"Pressuring the ballhandler makes passing and dribbling more difficult, and increases the chances of an offensive mistake."

CAUTION: You play defense before your opponent receives the ball not after. In forcing the opponent out of their normal operating areas, it creates offensive spacing problems which benefit the defense. Post passes are longer and more difficult, outside shots are longer, and it takes an extra dribble or two to reach the basket.

In guarding a player with the ball, defenders must attack, rather than react to offensive actions, and eliminate the "triple threat" (shot, pass, drive) by taking away the shot and pass options, and forcing the ball hander into dribbling. The reason being is that the offense can "put points on the scoreboardquot; off a shot or pass, but cannot score when dribbling.

Have Very Active Hands

When guarding the player with the ball, both hands should be held up in a shoulder high, martial arts position where they can strike out and recover with lighting speed. The defender should have very active hands and must be ambidextrous using both hands equally well.

Having both hands up where the officials can see them also eliminates fouls.

Defending Against
Offensive Moves & Fakes

Since almost all offensive moves (jab steps, crossovers, reverse pivots, etc.) are predicated in getting past a defender, rather than trying to counter every offensive move, defenders should simply back off (build cushion) and protect against drives.

In building cushion and neutralizing the offensive move, the defender should execute a quick, short 12" hop back with both feet.

Since most offensive players tend to over stride when executing jab steps and crossovers, it reduces the effectiveness of the moves and provides the defender with a slight advantage.