Defense: A Primer
zone, the difference being whether players are assigned to harass specific other players or players who enter their zones.
Presses may also be designed to force the opposing team into areas near the sidelines, where defenders can "trap" the ballhandler by double-teaming him in an attempt to force a poor pass. Since the defense was designed to force the ballhandler to a specific area, the defense already is aware of the few passing options which exist and can have players stationed where they have a high probability of intercepting those passes.
Since presses have as their objective the forcing of a turnover, they are highly aggressive and often have the advantage of preventing the opponent from taking any kind of shot. However, should the opponent get past the press, the end result will almost always be a high percentage lay-up or dunk. The press is a gambler's defense, as it offers the high reward of a turnover versus the high risk of easy shots for the offense.
As can be seen, all defenses have specific strengths and weaknesses. Accordingly, coaches will vary their usage of the different defenses throughout the game depending upon the situation. Many coaches also believe in frequently changing their defenses simply to confuse their opponents. For an excellent example of how different defenses can be worked into an effective scheme, please see the book Basketball: Multiple Offense and Defense by Dean Smith. Coach Smith describes the defensive scheme used to great effect by North Carolina in his day in great detail.
Defense is an important and often underrated part of the game of basketball. More often than not, the team which limits its opponents efficiency will win, even if its own offense operates slightly below its optimal level.
In the words of Texas Tech Coach Bob Knight, "The very first thing that has to be done to win, in any team sport, is play well defensively."
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