NBA How To: Defending In Transition
When run correctly, a fast break is really tough to defend in the NBA. Even the teams who are the best at stopping the break allow more than 1 point per possession on fast break opportunities, according to Synergy (The Miami Heat were the best team at stopping the break, and they allowed 1.05 PPP on 51.5% shooting over 1050 possessions). The fact that the fast break is so difficult to stop is what makes it so important. If you can get a stop in transition, not only are you taking an almost guaranteed two points off the board, but you are killing a team’s momentum (If you are on the road, you immediately take the home crowd out of the game as well). There are a couple of different ways that you can stop the fast break, but it starts with fundamentals:
Getting Back Into The Paint
The one thing you are taught when in high school or college is that to stop the fast break, you must first put your head down and book it to the paint and then turn and face the oncoming offense. When you run back to the paint, you are going to beat the basketball there more often than not, and getting in front of the basketball gives you a better chance of stopping the basketball:
The Orlando Magic are ranked 4th in defensive points per possession (according to Synergy), and that is due to the fact they all run to the paint when getting back on defense. In the play above, J.J. Redick doesn’t even look towards the basketball as he gets back on defense, he just runs to the lane, turns around, and then locates the basketball. Because he beat the basketball to the lane, he is able to square up the play, wait, and take the charge.
Let The Defense Make A Decision
This fundamental is especially important when trying to stop a fast break all by yourself in either 2 on 1 or 3 on 1 fast break situations:
In the above clip, Mario Chalmers finds himself trying to defend a 2 on 1 fast break on his own. Instead of attacking the basketball as it comes, Chalmers gets to the middle of both offensive players and backpedals. He waits until D.J. Augustin picks up his dribble and passes before he breaks to where the pass is going and makes the steal. Look at where Chalmers is positioned right before the turnover:
If Chalmers attacks the ball handler, he opens up a passing lane and effectively gives up a lay-up. If he goes to the man streaking down the side, he allows for Augustin easily drive to the lane. Playing the middle and reacting gives the defensive player the best chance when trying to stop a fast break.
It’s Team Effort
Stopping The Delayed Break
The Miami Heat were very good at stopping the delayed break (situations where teams try to push it even though the defense has multiple defenders back), and they are because they trust one another. Stopping breaks when you know you have other defenders getting back with you is a little different than those 2 on 1 situations we talked about above. In these cases, you want to force the offense into making passes because you know you have someone behind you looking to steal that pass:
Here, the Nets get a steal and try to push it even though all five Miami Heat defenders are back on defense. As Devin Harris brings the ball up, you see two Heat defenders stop and attack the ball, forcing a pass. They do so knowing that they have other defenders sitting back, waiting to get the steal. In this case, it is Dwyane Wade knocking the basketball away.
Here is another play where the Heat pressure the ball handler (in this case Andre Iguodala), and they get another steal from Dwyane Wade as he trailed the play, hustling to get back.
LeBron’s Chasedown Blocks
LeBron’s Chasedown blocks have really become a phenomenon. Just about every team now tracks the stat, but LeBron is still probably the only one who gets the Chasedown Block on a daily basis. At first glance, these plays look like incredible individual efforts, however, when you rewatch the clips you can see there is more to it.
When you see LeBron get one of those big Chasedown blocks, you can almost guarantee that there is going be one of his teammates out in front of the basketball. In this case, it is Anthony Parker, and he is able to force Derrick Rose to double (maybe triple?) pump on his lay-up attempt, giving him enough time to get the block.
In addition to that, LeBron’s teammates seem to funnel the offensive player to the side of the rim LeBron is on, making it easier to get the block. In the video above, Chris Douglas-Roberts gets the basketball as he streaks down the sideline. Anthony Parker gets in his way and forces him to take the ball to the front of the rim, rather than the side he is already on. This basically puts the basketball on a tee for LeBron, and he swats it away. If Anthony Parker isn’t there, that probably ends up being a dunk, rather than a block.
Here is another example. O.J. Mayo gets the ball on the break, but instead of attempting the lay-up on the left side, the defense is back forcing Mayo to attempt a reverse. LeBron is there, ready to smack the ball off the the backboard.
