" Everyone needs to have a great trust and a great love for one another. That's something you build through day-to-day activities. " with the offensive player on the fake then denies any pass back from the top. Eventually, the player at the top tries to throw a backdoor pass. The defender should be in a position to pick off this pass. 2-on-1 Gaps The defender works on jumping to a ball handler and then recovering to a shooter in the corner. DIAGRAM 2: The offensive player dribbles from the half-court area and the defender is positioned halfway between the ball handler and a shooter in the corner. When the dribbler attacks the defender comes to stop the dribble. The ball handler then passes to the player in the corner. The defender must sprint to recover close out and block out the shooter on the shot. 2-on-2 Wing Denial The defenders work on closing out to deny. DIAGRAM 3: A coach under the hoop passes to the coach at the top. The two defenders start near the basket and now sprint beyond the elbows to deny the wing players a pass. When a pass is made to the wing the wing defender closes out all over the player. The opposite defender drops into the lane in help position. The offensive player either passes back to the top (sending the defenders back to their original spots) or throws a cross-court skip pass which forces the help defender to close out on the wing and the other defender to drop into the lane to provide help. n 24 COACH & A.D. | WINNING HOOPS COACHES PLAYBOOK 2023