Chapter 7 - Pressure Zone Defense

A number of good zone pressure defenses are currently being used. Zone pressure has become more popular than man-for-man pressure in recent years. Of all pressing defenses we have personally observed during the past two seasons of play, man-for-man was used only twice. There are a number of sound reasons for this swing to zone pressure.

Nearly every basketball team has one good ball handler and dribbler. The one-on-one created by man-for-man pressing tactics offers the offensive player an advantage. He knows what he wants to do with the ball. If his teammates clear out and give him plenty of operating room, he can whip a very good defensive man.

Zone pressing tactics create better fast-break opportunities after ball possession has been gained. There are two, three, and often four men in position to break quickly and gain the jump on the team being pressed.

Zone pressure gives the team with one or two big, slow men an opportunity to be of value to the press. They will become re-bounders  and goalies. Man-for-man pressing tactics could not include such men because of the necessity for speed.

Zone pressure gives individual team members an opportunity to specialize. Defensive players develop special talents for different phases of the game, just as offensive players become more adept at certain skills. For instance, one boy will be the best at double teaming. Another will develop into the best ball hawk or interceptor. Another will become a specialist in diagnosing offensive play. If zone pressing tactics are used, each of these men will have an opportunity to exploit their special talents to the fullest advantage. Five small, fast men are not necessary to perform the zone press as is often true with the man-for-man press.

More organization is required of the zone press. Coaches have begun to use more offensive organization and they are eager to use their organizational ability on defense. Teams have developed special trademarks of defense, using various types of zone presses.

The history of sports is full of upsets. Upsets are created by unusual effort and a willingness to work together. This type of unity is epitomized by zone pressure defense. . . . Think of the greatest upsets you have witnessed and many of them were victories gained by the surprise of having to face a press. We have won two games in recent years after trailing by more than five points with two minutes to play. In each case the press won for us.

The press is a positive approach. If your team is definitely outclassed, it is your responsibility as the coach to do something. Obviously, you cannot go into the game and participate. One thing you can do is press. This is an example of doing something. A coach should never sit quietly and assume that he is outmanned and that defeat is sure when the opponent has stronger player’s. This same coach will surely lose games when he actually has stronger personnel. Therefore, pressing is positive. It is unifying. The players are enthusiastic about pressing. They feel in this way they can do something to offset the unequal balance of power. They feel they have a chance using these aggressive tactics to redeem an apparently lost game. They will have a good feeling even in defeat if they have given their all.

When should the press be used? Should we press only when we are behind? Should we press only when we are outmanned? It seems pretty apparent that there is no rule that can be used as the total answer. Here are some situations where the press might be utilized.

The press may work as a worthwhile surprise element early in the game. A quick press at the opening whistle for a few minutes might swing a lost cause to a victory. It might cause a superior opponent to tighten up and to begin making errors that continue even after you remove the press. This is especially true when defending the mechanical team that uses set plays.

The press is often effective when used during the last two minutes of the first half whether your team is ahead or behind in the score. In view of the fact that your team will be headed for the dressing room and a rest very shortly, they can put every ounce of energy into a fanatical defensive effort. So—the press is effective as a surprise tactic at the beginning or at the end of any period of play—for a short interval.

The most obvious time to press is late in the game when the opposition is ahead. I cannot think of a time when it is appropriate to play out a losing game until the final buzzer without attempting pressing tactics. This is a time for a team to pull together in a combined effort for the type of victory that breeds champions. A champion must be able to win (1) on the road, (2) with substitutes in the lineup, and, (3) when behind. Some teams are strictly front runners. That is, they play well as long as the score is in their favor, but when the score swings in favor of the opposition, they fall apart.

How long can the press be used? The answer to this will depend on the physical condition and ability of the team. Some teams are in such poor condition, they should never attempt to press. Other teams that achieve a high degree of stamina and physical condition should use the press in virtually every game for a goodly part of the game. Of course, an effective press for two or three minutes is much more valuable than a dogged half-effective press for twenty minutes. The press has been used successfully by some teams for the length of the entire game. It is doubtful whether a continuously winning ball club will ever need the press for more than a half.

In general, we might say it is time to begin thinking of the press any time your team falls behind by as much as 15 points.

Another general rule of thumb would be to employ the press any time your team is behind by as much as 10 points with 8 minutes to play. A sound rule is difficult to define. So many factors will determine the use of the press that use of a rule could become a negative factor.

