What does it mean to steal the basketball
A steal occurs when a defensive player causes an offensive player to lose possession of the basketball, primarily by legally taking it away from the offensive player, intercepting the offensive player’s pass, or deflecting the offensive player’s pass or dribble.
Furthermore, after a steal happens, particularly as it relates to basketball statistics, the defender that took, deflected, or intercepted the ball would be credited with a steal while the offensive player that lost possession of the ball would be credited with a turnover.
What is the primary benefit in terms of stealing the basketball
The primary benefit of stealing the basketball is more offensive possessions for the player and/or team that stole the ball, which could then lead to more potential points.
This can also be very favorable for teams that only have average or less than average scorers/perimeter shooters.
Essentially, teams with those types of players could effectively steal the ball and generate their points by way of the traditional fast break and/or other transition offense actions.
What are potential drawbacks of stealing the basketball
Risky
One of the major drawbacks of stealing the basketball is that it can be very risky and potentially unsafe, particularly for the defensive player attempting the steal and for the other defenders on the court.
Basically, if a defender goes for a steal but is unsuccessful during the attempt, then this would result in that player being out of their defensive stance as it relates to on-ball defense or out of their help position as it relates to off-ball defense.
From there, if other defenders do not rotate to cover for their defending teammate that went for the steal, then an offensive player with or without the ball would be open, at least temporarily.
Once that occurs, if the offensive player was in possession of the ball, then that same player could have an opportunity to take a high quality shot, which would be detrimental for the defense.
Additionally, if the offensive player was not in possession of the ball (as in the case of an off-ball weak side steal attempt), then the same player could possibly receive the ball and be open for a high quality scoring opportunity near the basket or near the perimeter areas of the court, which would also be devastating for the defense.
Even if other defenders rotate to cover for the stealing teammate, an offensive player would still be open for a moment.
So, the defender that went for the steal would have to quickly locate and switch to that open offensive player immediately before that same player would be able to receive the ball and score quickly.
Nevertheless, in either scenario, failed steal attempts could potentially lead to defensive breakdowns, which, in turn, could lead to offensive scoring opportunities.
More possible fouls
Going for steals could potentially lead to more fouls being called, especially if the defender is on the ball and is too aggressive in terms of reaching in with their hands.
This could be problematic, particularly if the defender being called for the fouls is one of the team’s best players.
Essentially, if a defender gets in early foul trouble due to unnecessary or undesirable steal attempts and at the same time, the team does not have an adequate bench player to substitute in the game, then this could hurt the team in reference to offensive scoring or playmaking and/or as it relates to utilizing pressure defense to limit the capabilities of the opposing team.
What are the times when an on-ball defender could attempt a steal
While the offensive player is dribbling
The on-ball defender could possibly attempt a steal while the offensive player is dribbling the basketball.
Even more specifically, the on-ball defender could try to take the ball when the offensive player is not protecting the ball and keeping it away from the defender.
For example, if the offensive player receives on-ball pressure but that same player does not shield the ball away from the defender, then the defender could have an opportunity to knock the ball away while the offensive player is dribbling it.
However, it is important to note that the on-ball defender should not reach in too aggressively as that could lead to unnecessary fouls as stated earlier.
It should also be mentioned that in certain instances, an off-ball defender could also step towards an offensive player in possession of the ball and then take it from that same player.
Related: Steal, credited to defender who takes ball away from opponent – NBA Video Rulebook
While the offensive player is holding the ball
The on-ball defender could attempt to steal the ball while the offensive player is holding it without dribbling, particularly via the triple threat position.
The on-ball defender could basically extend defensive pressure towards the offensive player in possession of the ball and snatch it from that same player’s hands without fouling.
This could happen if the offensive player does not protect the basketball and does not possess enough strength to hold on to it to prevent the defender from taking it.
It is also noteworthy to mention that a similar scenario to this could occur when an offensive player falls into a defensive trap and picks up their dribble.
Essentially, one of the two defenders that are trapping the ball could try to take it before the offensive player is able to relieve the trap’s pressure by passing it to another teammate.
While the offensive player is trying to pass the ball
The on-ball defender could attempt to steal the ball while the offensive player is trying to pass it.
