Top 7 Basketball Defense Drills To Improve Your Game

Defense wins championships. We have all heard this phrase and for the most part, it’s true. NBA teams value being in the top ten in offensive and defensive rating. Very few teams win an NBA championship without being a top ten offensive and defensive team. While your favorite player to watch is probably the player who scores the most points or has the most offensive skill, the glue guy of the team is the one who will guard the other team's best player. Below we are going to break down seven different basketball defensive drills that will help your team take the next step in being a defensive powerhouse.

Drill 1: 2v2 Bakken Defense

This drill is from coach Skyler Bowlin, the head coach of the nine-time Danish basketball champion Bakken Bears. Coach Bowlin was a defensive stopper as a player himself and prides his team on making the opposing team feel uncomfortable for the entire game.

The main goal of this drill is to put the defensive players in a disadvantaged position and have them find a way to stop the offense from scoring. Coaches can use this drill as a closeout 1v1 drill or a pick and roll 2v2 drill. Coach Bowlin uses it as both and really challenges his team during this defensive drill.

Drill set up:

• Two offensive players will be standing on the left and right slot, elbow extended. Two defensive players will be standing on the elbows facing the offensive players.
• One of the defensive players will have a ball, the other 3 players do not.

Drill execution:

• The defensive player with the ball on one of the elbows will throw a pass to the other defensive player standing on the other elbow.
• Once the initial player with the ball passes the ball, the will run diagonally to the offensive player on the opposite slot and close out. (left elbow defender closes out to the right slot)
• The defensive player who receives the ball will pass the ball to the offensive player directly in front of him on the same side slot. (right elbow defender passes to the right slot offensive player)
• As that pass is released, the initial defender will be closing out to the offensive player who just caught the ball.
• The drill is live from when the first offensive player catches the ball.
• The offensive player who catches the ball can attack the initial closeout or pass to the other offensive player.
• If the initial offensive player passes to the other offensive player, the second defender is closing out to that player.
• Now the teams are playing 2v2 until there is a defensive stop or score.
• Coaches can add constraints to make the drill more or less challenging. (offense can not play pick and roll, offense must drive left, defense can not let the ball into certain areas of the floor, defense can not switch pick and roll, etc.)

Drill focus areas:

• Crisp passes to ensure the defense is at a disadvantage.
• Defense sprinting to a closeout without giving up a straight line drive to the basket.
• Communication of defense, especially in pick and roll coverage (switch, stay with own, etc.)
• High hand on the closeout to deter the offensive player from shooting a catch and shoot three.
• Offensive anticipation of the defensive closeout and intensity.

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Drill 2: 2v1 Scatter Closeouts

Every coach wants defensive players who can cover up for their teammates. When an offensive player beats their initial defender, a 2v1 (two offensive players vs one defensive player) situation is now present. The best offensive players punish defenses that are bad in 2v1 situations.

This drill is a game-like scenario that recreates one of the more popular 2v1 situations, the wing to corner 2v1. Two shooters, one on the wing and one in the corner. The defensive player has to cause some indecision until another defender recovers. The best defensive teams can not only limit but excel in this situation.

Drill set up:

• Two offensive players will be behind the three-point line (mid range is ok for younger players), one on the wing and one in the corner.
• One defensive player will be facing the offensive players, heels on the lane line.
• The defensive player can move back and forth laterally, but can not approach the offensive players until a pass is thrown.
• A player is under the basket with a ball.
• The passer under the basket and the closeout defender are on a team.
  
  

Drill execution:

• The offensive player or coach with the ball under the basket will throw a pass to one of the offensive players.
• Once the ball is in the air, the defensive player can leave their spot and attack the ball.
• The offensive players are trying to make a shot but only have one pass between them.
• The defensive player is trying to force a miss from the offensive players.
• Coaches can add variations to the drill (the second defender under the basket can close out once the first offensive player catches the pass, offensive players can only pass with off hand, no shot fakes, etc.)
  
  

Drill focus areas:

• Closeout defender sprints to stop the shooter from attempting a rhythm jump shot.
• Encouraging the closeout defender to fake a shot contest and play the passing lane at times.
• Offensive players reading the closeout and making the proper read of shooting the ball or making the extra pass to their teammate.