Every effort should be made to make the press a surprise. The press may be put on by prearranged cues defined before the team takes the floor. It may be put on by prearranged signals from the bench. It may be put on by prearranged signals from the floor captain. It is imperative that all five men know precisely when and how they are to press. If one man fails to get the signal, the entire team effort will be lost.

Other than surprise, one of the best weapons the pressing team has at its disposal is the nervous system of the human body. This nervous system controls the skeletal framework, the muscular system, the circulatory system, the respiratory system—all of the physiological functions of the human being. Glands give off secretions that radically affect finely-drawn, delicately-balanced skills. The pressing team should make every effort to capitalize on this factor. They should yell, scream, fake, harass, talk, worry, annoy, and bully the opposition into such a state of frustration that they will be willing to give up the ball just so the turmoil will be ended.

Condition is a big factor in determining the success of a press. Pressing condition cannot be achieved by playing half-court basketball. It cannot be achieved by practicing the press once a week. Vigorous, strenuous, pressing drills should be used every day. One high school coach told me that his team uses the football field to practice the full court press. Of course, this work is done during the early fall when the weather is still mild. Bar bell training using the overload principle and track training using the over-distance technique were successful methods. Needless to say, this coach's team achieved the maximum physical stamina.

We will offer one type of zone press. The principles and system may well be utilized by any particular alignment of men you choose. The press explained and illustrated here will be the full and half court 1-2-2 zone press.

Let's take a look at the total floor space and get general perspective first.

There are certain areas more valuable for use by the pressing team than others. The side line and the corners provide the zone press with excellent double teaming opportunities. We have already shown these areas in the chapter dealing with man-for-man pressing tactics. One other factor enters into utilization of floor space when using the zone press: positioning of the referees. On every floor and in every league in the country, two officials are used. One leads the way down the right side line, turns the corner, and covers the area on the base line immediately under the goal. The other official is known as the trailer. He comes down the left side of the floor and, operating near the corner at center court, covering the area of play out front.

Fig. 87

This leaves a large portion of the front court area that neither official can cover fully. We are not advocating anything that is unsportsmanlike or anything that is unfair. However, if you had your choice of creating an aggressive double team situation right under the nose of either official or in the checkered area, illustrated in the diagram, which would you choose? Officials have an unwritten code they follow in calling fouls. They call only what they actually see. If an official is standing on top of a double team play, he can see more than if he is standing across the floor—a distance of 25 or 50 feet.

Let us say then that we are striving to gain a double team situation on the right side of the floor, preferably at or near the mid-court line.

To double team at the mid-court line takes advantage of the natural hesitancy many offensive players have when they reach that area.

Fig. 88

We are not going to strive for a jump ball situation. We will be happy to tie the ball up, but we would much prefer to make a pass interception. To do this, we must first halt the progress of the ball, gain a vigorous, aggressive double team situation, and have a fast interceptor in position to anticipate the pass of the man being double teamed.

 Fig. 89

Our initial setup looks more like a 1-2-1-1 rather than a 1-2-2.

Number 1 should be the fastest man on the squad. Size would also help since he will be involved in double teaming. He is the defensive chaser at all times. Number 2 is called the double teamer. He will be involved with number 1 in most of the double team situations. He needs to be fairly quick with good defensive arm movement. Number 3 is the interceptor. He plays in the most advantageous positions after a double team has been established. He should be a daring, aggressive individual who is keen on play analysis. Number 4 will eventually become a corner man. On this full-court initial setup, his job is to intercept long passes only. If the ball has progressed down-floor, number 4 will retreat into the right side of the key in order to cover the right corner area.

Fig. 90

Number 5 is the goalie. He sets up in front of the basket on the initial setup. He shouldn't get so close to the goal that he is wasted. He flexes backward to cover the left corner if the offense successfully gets the ball into the front court area. He will cover the left side of the goal and the left corner, according to the movement of the ball.

The zone press starts before the offense throws the ball inbounds. Number 1 guides the ball into the right side of the floor if at all possible. Number 2 and 3 will help him somewhat with this objective by overplaying and showing the ball handler a receiver inbounds on the right side.

Fig. 91

If the ball is passed into the right side, the first objective has been reached and the 1-2-2 zone press can swing into action. Number 2 must cut off the attempted drive of the inbounds receiver. He should guide the dribbler toward the right side line and halt his progress as soon as possible. It would be ideal if this progress were halted near the mid-court line. While number 2 is stopping the dribbler, number 1 is in pursuit (See Fig. 92).

