Quick Notes

Our job

• PISTOL IS OUR PACK-LINE MAN DEFENSE.
• PROTECT THE BASKET. MAKE THE OFFENSE EARN ITS SHOTS.
• Pressure the ball as much as you can while keeping it in front.
• ONE SHOT. BLOCK OUT AND REBOUND.
• NO TRANSITION BASKETS. NO FOULS.

On the ball

• Close out with good ball pressure.
• Keep the ball handler in front. Pressure does not excuse a blow-by.
• Influence the drive toward the middle of the pack, away from the baseline.

Off the ball: In the pack

• The four defenders off the ball stay inside the pack line.
• The pack line is an imaginary line about three feet inside the three-point line.
• One pass away, get into the gap in your stance before the drive starts.
• Be positioned to support the ball defender from either side.
• You are guarding a player from a support position. Stay ready to close out to your assignment.

When the ball handler drives

• Gap support must already be there. Do not wait for the drive to get into position.
• Show support to stop the penetration.
• Recover to your player on a closeout when the ball comes back out.

Get your gap position right

• Too deep in the gap gives up the reversal three.
• Too high in the gap opens the drive.
• Protect the paint without putting yourself out of reach of the next closeout.

Finish the possession

• Block out and collect the rebound. A forced miss is not the end of the job.
• Get back to prevent transition baskets.
• Defend without fouling.

Details still to define

• Exact ball-screen and off-ball-screen coverage.
• Exact post-fronting rules and who covers a lob.
• Transition assignments and communication calls.
• Do not assume Soldier’s contact switching or Lightning’s guard exchanges belong to Pistol.