glass hustle back on defense.

The players that rotate back on the shot:

• • Sprint back to the lane.

  • Stop the ball.

    • One player needs to “jam the basketball” by communicating the match-up and stopping the ball before it gets to the 3 point line.

  • Overload on the ball side.

  • Locate transition three point threats.

  • Match-up.

The players that crashed the offensive glass:

• • Sprint back on defense and match-up with an offensive player if they don't secure a rebound.