Not all lessons learned in coaching are enjoyable to remember. I was taught a very valuable coaching lesson that came at a very unfortunate time. We were the #1 seed playing the #8 seed in the first round of the playoffs. Full disclosure is necessary to keep this lesson in proper perspective. The subsection we were in was weak. We were not a strong #1 seed and the difference between the top of the subsection and the bottom was not significant in terms of strengths.
The opponent that night was a close natural rival. I knew the coach well. He caught us off guard and it was MY fault. Our team had a 6'2" wing who was our best scorer. Unfortunately, our other 4 starters struggled to score. Our opponent that night came out in a box and 1 defense. We froze offensively. Our leading scorer was not schooled/taught in how to move to free himself against this type of defense. Our other four starters took low percentage shots with only a few going in. It turned out to be a long frustrating game for the #1 seed. We lost. I was embarrassed that I had failed in my coaching responsibilities to prepare my team for this defense.
A number of years after the defeat, we attempted to use the same type of defensive approach to win a key playoff game. Thanks to Utah Coach Rick Majerus who had used what is commonly referred to as a junk defense to defeat a key foe during the NCAA . A number of coaches took a more serious look at junk defenses. We had been caught off guard against a box and 1 and now our team was going to use a different type of junk defense against our opponent. I researched the triangle and two defense that Coach Majerus had used. Our team was playing an opponent who had two good scorers with the other three players not being significant scorers in their offense. Fortunately for us, the triangle and two defense was very successful and contributed to our being successful that night.
Evidently, I am a slow learner. We never used any type of junk defense after that playoff game nor did we face any junk defense against us either and since this is true confessions we did not spend very much time for facing a junk defense.
Why would you or should you consider using some type of junk defense? Some reasons to consider before implementation are:
1) Does your opponent have a dominant perimeter scorer? If they do, where do they score from? Are they easily denied? In other words, how well do they move without the ball? Do you have a
match up player or two who will welcome the defensive assignment. If the star player is a
post up player, you can play your player to player defense and double the post up player o
the catch.
2) Out of a timeout or to start a period to simply change the rhythm of your opponent's offense.
The element of surprise may be enough to cause your opponent confusion.
3) The element of surprise. Unless you frequently play some type of junk defense, your
opponent will probably be caught off guard. They have been practicing & playing against
zones and player to player defenses. More than likely they (your opponent) has spent little to
no time preparing for a junk defense.
*If you are going to play a box & one or a diamond & one, do you have one or two quality
defenders who will accept the challenge without fouling?
**Board coverage is an essential aspect of teaching this defense. If you can't cover the prime
rebound areas you will not be playing junk defense for very long.
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