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Drill 3: Post Gauntlet Drill

Post up offense does not dominate the game the same way it did 20 years ago, but it is not extinct. When you match up against a dominant post player, you must be creative tactically to slow them down. Elite post defense relies on the defensive players surrounding the post, not just the post defender.

This drill is working on the “dig” from the secondary defenders. The dig is when the closest defender to the post attacks the ball for a steal or fakes the attack and retreats to the player they’re defending on the perimeter. This drill is a 1v2 defensive drill where the dig defender must touch the post player's ball, only to be on a full sprint back to the player they're defending and contest a shot. This is one of the hardest defensive plays in basketball.

Drill set up:

• One offensive player will have the ball on the wing.
• The other offensive player will be posting up with both feet outside the paint.
• The defensive player is guarding the ball on the wing.

Drill execution:

• The offensive player on the wing will throw the ball into the post.
• On the flight of the ball, the defensive player will slide to the post and touch the post player’s ball.
• After the defensive player touches the ball, the post player will throw the ball back out to the offensive player behind the 3pt line.
• The offensive player who threw the ball into the post will relocate and try to gain as much space as possible between themself and the post defender.
• Once the defensive player touches the ball in the post, they are turning and trying to find the offensive player behind the 3pt line and contest their shot.
• The shooter is trying to shoot before the defensive player has time to recover.
• Coaches can add variations to the drill (no shot fakes, shooter must take a dribble before the shot, off hand passes out of the post, etc.)

Drill focus areas:

• “Dig” defense on the post with active hands
• “Dig” defender does not lose sight of their man or the ball
• Controlled shot contest without fouling
• Offensive players making proper post entry and exit passes.
• Offensive shooter reading the post dig defender to find space for a long closeout and shot

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Drill 4: Level of the Ball

Here is another great closeout defense drill from Coach Bowlin of the Bakken Bears. This drill is used as more of a warm up before diving into the more live drills listed above. Level of the ball drill makes your team stay “on a string”, moving up the court in unison as the ball advances. The fundamentals are important and working on positioning and communication in this warm up drill will help your team be more prepared when the practice turns to live action.  

Drill set up:

• Three offensive players will be lined up along the free throw line. One player on the nail and two other players are free throw line extended on the wings.
• Three defensive players are guarding the offensive players in a full court press set up.

‍Drill execution:

• The offensive player on the nail starts with the ball. The nail is the spot directly in the middle of the free throw line.
• That player will then throw the ball to either wing.
• As that happens, the defender guarding the ball is in a proper stance and limiting space between themselves and the ball handler. The other two defenders will jump to the “level of the ball”.
• The level of the ball is the area of space a ball handler would have to advance between another offensive player. A lot of times this is referred to as the “gap”. We want defense to be in those gaps so the offensive player is deterred from advancing the ball.
• Once all players are in the proper gaps, the ball handler will try to advance the ball through the gap and will pass back to the middle offensive player. The drill will then move to the other side.
• We will move back and forth up the court until all three offensive players reach the half court line.
• Coaches can add variations to the drill (add dribble hand offs or pick and rolls, defensive players have to have their hands behind their back, etc.)

Drill focus areas:

• All defensive players move as the ball is in the air, always on the “level of the ball”, in the gaps.
• When they close out to their defender, active hands and communicating to their teammates.
• Offensive players throw tight passes and try to drive through the gap if possible.

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Drill 5: Gap Stabs

Keeping the offense out of the paint is one of the primary goals of every defense. This drill is similar to level the ball, using it as more of a warm up to get your team activated and communicating before diving into fully live drills. This drill focuses on defenders being in the “gap” that we discussed in the drill above, and closing out to their defender without letting the offensive player drive to the middle and touch the paint.

Drill set up:

• One offensive player will be at the top of the key with a ball. This can also be a coach if you have limited players or if you want to be more active coaching.
• Another offensive player will be on the wing.
• A defensive player will be in the gap between the ball handler at the top of the key and the defender on the wing.
• A good starting point for the defender is to put both of their arms up and point to both offensive players in front of them. If they can not do this, they are in the wrong position. The three players should form a triangle.

