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How
to become a great post defender and shot blocker
Keep the
offensive player away from the basket
One of the key ways to making a name for yourself on the defensive end
is to keep the offensive player away from the basket. Most offensive post
players want to be as close to the block as possible (it makes sense:
the block is the closest spot to the basket). If you keep them further
away from the basket, you'll lower their shooting percentage.
Your job
as a defender is to not let them post up where they want to post up on
the floor. Position yourself on the block so that when the offensive runs
down the court and tries to establish this position, you're already there.
You can also move the offensive player further away from the block (and
the basket) by inching them out, using your legs and hips. Either way,
keep them further away from the basket and you'll make things more difficult
for them.
Keep the
offensive player out of their favorite spot on the floor
This is a very effective defensive tip: keep the offensive player out
of their favorite spot on the floor. If they like shooting 10 foot jump
shots from the baseline, do what you can to not let them catch the ball
in this spot. If they like catching the ball on the left hand side of
the court, deny them the ball on this side of the floor, and make them
catch it on the right hand side of the court.
Know what
your opponent likes to do, and then take that away from them. You'll be
amazed at how effective this will be at making you a better defender.
Block out
on every shot
Your job as a defender does not stop until your team gets possession of
the basketball. So one of your most important jobs as a defender is to
block our on every single shot and to not let the player you are guarding
get the rebound.
It's not
enough just to work hard on guarding your man, denying him good position,
or pressuring the shot. You have to block your man out, every time, and
make sure you or a teammate gets the defensive rebound.
Don't go
for pump fakes
As an inside player, your job is to contest shots. Make sure you do contest
shots inside, but also make sure that you don't get in the habit of jumping
to block a shot everytime someone comes into the lane and gives a pump
fake.
Stay on your
feet until you see your opponent leave theirs, then go up and contest
the shot. One great way to get into foul trouble is to jump and try to
block every shot you see. Don't let this happen to you. Wait until you
see you ropponent leave their feet, then get a hand up and contest the
shot.
How to become a great shot blocker
Shot blocking is an art. You have to learn the game, have great anticipation
and court sense, and then have great timing to make the block. But here
are a few secrets to becming a great shot blocker.
- Anticipate:
you don't always know when an opponent is going to take a shot, but great
shot blockers anticipate when they need to jump, and time it just right
so they catch the shot in the air.
- Timing is everything: once you decide to go for the block, time it so
you catch the ball after it leaves the shooter's hand. This is the point
when it is closest to the ground, and if you catch the shot early, you
most likley won't get called for goal tending the shot.
- Block the shot of a player your teammate is guarding: it's one thing
to block the shot of the man you are guarding, but many blocks come from
help-side defense, where you block the shot of a player one of your teammates
is guarding. Anticipating and timing on these types of blocked shots is
especially important.
- Block the
shot so it stays inbounds: there's nothing like throwing a shot out of
bounds or into the stands. But guess what? The other team will get the
ball back. Great shot blockers block shots so they stay in-bounds, and
so their team has a chance of grabbing the ball and going the other way
with it.

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