This web page contains brief explanations of various defensive topics within the game of basketball.
Additionally, each topic includes a link to another separate web page that contains more information about that subject.
1-1-2-1 press defense: Basketball strategy that emphasizes defensive pressure as well as traps near the corners, ultimately to create turnovers or at minimum, to disrupt offensive scoring opportunities near the basket or near perimeter areas of the court.
1-1-3 press defense: Basketball defensive strategy that uses on-ball pressure and sideline traps to disrupt offensive flow, which in turn, limits scoring opportunities and generates turnovers.
1-1-3 zone defense: Basketball strategy that seeks to prevent high quality scoring opportunities of the offensive team, especially near the basket, primarily by using certain on-ball or off-ball defensive actions.
1-2-1-1 press defense: 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.
1-2-2 press defense: Basketball defensive strategy that features sideline traps, particularly in the backcourt or frontcourt, which in turn, could limit offensive scoring opportunities.
1-2-2 zone defense: Basketball defensive strategy that seeks to limit low post scoring opportunities, restrict dribble penetration, and influence inferior perimeter shot selection while executing on-ball pressure, particularly near the perimeter.
1-3-1 press defense: Basketball defensive strategy that utilizes on-ball pressure and implements traps near the sidelines in the frontcourt to limit or prevent offensive scoring opportunities.
1-3-1 zone defense: Basketball defensive strategy which seeks to disrupt offensive scoring opportunities by influencing contested perimeter jump shots and limiting dribble penetration, while executing solid on-ball defense.
2-1-2 press defense: Basketball defensive strategy that implements traps near the sidelines to disrupt the scoring effectiveness of the offensive team with the additional possibility of creating turnovers.
2-1-2 zone defense: Basketball defensive strategy that seeks to limit dribble penetration, influence contested perimeter jump shots, and reduce offensive scoring opportunities, particularly from the low post areas, while executing adequate on-ball defense.
2-2-1 press defense: Basketball strategy that seeks to limit offensive scoring opportunities with the possibility of creating turnovers by way of a potential trap.
2-3 zone defense: Basketball defensive strategy that seeks to limit dribble penetration, influence contested perimeter jump shots, and decrease offensive scoring opportunities, particularly from the low post areas, while executing adequate on-ball defense.
3-2 zone defense: Basketball defensive strategy which emphasizes the prevention of low post scoring opportunities while restricting dribble penetration with adequate on-ball defense and influencing poor shot selection, particularly from the perimeter.
Amoeba defense: Basketball defensive strategy which seeks to limit scoring opportunities for the offensive team by implementing on-ball pressure as well as sideline traps while preventing dribble penetration from the perimeter and restricting entry passes into the high or low post areas.
Ball line defense — Basketball defensive strategy that implements on-ball defensive pressure and off-ball help defense principles to limit scoring opportunities near the basket while influencing contested perimeter jump shots.
Basketball defense: Foundational component within the game of basketball with its main emphasis being to use a combination of various defensive types, concepts, strategies, and tactics to stop an opponent from scoring points near the basket or from the perimeter.
Box and 1 defense: Basketball strategy as well as a type of junk defense that utilizes a combination of man to man and zone defense principles to limit an opponent’s potential scoring opportunities.
Combination defense: Basketball defensive system that incorporates and utilizes components of man to man defense, zone defense, and/or additional defensive tactics to ultimately limit or prevent offensive scoring opportunities.
Diamond and 1 defense: Basketball defensive strategy which seeks to limit scoring opportunities, particularly for the opposing team’s best player, by implementing a combination of man to man and zone defense principles.
Havoc press defense: Basketball defensive strategy and a variation of the 1-2-1-1 press that emphasizes backcourt ball pressure and traps near the sidelines and/or corners to disrupt offensive scoring opportunities.
Junk defense: Unique type of basketball defensive system which integrates certain elements of man to man defense alongside certain elements of zone defense to limit or prevent scoring opportunities of the offensive team.
Man to man defense: Basketball defensive system in which each defender guards a certain offensive player to ultimately limit or prevent scoring opportunities near the basket or from the perimeter.
Pack line defense: Basketball defensive strategy as well as a variation of man to man defense that implements on-ball defensive pressure and off-ball actions in which defenders will either sag into the pack line or deny passing lanes to limit or prevent offensive scoring opportunities.
Pick and roll defense: Basketball actions or tactics that seek to mitigate or totally eliminate the effects of the on-ball screen and the subsequent roll that would be implemented by an offensive team.
Point zone defense: Basketball defensive strategy that primarily seeks to prevent dribble penetration, hinder low post touches, and influence contested jump shots to ultimately disrupt offensive scoring opportunities near the basket or near the perimeter areas of the court.
Run and jump defense: Basketball defensive strategy that utilizes man to man principles, defensive sideline traps, and the defensive switch tactic to disrupt offensive flow which could result in potential turnovers or limited scoring opportunities near the basket or near the perimeter.
Transition defense: Basketball defensive strategy in which a team will swiftly convert from offense to defense in an effort to counter and disrupt an opposing team’s potential transition offensive scoring opportunities near the basket or near the perimeter areas of the court.
Trap defense: Basketball defensive tactic in which two defenders will effectively double team an offensive player with the ball, typically near a sideline and/or corner of the court.
Triangle and 2 defense: Basketball defensive strategy and a type of junk defense which seeks to limit scoring opportunities, primarily for the opposing team’s two best perimeter players, by implementing a combination of man to man and zone defense concepts.
Zone defense: Type of basketball defense in which each defender guards a certain area on the court and by extension, any offensive player that enters into that zone defender’s respective area.