Basketball Defense Drills

Four-on-four transition. The offense pushes the ball while the defense communicates and rotates outnumbered after a broken full court press.

Practice running the diamond press out of a made free throw. On a miss, players 1, 2 and 4 rotate until a free throw goes in.

Box zone shell work without the chaser. The box shifts toward the ball as one unit, keeping its shape as top and bottom defenders adjust.

Four-on-four shell work on gap and help positions. The defender one pass away stays in the gap, those two or three away help the helper.

Six-on-four half court overload for the diamond press. Defenders sharpen rotations, communication and help coverage while outnumbered.

One-on-one deny defense on the sideline while the offense learns to get open with purpose. Use it early in practice to raise intensity.

A chaser denies an offensive player while a passer works the wing. Stay hip to hip without reaching, progressing from half court to full court.

Full-court defensive conditioning drill. Players close out, slide and sprint at four stops down the floor, two lines at a time.

Close out on the wing, guard the drive and box out the shooter. Players rotate from the baseline line to defense to the wing line.

Closeout drill that builds to live 4v4 one pair at a time. Defenders close out and stay in front while the offense attacks off the catch.

Three defenders against four in the half court. The defense protects the rim and recovers, the offense learns to find the open player.

Five closeouts from the middle of the lane to corner, wing, top, wing and corner cones. Contest, box out and push step back each time.

Half court drill from Nick Nurse where the defense switches every dribble handoff. Builds clean switches that take away the split.

1-3-1 zone part drill for the chaser, middle and tail. Six offensive players pass the ball around while the spine rotates on every pass.

Half court 3v3 game that starts with a slot drive. Defenders help from the weak side and rotate while the offense reads the kick out.

Four on offense against three on defense, threes only and no dribbles. Defenders rotate on every pass and close out on the catch.

Pass, close out and guard the drive, then rotate as the ball swings to the other wing. Runs continuously from both sides.