TwIsTeD Reflections

As the lakers recovered from a bad finals memory, where they lost to the hated Boston Celtics, they came into this season with one mission in mind : Defence. That was the difference makers between the laker team and the celtics. One team hustled and rebounded the ball with fervor, the other was less physical and was allowed to be intimidated.

And as they came into the season, defend they did, topping the league in defence for at least the first 10 games. However, a drop off in defense occured causing the lakers to drop to 4th place in terms of defence.

The thing about defence is that it is very different from offense. It takes a different form of mindset, a different set of muscles and different tactics to perform well in either field. Offence is the more glorified of the two; when one does well in it, everyone takes note. Defence on the other hand is akin to rubbish duty to bball players- dirty work. Apart from the spectacular block or game-changing steal, defence is normally under the radar, especially if it is effective.

I've always prided myself to be a good defensive player. It will be my primary selling factor if i had to market my skills. Since i never bothered by the spotlight, although i do enjoy it on occasion, i never really looked to excel offensively, apart from my younger, more naive bball days.

here are some tips for any bball players who want to learn a thing or two about defence, or non-players who may be interested in the inner-workings in this simple, yet complex game.

1.Defence is an attitude

You cannot just play defence for one minute and not play in the next. To do so would allow the offensive player to catch his breath, and gather his rhythm back. When two players go one-on-one, who has the advantage? The offensive player in bball always has the advantage. Therefore, in order to take away that advantage, defence has to be switched on as long as the ball is in play. As phil jackson, the hall of fame coach of the lakers, mentioned before- "Offence is easy, defence is work."

2. Defense is half of the game and therefore takes as much importance as offence

Defence i feel is the most overlooked aspect of the game. The reason, i believe, is because it is unquantifiable. Offence can be broken down rather neatly into assists, field goal %, offensive rebounds, etc. Defence, on the other hand, has just steal, blocks and defensive rebounds, and none of which is able to qualify a player is better defensively than another. In fact, most writers put defense as just another aspect along with assists, rebounding and points, making it seem that defence is just one-quarter of the whole game when it is employed half the game.

3.In order to be a good defensive player, one must have experience.

An experienced player normally have a better understanding of how offensive players move. Experience provides understanding of sizes and length, of speed and strength, of shooters and slashers, of passers and rebounders. Experience does not equate to the number of games played, although that helps. Experience is equal to the different kinds of players being played with; the more players you try to defend, the better you would understand the game.

4. Defense is not about blocks or steals

These are the more glamorous plays in the defensive aspect, which sticks out like a sore thumb compared to the normally dull, gritty defensive work. Which is why godbies always aim to go for the block or the steal, when there are more effective methods with less risk.

Less risk? Yes, blocks and steal are risky. Enthusiastic blockers, normally godbies with superior athleticism, tend to leave their feet with a small head fake, taking them out of the picture defensively. A steal forces a defender to leave his all-so-important spot between the offensive player and the basket. This means that if the steal fails, it is normally an easy basket for the offensive player.

5. Defence is about disruption

So defence is not about steals or blocks. The purpose of a defender is to simply make the offensive player to miss or turnover the ball. To do so requires a mindset of disruption. Disruption=footwork. Footwork requires practice of the side-to-side movement, also known as lateral movement or the 'crab walk'. This allows the defensive player to reach a spot before the offensive player does, disrupting rhythm and movement. Disruption can also be accompanied by other tactics: Blocking of eyes of a taller player, quick sudden movements to disrupt concentration of shooters, physical intimidation of skinnier players and even the harmless foul.

6.Understand your own strengths and weaknesses.

Impose your strengths on the offensive player and use ways to compensate for the weaknesses. If the attacker is stronger? Use his strength against him by shifting his center of gravity constantly. Is he taller than you? Stay closer to him as taller players are more self-conscious when shorter players are close to him. Is he faster? Stay a feel steps back so you can react in time when he makes a move. Does he have more stamina? Use energy saving, yet effective tactics to recover your breath when defending.

7. No offensive player is perfect

Each offensive player has a weakness, small as they may be. All players have it. It is the duty to analyse offensive players to pick out their weaknesses. Weaknesses can be the tendency to go only one side (normally to the left of the defensive player), signals that they are going to shoot (like a small step backwards or weighing the ball in their hands), preference of passing to a certain player (like the team's star player). Height, weight, strength, focus and basically anything can be used as weakness.

8. Basics in Defence

If you just aren't good at analysis, then remember the basics of defence and positioning.

For shooters, go closer to the players and into their personal space to make them feel uncomfortable.

For slashers and dribblers, take a step away from them to compensate when they speed to the basket so you can catch up to them. And always, always remember to stay in between the offensive player and the basket.

If you know what hand a player favours (whether he is left or right handed when he dribbles to the basket), force him to use the other hand with your positioning.

If you are weak defensively, do not block or steal unless you are certain of success.

9. Here are some more-advanced tips.

When a player is dribbling in front of you, analyse and take note of his tendencies. The rhythm he dribbles the ball, the fluidity of his movements, the hand he favours, the kind of player he is, etc. After analysis, take action in disruption using those information.

Systematically take down one weapon at a time. This is especially useful if the offensive player is a versatile attacker. When an offensive player realised a move of his has been disrupted, he is unlikely to go back to it again, preferring to return to his other attacks. This way, you can take away one weapon at a time till he is left with nothing.

10. Basketball is a team game

Same with defence. Defence is also based largely on strategy. Traps, double teams, strong-side zone, full court press. Strategies can be both complicated and simple. For your average neighbourhood court, advanced strategies are seldom used, so understanding of simple strategies, namely zone and man-to-man, is enough. However, team defences require time spend with each player to understand each other's tendencies, and training.

During man-to man, if the offensive player is a strong player, funnel the offensive player when he drives into your team mate, creating an effective 'trap' this trap is normally situated in the offensive player's weaker side, creating a bigger effect.

During zone, normally a 2-3 or 3-2 zone in the neighbourhood courts, all 5 players follow the movement of the ball, with each player protecting a region, or a 'zone'. The strategy is simple. If the ball goes inside to the post, the players collapse in, smothering the inside player. If the ball goes out, the defence spreads out to formation again.