In Pack Line defense, the ability to go “on-to-off” (and back on again) on airtime is vital to protecting the paint and contesting shots. Moving on airtime of the pass is vital to any defense. There is no scenario in which the ball moves and a defender does not. In Pack Line defense teammates must…
Pack Line Playbook: Lock And Trail
Pack Line Playbook: Defending single and double down screens within the Pack Line Defense using the “Lock and Trail” technique. The Pack Line style of defense features some unwaivering absolutes. There are specific rules and techniques that change little from game-to-game or opponent-to-opponent.The mindset is to do a few things and do them well. We will…
Man-to-Man Defense – 2 Essential Questions
Successful team defense comes in many styles and philosophies and each is built upon a set of core values or beliefs. Usually, these philosophies have been molded or shaped by our own experiences as a player or coach. Whether you play pack line, pressure, switch or deny, it is my goal in this series to…
Pack Line Pointers – Splits And Rips
Using splits and rip cuts can be an effective way to exploit the post defense teaching points of Pack Line man-to-man defenses. Pack Line defenses treat entries into the post box (see diagram below) as a defensive disaster. The immediate response is to get the ball out of the post. They accomplish this using two…
Pack Line Pointers – Skips And Relays
Using skip and “relay” passes can be an effective way to exploit the helping nature of Pack Line man-to-man defenses. Pack Line defenses are all about helping early and building a wall around the paint. This can be troublesome for teams who are overly reliant on dribble penetration to create offense. While the Pack Line’s…
Pack Line Pointers
First in a series of pointers to help coaches find offense against the increasingly popular Pack Line style of man-to-man defense. The Pack Line Defense is all the rage at many levels of play. For several teams, facing a well-schooled Pack Line opponent can feel like a trip to the dentist. The defense can congest driving lanes and…