What is the 1-2-1-1 press defense in basketball
The 1-2-1-1 press defense, also known as the diamond press, is a basketball defensive strategy that features full court pressure and sideline traps, particularly in the backcourt, which could lead to limited scoring opportunities as well as possible turnovers for the offensive team.
What is an example of the initial formation for the 1-2-1-1 press defense
This is an example of the initial formation for the 1-2-1-1 press defense. X4 starts near the backcourt basket inside of the painted area. X3 and X2 start near the wing areas adjacent to the three-point line.
X1 starts near the half court line just below the center circle. Lastly, X5 starts near the high post area on the opposite side of the floor in the frontcourt.
It should also be noted that the four backcourt defenders create a diamond alignment, hence the alternative name known as the diamond press.
What are the general responsibilities of the defenders within the 1-2-1-1 press defense
The responsibilities of X4 are to influence the player with the ball towards the sideline and set defensive traps after that. The responsibilities of X2 and X3 are to trap the ball near the sideline or intercept any passes towards the middle of the press.
The responsibilities of X1 are to cover the middle area or intercept any passes towards the frontcourt near the sideline. The responsibilities of X5 are to cover the back of the press in the frontcourt or drop down to protect the basket if necessary.
What is an advantage of the 1-2-1-1 press defense
One particular advantage of the 1-2-1-1 press defense is that it could be beneficial for teams that have speed, quickness, great conditioning, but less than ideal individual offensive skill sets.
Essentially, if a team is not very good at shooting the basketball, especially from three-point range, and/or a team is average or below average at generating scoring opportunities via dribble drive action (e.g. slashing to the basket, primarily via dribble penetration), then that team could implement the 1-2-1-1 press to gain extra offensive possessions by way of defensive interceptions or other types of possible turnovers such as an inaccurate pass by the offensive team that goes out of bounds.
In other words, the team that executes the 1-2-1-1 press could use their defensive skills to compensate for their average or less than average offensive talents. For example, if the defensive team is able to generate live-ball turnovers, primarily via interceptions, especially in the backcourt, then this could lead to quick and easy points near the basket via transition offense.
What is a disadvantage of the 1-2-1-1 press defense
One notable disadvantage of the 1-2-1-1 press defense is that there is only one defender in the back of the press to protect the basket. This basically means that if the offensive team is able to break the press, then the offensive team will most likely have a numbers advantage.
In simple terms, if the offensive team is able to get the ball into their frontcourt, essentially breaking the press, either via pass penetration into the middle area of the press or by another method to avoid/circumvent the defensive traps, then the offensive team would most likely have the opportunity to score near the basket via quick layups or from the mid-range/three-point line via open jump shots.
This scenario could occur because the defender in the back of the press would not be able to guard two or more offensive players if those players break the press in one way or another.
So, the 1-2-1-1 press defense could be thought of as a high risk, high reward defensive strategy. In other words, defensive teams that decide to implement this particular press have an opportunity to create scoring opportunities, particularly in the backcourt, by way of live-ball turnovers.
Yet, those same defensive teams could potentially get scored on multiple times if the offensive team possesses the basketball IQ to break the 1-2-1-1 press.
What are examples of the 1-2-1-1 press defense
Example 1
This is an example of the 1-2-1-1 press defense that demonstrates how the ball handler in the backcourt gets influenced towards the sideline.
To start, 1 receives the inbound pass from 4 and when that happens, X4 immediately brings defensive pressure while influencing 1 into dribbling towards the sideline, represented by the gray arrow.
As that happens, X3 steps up to provide more defensive pressure alongside X4.
Example 2
This is an example of the 1-2-1-1 press defense that showcases the primary trap near the sideline in the backcourt. To begin, X3 and X4 set the trap and as that occurs, X2 cuts over to the middle area near the high post area.
This allows X2 to intercept a potential pass towards the middle of the press. Furthermore, at the same time, X1 slides over a few feet to split the difference between offensive players 2 and 3. This also allows X1 to get an interception if 3 were to receive the ball from 1.
In the frontcourt, X5 stays in position near the high post area. Additionally, as an alternative option, it is possible to play even more aggressively in the frontcourt by allowing X5 to move up above the three-point line as another possible interceptor.
However, it should be noted that the other defenders would most likely not be able to get back in time to protect the basket from this vantage point if X5 misses the interception opportunity.
Example 3
This is an example of the 1-2-1-1 press defense that demonstrates an interception when a pass gets thrown towards the middle area. To begin, 1 gets trapped by X3 and X4 so 2 is the recipient of the pass from 1. However, X2 steps into the passing lane and intercepts the pass producing a live-ball turnover.
Example 4
This is an example of the 1-2-1-1 press defense that demonstrates an interception when a pass gets thrown towards the frontcourt near the sideline.
To start, 1 gets trapped by X3 and X4 so 3 is the recipient of the pass from 1. However, X1 steps into the passing lane to get an interception, which also produces a live-ball turnover.
Example 5
This is an example of the 1-2-1-1 press defense that showcases what could happen if there is a missed interception opportunity near the middle area of the press. If that occurred, then the offensive team was able to break the press.
However, X1 should immediately slide back towards the middle area to stop the ball while the other defenders scramble to find adjacent offensive players to guard against, represented by the gray arrows.
Additionally, after the offensive team breaks the press, the defenders could sprint into the frontcourt to set up a zone defense, as an alternative option.
Example 6
This is an example of the 1-2-1-1 press defense that demonstrates what could happen if a pass gets thrown towards the frontcourt near the sideline but there is a missed interception. If that occurred, then the offensive team was able to break the press.
Unfortunately, this time, most of the defenders are not in a position to properly scramble as they are behind the ball.
So, the most effective option is for X5 to immediately drop back to protect the basket because the offensive team has a numbers advantage, particularly between offensive players 3 and 5.
Example 7
This is an example of the 1-2-1-1 press defense that showcases ball movement from one side to the other in the backcourt during the initial trap action. To start, 1 gets trapped but decides to pass the basketball to 4.
If that happens, X2 could stunt at the ball while X4 recovers to player 4 who would most likely dribble back towards the key near the basket. Afterwards, X2 could cut back to the right side wing area while X1 cuts back toward the middle near the half court line.
What are comparable defensive strategies in relation to the 1-2-1-1 press
The 1-1-2-1 press defense is a full court press that makes use of sideline traps to potentially create turnovers. This particular press utilizes pressure in the backcourt and afterwards, defensive players set the sideline traps in the frontcourt, typically near the half court area.
The 1-1-3 press defense is a full court press that makes use of sideline traps to potentially create turnovers. This particular press starts off very aggressive as the three defenders in the back of the press are pushed up towards the half court line with little to no initial rim protection.
The 1-3-1 press defense is a type of basketball defensive strategy that implements traps near the sidelines, which in turn, could limit offensive scoring opportunities. A unique attribute of this press is that it begins with only one defender in the backcourt while the other defenders typically remain in the backcourt.
The 1-2-2 press defense features sideline traps, particularly in the backcourt as well as the frontcourt, which could then limit scoring opportunities or create potential turnovers. It could also be considered a low risk, high reward type of press as the primary focus is typically on ball containment and the disruption of the offensive flow unlike other more aggressive types of press defenses.
The 2-2-1 press is another full court press defense that features frontcourt and backcourt sideline traps. This particular press could be good against teams that have average or less than average basketball IQ.
The havoc press is a variation of the 1-2-1-1 press and it was popularized by Coach Shaka Smart, particularly during his time as the head coach of the VCU Rams men’s basketball team.