Saturday, May 7, 2011

PETE NEWELL ON THE PROS/CONS OF A CHANGING DEFENSIVE SYSTEM

In his book “Pete Newell’s Defensive Basketball” Coach Newell explains the positives and negatives of a multiple/changing defense system.


STRENGTHS:
◄Reading problems for opponent

◄Particularly effective against inexperiences guards

◄Impatience in opponents

◄Confusion it can create for a superior talented opponent

◄Preparation problems for an opponent

◄Defensive confidence it can inspire when the opponent becomes confused

◄Forcing opponet to have to conter each change of defense

◄Forcing opponent to resort to low-percentage shots when unable to fathom the changes

◄Turnovers it can create which often result in easy, unopposed baskets

◄Changing the tempo of the defense

◄Defensively using the ball-possession clock to its advantage


WEAKNESSES
◄It is usually more effective in the early part of the schedule than in the important late-season games and post-season tourneys

◄It can create problems of vision, stnace, responsibility as it changes from the assigned individual defense to a zone-type defense or vice versa

◄As opponents experience more defenses of this type, their reading and counters become more effective

◄Being able to go from a soft-type defense to an aggressive denial-type defense as a unit can be difficult

◄Being able to go from a fot-type defense to an aggressive denial-type defense as a unity can be difficult

◄This surprise-and-change concept has not produced many Final Four NCAA teams nor high school championship teams as opposed to the simplicity and execution programs.

◄Breakdowns can occur for a solid, aggressive denial team that relies on peripheral vision and low stance and is mentally perpared for its individual-assigned responsibilities

◄The fundamental habits that are essential to a particular aspect of the change up defense can be compromised, thereby lessening the effectiveness of this specific phase of the change-up defense