This would typically happen when the offensive player telegraphs the pass and the on-ball defender is able to mirror the offensive player’s hand movement to deflect or intercept the pass.
What are methods of stealing the ball for an off-ball defender
Strong side interception
The off-ball defender could potentially steal the ball by way of an interception on the strong side of the court.
Basically, the off-ball defender would typically jump into the passing lane when the offensive player releases the ball and attempts to throw it to an adjacent teammate.
However, it should be noted that an off-ball defender should generally avoid going for steals on the strong side, especially if the team’s defensive strategy is man to man defense.
The primary reason is that the offensive player being guarded by the off-ball defender would usually be only one pass away from their respective teammate.
What this essentially means is that if the off-ball defender misses the ball during the steal attempt, then they would be out of proper defensive position.
This, in turn, then allows the off-ball defender’s assignment to easily receive the ball and possibly score via a layup or jump shot.
As an example of this, let’s say that an offensive player has possession of the ball near the right side wing and that same player would like to pass it to a teammate in the adjacent right slot area.
From there, if the off-ball defender guarding the player in the right slot area goes for the steal but misses the attempt, then the right slot offensive player could cut in front of the off-ball defender, receive the ball only one pass away, and then take a jump shot or even continue cutting to the basket, which could lead to a layup at the rim.
Nevertheless, it should mentioned that in some instances, going for strong side steals might be feasible for certain defensive schemes.
For example, the Amoeba defense encourages attempting to steal the ball on the strong side, particularly between the strong side wing and slot or between the strong side wing and corner.
Weak side interception
The off-ball defender could possibly steal the ball by way of an interception on the weak side by initially watching the offensive action as a help defender.
Afterwards, the off-ball defender could anticipate where the offensive player in possession of the ball would throw a pass, leave their current help area, and then jump into the passing lane to intercept it.
The weak side interception attempt is usually a more safer option than its strong side counterpart.
Nonetheless, there is still a certain amount of risk involved because once again, if the off-ball defender has an unsuccessful steal attempt, then that player would be out of proper defensive position.
That could then lead to the offensive team having an easier chance of scoring points, especially if other defensive players do not rotate to new areas of the court while the off-ball defender that went for the steal switches to a new assignment.
Inbound pass interception
The off-ball defender could potentially steal the ball as an inbound pass interception.
This could happen either after a made basket by the opposing team or as the opposing team executes a sideline out of bounds play or baseline out of bounds play.
In terms of a potential inbound pass interception after a made basket, this could work sometimes because the offensive player that would be executing the inbound pass and even the offensive player that would be receiving the ball via the inbound pass simply would not expect it.
In other words, the offensive passer and offensive receiver would not survey the court and therefore, would not see the off-ball defender behind them.
When that occurs, the off-ball defender could then take advantage of that error by jumping in the passing lane to steal the throw-in.
It should also be noted that as it relates to risk, this is probably the safest method of stealing the ball for an off-ball defender because it would happen in the offensive team’s backcourt.
So, if the off-ball defender misses the steal attempt, then there would more than likely be enough time for that same defender to get back in front of the ball, particularly with a full sprint if necessary.
Moreover, even if the defender fails to sprint back in front of the ball but other defenders are already in the offensive team’s frontcourt, then defensive rotations and/or switch defense would be viable options that would be easier to execute against the offensive team.
Conversely, in terms of sideline or baseline out of bounds plays, the off-ball defender could simply read the play, especially if the defensive team was able to properly scout it, and then jump into the passing lane to steal the ball.
Off-ball deflection
The off-ball defender could potentially steal the ball by way of a deflection in some instances as well.
What may occur in this situation is that an off-ball defender could move towards or be near an offensive player that would receive the ball but not necessarily jump in the passing lane to intercept it.
Instead, the off-ball defender would simply deflect the ball and then that same defender or perhaps, another defender would have an opportunity to grab the ball before members of the offensive team could do so.
From there, the defender that deflected the ball would be credited with a steal and the offensive player that lost possession of the ball would be credited with a turnover.
Related: Steal, credited to defender who deflects the ball away from opponent – NBA Video Rulebook