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Thursday. 28 March 2024
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Six perimeter moves for reading the defense

By Pete Newell and Swen Nater


Reading the Defense for Perimeter Moves




Beginning at the low-post block on the right side of the floor, the player steps in front of the defender with the right foot, pushes off with that foot, and accelerates toward the intersection of the free throw line extended and the three-point circle, creating space. The player receives the basketball from the point. Because the defender has left space, the player uses a front pivot and faces the defender.

Basketball is a game of counters. A team’s offensive and defensive reactions are counters to what the opponent has presented. If a team offense is not designed to use counterstrategy against defensive tactics, that offense will be stopped. On the contrary, the team that is trained to read and react quickly will be unstoppable.

Reading and reacting in the one-on-one situation is no different. Players must learn to recognize what the defense is taking away-and thereby read what the defense is giving away so that the offensive player can take quick advantage. The following moves are all based on read-and-react strategy.

Move 1-Front Pivot and Drive Baseline With the offensive player facing the basket, the defender moves in and leaves room on the baseline side for the drive. The player crosses over with the left foot, swings the basketball to the right hip for protection, and takes a long step past the defender and toward the basket (see figure 7.1). In most cases, in order to take the straight path to the basket, slight contact between the players occurs. That is good. The offensive player should brush the opponent, though not too much. The offensive driver must be aggressive. Contact favors the offense.

Move 2-Front Pivot and Drive Over the Top This move is made in the same situation as the previous one, but the defender is shading toward the baseline side, leaving just enough room for the offensive player to drive toward the middle (see figure 7.2). Footwork is a little tricky here because when initiating the drive, some players are tempted to pick up the right foot, or pivot foot, and cross over with it, using it for the first step of the drive. This should be avoided because it welcomes a traveling violation. The first step of the drive should be made with the nonpivot foot-the left foot in this case-and the dribble should occur just before the right foot hits the floor.

The move should end with a layup on the opposite side of the basket (a left-handed layup, jumping with the right foot). In games, a player may seldom be able to drive that far without encountering defenders along the way, but for training, ending with a layup is good footwork practice.

 

 







Six perimeter moves for reading the defense




Move 3-Drop Step for a Layup If the defender is playing tight and high when the offensive player squares up to the basket, the player pivots on the right foot, turns toward the baseline, takes a long step with the left foot, and drives to the basket (see figure 7.3). To help expedite the execution of this move, the player must be sure to keep the back as vertical as possible when turning. This will aid in a quick pivot around a vertical axis. Another important tip is that when the player is pivoting, the pivot foot should be turned to face the corner of the court. This releases the hip so the left leg can be free to point in the direction of the basket.


Move 4-Drop Step, Pull Back, Shot The player is overplayed on reception and makes the reverse step toward the basket. However, the defender reacts and moves over and back to block the path to the basket. The player reads the defense and reacts by pulling the left foot back and regaining the original position (see figure 7.4). If the first step with the left foot was a long step, the distance between the offensive and defensive players should be great enough to get off a quick three-point shot. Once again, the coach should make the point about the importance of the long first step.


 


 


 


 







Six perimeter moves for reading the defense




Move 5-Drop Step, Pull Back, Rocker Step Drive The offensive player makes the drop step, and the defender reacts by moving to block the path to the basket. However, the defensive player is moving back and has not completely blocked the path. The offensive player must now make another maneuver to create space. By rocking back toward the original position-and not moving either foot (still in driving position with the left foot stepping toward the basket)-the player makes the defender lean toward the rock. The player then reacts by pushing off the right foot and driving toward the basket (see figure 7.5).


Move 6-Drop Step, Pull Back, Explosion Step The offensive player has attempted to make the reverse drive, dropping the left foot toward the basket. However, the player reads that the defender has reacted quickly and has dropped back to prevent the drive. The offensive player reacts by pulling back to create space for the jump shot. Again, the defender reacts quickly and is closing in on the player. The offensive player-with knees flexed, ready to shoot, pass, or drive-counters by faking a crossover drive to see if the defender will retreat once more. The defender doesn't retreat (see figure 7.6), and the player takes a second, longer step toward the basket and beats the defender on the drive. We call the second step (the first step of the drive) the "explosion step."


This is an excerpt from Pete Newell's Playing Big.


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 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