The "Shell Game"

One of the most common drills used in basketball practices is called the "shell drill." In its simplest form it is 4 offensive players vs 4 defensive players. Often the four offensive players are on the perimeter. (After all

who wants to play in the post anymore?). The emphasis of the drill is usually the defensive aspect. We tried to take a progressive attitude about the drill. By that I mean, we would start with the offensive simply passing the drill around without any cutting or screening . (Unfortunately, this sometimes mimicked our real offense more than I care to admit!). We would ask the offensive players, upon receiving a pass, to hold the ball for 2-3 seconds then make another pass so we could check how the defenders were adjusting to each pass. Hopefully these defensive adjustments were being made while the ball was in the air and not after the ball was caught. We then would allow the offense to pass and make a basket cut. Then added screening and eventually allowed the four offensive players to "free lance" and play.

"Now if this guy could only find the weight room?"

If you want to add post defense, you can simply start the drill with the offense in a diamond alignment. Meaning you have a point, two wings and one post. It's an excellent idea to rotate the four players so everyone has to guard the point, wings and post. You can work defensively on all the most common offensive maneuvers such as: a) Pass & cut. b) Pass & screen away. c) Back screens with basket cuts d) Ball screens. e) Back screen with flare screens.

Another element to add in the shell drill is to allow the defense to trap. If

you like the scramble defense you can work on your rotations. It also is a

dual purpose drill in that if you allow trapping then the offense gets to work

on handling the ball vs trap type defenses.