During number l's chase, he wants to close the gap toward the middle of the floor so that the dribbler cannot escape in that direction from number 2. Number 3 observes the chasing and double teaming action very closely. He tries to determine who the ball handler will select as his receiver. When he has reached this decision, he tries to station himself in such a manner that he can intercept the pass. While establishing his position from which to intercept, number 3 should use fakes with the body, hands, and arms. If he feels sure he knows where the pass is going, he should watch that receiver with split vision rather than letting the ball handler know he is aware of the receiver's position. Number 4 starts his movement toward a corner position, but halts when he is not quite halfway there. He will turn around and close the receiving area down the side line to his left with use of head fakes and body movement.

Fig. 92

Fig. 93

He should make it obvious to the ball handler that he will intercept anything thrown in the darkened area indicated in the diagram.

Fig. 94

It appears that number 5, our goalie, is doing a good deal of gambling. Actually, he should watch the goal with his primary vision and the darkened area with his peripheral vision. He should not leave his deep position until he is sure the double team situation has been achieved. He should not leave his deep position if there is an offensive man on the base line or in the corner covered by number 4. He should not leave his free throw line position unless the pass is thrown high and slow.

If number 5 or number 4 moves for the long pass interception, the goal will be immediately covered by the one not involved (See Fig. 95).

Ideally, the interception would be made by number 3 at or near the middle of the floor. He should be breaking as he intercepts and a quick fast break initiated with the cooperation of numbers 1 or 2. Because of player positioning on the floor it would be difficult to achieve a three-lane break.   Number 4 will fill the right lane as fast, and, as soon as he is sure number 3 has the ball. He will get there in time occasionally. Number 2 or number 1, whichever is not involved in the break, will move in as a trailer. Number 5 is a safety man in case the ball is intercepted or lost. His job is to protect the goal if such an event occurs. If the fast break two-on-one or three-on-one is not achieved and the pressing team moves into its regular offense, number 5 will move on down court.
 
Let's look at the press on a half-court basis assuming the offensive team has been successful in moving the ball into their front-court area.
 
Our defense now takes on more of the appearance of a 1-2-2. Notice that number 1 overplays to his right to guide the ball into the right side of the floor. We are still looking for a double team between number 1 and number 2 near mid court. Number 3 is still the interceptor. Number 4 will cover passes down the right side of the floor. Number 5 moves up when the double team is achieved to make passes into the middle area very dangerous. Number 3 covers the rest of the floor looking for interception (Fig. 98).

Fig. 97

If number 4 and number 5 are fairly tall and keep then-arms up, passes behind them to the base line area become very difficult.  Too, we are assuming that since the ball handler is double teamed, a pass to that area must be high and slow, giving numbers 4 and 5 time to retreat quickly to either side of the goal (See Fig. 99).

If the double team is not achieved in this ideal situation, two policies may be pursued. (1) You may elect to play a normally aggressive 1-2-2 zone defense until the ball goes back to the good double team area when the press will be initiated again. (2) You may continue the 1-2-2 zone press all over the half floor with assignments reversed if the ball goes into the left side or left corner (See Fig. 100).

Let's assume you elect to stay with pressing tactics all the time. If the ball goes into the right corner, number 2 follows it in and looks for the double team with number 4. Number 3 watches the middle area; number 1 watches all of the release area, and number 5 protects the goal (Fig. 101).

Fig. 98

Fig. 99

If the ball should go into the left side, number 3 and number 1 become double teams, number 2 the interceptor, number 4 and number 5 swap assignments (See Fig. 102).

Fig. 103 is the left corner position. Number 3 chases the ball to the corner; number 1 covers the release out area, number 4 takes the goal, and number 2 covers the middle.

It is imperative that the chaser keep the ball on the right side of the floor the greatest percentage of the time. Once the double team has been achieved, the three remaining men must react quickly and efficiently to their tasks.

Teaching Hints

1. Be sure each man has a precise knowledge of what is expected of him as an individual and as a member of the team.

Fig. 100

Fig. 101

2. Give each man a name such as interceptor, goalie, etc.

3. Practice double teaming each day as a break-down drill.

4. Don't allow indiscriminate fouling in "practice sessions. Indiscriminate fouling will become your speciality.

5. Use the score board and clock when you practice the team press.

6. Develop rivalry and aggressiveness between teams when you practice.

7. Work on the press every day during early season practice.  It will help develop good physical condition.

8. Don't always use the press simply as a last resort.  It can be vital for use as a demoralizer of set-play opponents.

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