How to Improve Your Team’s Help Defense
Everything starts with proper footwork.
A defender must react quickly and correctly. The goal is to attack the path of the ball while staying in a low stance with bent knees, positioned about one step away from the passing lane.
Take one strong step toward the ball handler.
If the defender is on the weak side, two or three passes away from the ball, that generally means being positioned two or three large steps away from the offensive player being guarded.
Proper technique also means keeping the foot closest to the ball slightly forward, with the ball-side shoulder and arm in an active position. This can make the passer less comfortable and more hesitant.
Never turn both shoulders completely toward the help position.
If you do, it becomes much more difficult to recover to your own player.
While helping, always remember that you still need to be able to recover.
Develop the mindset:
“I will help, but I will never give up my own player.”
This is one of the most important principles of good team defense.
Otherwise, the defense can quickly find itself in a 5-on-4 disadvantage — which is exactly what dribble penetration is trying to create.
Help across, not upward.
As Dick DeVenzio emphasized, proper help defense requires intelligent positioning. However, if you are guarding a smart offensive player, he may immediately relocate and move behind you the moment you leave to help.
Use your head, not your hands, to stop penetration.
If you can get your body between the drive and the basket early enough, you can force the ball handler to stop or pass.
At the same time, this keeps you in a much better position to recover to your own player.