SOCIALIZE
Rusty LaRue
  • More than 94’
  • Profile

Leader of the Pack

4/5/2014

 
Having a defensive scheme that helps prevent penetration and take away easy shots is paramount to success in basketball. Teams have been successful using all types of defense. Florida is an aggressive pressure man to man team while Syracuse runs a 2-3 zone (really more of a 2-2-1 zone but that is another topic all together.) Another style of defense gaining popularity is "The Pack" or "Pack Line" defense invented by Dick Bennett. Teams such as Virginia, Arizona, Wisconsin and others played the pack with great success this season and are consistently nationally ranked in defensive efficiency.

The Pack Line defense is predicated on defenders being in gaps to prevent penetration as opposed to in passing lanes denying passes. The name Pack Line is used because there is an imaginary line roughly 2 feet inside the 3-point arc which is a help defenders guide for his position. If your man does not have the ball, you should be inside the pack line in help position. While most defensive schemes tend to force baseline, the pack pushes the ball back to the middle of the court where your teammate should be in the gap to help.

Of course there are many nuances and details of the defense which my simple description doesn't cover. If you are a coach or even just a fan, you can find a very good tutorial with more information online at coachesclipboard.net. In addition, as you watch the Final Four this weekend, pay attention to the difference between Florida's pressure defense and Wisconsin's pack line scheme.

Ted Mead
4/5/2014 08:43:50 am

Alright.. So you talked about how good it is, how about a perspective on how to beat it - shoot 3's;)?

Ted Mead
4/6/2014 01:01:11 am

Very impressive to see this posted right when Florida was putting the squeeze on UCONN! It was a visual manifestation of what you said! I would like to hear how you would attack these two defenses offensively - perhaps next blog post?


Comments are closed.

    Rusty LaRue

    Semi-random thoughts on life, leadership, and the game I love.

    Archives

    May 2020
    April 2019
    February 2018
    March 2017
    August 2015
    June 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    Categories

    All
    Analytics
    Basketball
    Christian
    Kenpom
    Leadership
    NBA
    NCAA
    Spiritual
    Statistics
    Wake Forest

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photo used under Creative Commons from Keith Allison