After having the privilege to listen to VCU head coach Shaka Smart speak at the 2014 Coaching U Live in Indianapolis, I wanted to share some of the key components to their HAVOC Defense. The following bullets come from a handout that you can receive by reaching out to their basketball offices and video coordinator.
Goals of the Press
- Create Turnovers (Live ball turnovers to score in transition)
- Force Quick / Bad Shots
- Create Offensive Opportunities (by Attacking)
- Force an Uncomfortable Tempo and Disrupt Offensive Flow
- Make Opponent Preparation More Difficult
- Take Opposing Players Out of Their Comfort Zone
- Create Fatigue
- Which Team Will Tire 1st? Which Team Will Recover Quickest?
- Make Depth a Factor (Which team’s bench is better?)
- Exciting Style of Play for Players AND Fans!
- Create an Identity / Brand for your Program.
Keys to Emphasize as a Pressing Team
- Must Have ENERGY! 5 players flying around the court without fouling. “Fouling Negates Hustle”.
- Communication. “Talking Makes You Quicker”.
- Get Into the Press Quickly!
- Active Hands Causing Deflections
- Trapping Fundamentals
- When to Trap? (Good Trap vs Bad Trap)
- Ball handler’s level of control: A good trap is one in which the dribble is out of control.
- Element of Surprise: The ball handler should not see or expect the trap coming.
- Location on the Court: Never trap in the middle; use the out of bounds and half-court lines as extra defenders!
- Who to Trap?
- Trap the guards / best players. Trapping a big can free up a guard / shooter.
- How to Trap?
- Trap with “Elasticity”. As the ball handler moves the trap should move, without fouling.
- Off the Ball
- “Think Like a Trapper”
- When to Trap? (Good Trap vs Bad Trap)
- Take Away the Most Obvious Next Pass
- Ball Pressure (Especially in Man to Man)
- Stunting at the Ball with Off the Ball Defenders
- Back Pressure. If the ball gets ahead of the defense, sprint to recover and try to get a back tip.
- Outnumbered Situations.
- Create 2 vs 1 Scenarios