Drill execution:

• The offensive player at the top of the key will drive toward the offensive player on the wing.
• The defensive player in the gap will “stunt” or fake a steal at the ball handler, making the ball handler pick up their dribble.
• As the ball handler picks up their dribble the defender retreats back to the player on the wing.
• After the stunt from the defender, the ball handler will throw a pass to the wing player.
• Once the wing player has the ball, they will try to drive middle towards the basket. The defender will slide their feet and prevent the offensive player from touching the paint.
• As a warm up drill, this can be played to stop after one or two dribbles from the wing player. You can also play this drill live and change the rules where the wing player can drive middle or baseline.

Drill focus areas:

• Defender starting in the proper gap, stunting only once and forcing the ball handler to pick up their dribble.
• A no middle close out on the wing, catching the first dribble with their body and making the ball handler change directions.
• Offensive players making sharp passes and aggressive drives, forcing the defense to make reads.

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Drill 6: Cage Escapes

Not only is this drill great for multiple efforts and game-like defensive rotations, it is very challenging for the offensive player. This drill is focused on full court pressure with a controlled but live situation. Even if you are not interested in full court pressing with your team, this drill builds transferable skills for half court defense as well. We add a full sprint to a shot contest without fouling at the end of this drill to give your team a great workout while building their defensive toolbelt.

Drill set up:

• One offensive player will be on the baseline with a ball.
• One defensive player will be guarding the ball handler in a full court press alignment.
• Another offensive player will be at the middle of half court, without a ball.
• Create a “cage” for the ball handler, the easiest is the lane line and the side line. The ball handler must stay inside those lines. Make the cage smaller for easier defense, larger for more difficult defense.

Drill execution:

• The ball handler will try to advance the ball past the defensive player, staying within the cage. The defender is trying to get a steal and make the ball handler change directions as many times as possible.
• Once the ball handler reaches half court with the ball, they will pass the ball to the other offensive player standing at the middle of half court.
• Once they pass the ball they will sprint as fast as they can to the three point line, try to gain as much separation from the defender as possible.
• The defender must touch the ball in the passers hands before the passer can throw the ball and before they can defend the shooter.
• After the defender touches the ball they will sprint to closeout and defender the shooter taking a three point shot.
• Coaches can add variations to the drill (no shot fakes for the shooter, passer at half court must throw an off hand pass, etc.)
• Rotate spots and roles after each rep.

Drill focus areas:

• Ball handler defender turning the ball handler as many times as possible, not allowing a direct line to half court.
• Quick, multiple efforts for the defender from guarding the dribble to closing out to a shooter.
• The ball handler is working on dribbling under pressure and not turning their back to the defender.
• Passer is throwing sharp and direct passes to the shooter, similar to an advance pass in transition.

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Drill 7: Predator Chase Downs

Drill set up:

• One offensive player will be standing on a wing, ready to receive a pass.
• Another offensive player will be on the opposite slot, ready to sprint into a dribble hand off with the wing offensive player.
• The defender will be on the opposite wing, standing five to 10 feet behind the offensive slot player who will sprint into a dribble hand off. The defender starts with the ball.

Drill execution:

• Whenever the defender decides to start the drill, they will throw the ball from one wing to the offensive player on the opposite wing.
• Once the defender throws the ball, the offensive player standing five to ten feet in front of the defender will sprint after the ball and get a hand off from the other offensive player.
• The defender, like a predator hunting an animal, will chase down the offensive player and try to prevent them from scoring.
• The offensive players are now playing 2v1 against the defensive player.
• Coaches can add many different variations to the drill (offense must shoot a 3, defender can’t go over or under hand off, etc.)
• Rotate spots and roles after each rep, play to a certain number of defensive stops.

Drill focus areas:

• Sprinting into closeouts under control
• Anticipating the offensive movement and actions (go over or under hand off)
• Navigating over or under the hand off and back to the offensive players body
• Offensive players are reading the defense and making the appropriate hand off read. If the defender goes under, shoot or rescreen. If the defender goes over, drive to the basket.

The bottom line on the best basketball defense drills to improve your game

I believe decision-making and game-like repetitions are the best foundation for drills and practices. We want most drills to incorporate players being in uncomfortable situations, so when they reach the game, they are familiar with that uncomfortability. Of course, you can not go from zero to 100 in seconds. The Level of the Ball and the Gap Stabs drills are great examples of basketball defensive drills to lead your team into the more challenging and game-like drills listed in this article. Push your team to compete, communicate, and have fun!

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