Things You'll Need:
- A basketball
- A basket
- An opponent
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Step 1
Assume a good stance. The default starting defensive stance in basketball is to stand on the balls of your feet, feet shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent, palms extended toward the defender, back straight, directly in front of your offensive counterpart. While everyone who is new to basketball should learn this stance, as it is the best all-around starting neutral stance for defense, it isn't always the most effective stance you can use. When facing a quicker player with a strong tendency to drive, face up slightly off to one side, with your inside foot slightly behind your outside foot. For example, if you are off to the right, your left foot should be back. Ceding more space to your left will cause the driving player to want to drive to your left, since they perceive that there is more space in that direction. This can easily be anticipated since you were the one who caused him to drive that way. Also, having your left foot back will allow you to pivot and stay with the attacker much more quickly than if your feet were set traditionally.
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Step 2
Know your opponent. The biggest thing to determine is whether or not you have to respect your opponent's long range shots. Leaving your opponent more open for long range shots means you will be able to protect the rim much better, so unless your opponent demonstrates a consistent long range attack it's better to play off the shot and guard the rim. In a game to eleven where a basket is worth one point, don't crowd your opponent on the perimeter until he scores at least twice from long range. Another important thing to know is how good at handling the ball your opponent is. If your opponent tends to be clumsy or careless with the ball (regardless of speed), crowding him will result in wild play and turnovers. If she has quick consistent moves, sag back so you can recover better when they try to get by you with a change in direction. Remember that it's always better to err on the side of protecting the rim.
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Step 3
Contest shots. This may sound obvious, but many defenders seem to think that they only did their job if they come up with a block or a steal. If your opponent takes a shot and misses, you have defended him successfully. If you know you can't get the block or the steal, don't foul trying to get one. Just the presence of your hands in the same space as someone trying to shoot the ball will be enough to make him change his shot, often resulting in a miss. Along the same lines, don't over-pursue on the perimeter, especially against quicker players. This will lead to penetration and a breakdown of your, or your team's, defense.
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Step 4
Be aggressive when it counts. In certain situations it pays to overextend on defense, basically to go for the steal no matter what the cost. When guarding a much slower player on the perimeter, it's a good idea to do this as it will take the ball out of his hands either with a pass or a turnover. The same is true when guarding a player prone to ball handling mistakes. You should also go all out for the steal when a good opportunity for a double team presents itself. Many times this will happen in transition or on a pick.
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Step 5
Change tactics. If you use the same defensive moves and sets play after play, your opponent will start to figure out what to expect from you and will gain confidence in his offense. It's a good idea to pursue aggressively once every four or five possessions. Even if you never come up with a steal, even if your defender slips past you once or twice, he will always be wondering what you are going to do next. This will make him hesitant. Change the direction you choose to funnel a driving player every few possessions (see step one). Also, head fakes and jabs aren't just for attackers. Faking a lung towards the ball will often put an attacker off balance for a few seconds, and may result in a mistake.
