Shut Down

Every team needs at least one of these players. If you have several of them, you will be a tough team to score on. If you have no one who can lock down and shut down, it is going to be a long season. Despite the obsession with the three point shot, games are almost always won with defense and rebounding. You have to ask yourself how many of the so called "run-n-gun offenses win in tournament play?

I watched a talented college team play the other night and they were very impressive when they possessed the ball. Some so called "experts" predict this team has final four potential. Personally, I don't see it. They seem to

me to be the type of team that wins by out scoring you. Yes, I know this seems a rather redundant statement to make since obviously to win you must score more points than your opponent. I see a team that seem to invest only a token effort on the defensive end of the floor. My prediction. It will catch up with you if you have a team that does not buy into the defensive end of the floor. At least in high school, what happens during

playoff time? Again, with rare exception, scores drop significantly. Games

will be lower scoring and the team that defends and rebounds most often

will win.

When we practiced we almost always started with a defensive drill. I had a college coach ask me one time if we spent ANY time on offense in practice? Now I am not sure if that was meant as a compliment, or as an

indictment of our offense? Whether it is the best approach or not, we tried to emphasis to our players that you should be consistently good on the defensive end of the floor. We believed that you would have poor shooting nights, but if you defended well, you still would be competitive and have a chance to win.

I think there is a coaching "myth" that is perpetuated that everyone can defend. Defense only takes desire. My belief is that is not true. A lock down or shut down defender needs other attributes as well. Quickness,

toughness, lateral mobility, intelligence, a short memory, etc. are all important. I also believe there is a defensive mindset that shut down defenders seem to have. They are offended when their assigned opponent scores. When I was actively coaching, I noticed we had a number of players who seemed to take being scored on repeatedly as "just one of those things." That attitude bothered me. It seemed to me, if you were given a task and you failed at it, that should bother you!!

"Now is this guy loading it up or what!"

Shut down defenders usually have the following attributes:

a) Toughness .... They understand they will not likely shut out their assigned

opponent but they want to! They do not accept being screened. They

compete on every possession.

b) Short Memory .... Each possession has its own shelf life. Each possession is

the next challenge. Previous possessions have no bearing on the next

possession.

c) Controlled aggression .... Want to force the action. Want the opponent to

be uncomfortable. Want their opponent to have their will broken. Want

the opponent to feel it's going to be a long night for them on offense.

d) Disciplined .... Understands fouling is not good defense. Shot fakes, foot

fakes, and ball fakes are treated as such .... they are ALL fakes! Must limit

fouling.

e) Intelligence .... Understands the strengths and weaknesses of the person

they are defending. Uses the scouting report to their favor. Not foul prone.

Not a gambler. Not looking to block shots or make steals. Tries to take

his assigned opponent out of his/her rhythm.

f) 1 and Done .... All, and I do mean all, shots are contested and no offensive

rebounds are given up.

g) Pride .... The type of person who wants to know how many points their

opponent scored is more important to them than how many points they

scored.

h) Competitor .... Wants the assignment of taking the best scorer on the

other team. Focuses on competing on ever single possession regardless

of the score.

One of your responsibilities as a coach is to find this type of person and help in their development. Seldom have I found your shut down defender will also be your leading scorer. Why? I do believe some of it is because they

expend so much energy on the defensive end of the floor they have little left.

You, as their coach, should take every opportunity to make a big deal when they defend well. They need to be appreciated and the team needs to understand how they are contributing to the team's success. For example,

if they score 4 points but hold their opponent who is averaging 20 points per game to 8 points it's like the shut down defender has scored 16 points for his team.