OT- How to defend taller shooters?

manun · Post #1 » by **manun** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 9:09 pm

I was playing basketball today and usually when i play against taller guys they arent that good at shooting. But today i played against this dude that kept shooting over me and i had no chance to win against him, he destroyed me in two 7 point games, first game was 7-5 and second was 7-6.
I feel frustrated cause hes not that good but hes good at shooting when hes moving and when he gets the ball, and hes quick enough to go close to the basket to do a hook shot. If he fakes and i dont bite it i still lose cause he will just shoot it over me. hes not that taller than me but he can long arms, im 6 feet and hes about 6,3. His arms probably makes him more of a 6,5 guy and its frustrating to being able to really defend him.
Any tips for future games against guys like that?

compucomp · Post #2 » by **compucomp** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 9:15 pm

manun wrote:I was playing basketball today and usually when i play against taller guys they arent that good at shooting. But today i played against this dude that kept shooting over me and i had no chance to win against him, he destroyed in 7 point games, first game was 7-5 and second was 7-6.
I feel frustrated cause hes not that good but hes good at shooting when hes moving and when he gets the ball, and hes quick enough to go close to the basket to do a hook shot. If he fakes and i dont bite it i still lose cause he will just shoot it over me. hes not that taller than me but he can long arms, im 6 feet and hes about 6,3. His arms probably makes him more of a 6,5 guy and its frustrating to being able to really defend him.
Any tips for future games against guys like that?

If you're playing 5v5, you play like Bruce Bowen: crowd the defender heavily, possibly hand-check and undercut him a few times, move your feet as best you can and trusting your help if you get beat, deny him the ball as much as you can, fight through the screens, bump him when he's cutting.

If you're playing 1v1... you're sort of screwed.

jzmagik · Post #3 » by **jzmagik** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 9:28 pm

It's simple, guard the shortest player on their team. If not, then play him like what comp said, be very aggressive and physical on D, unless he's a superstar pickup player he's not gonna be bricking a lot more. There's really not much you can do if he's got at least 4 inches on you though.

RaoulDuke79 · Post #4 » by **RaoulDuke79** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 9:30 pm

Punch them in the taint. Never fails.

:wink:

manun · Post #5 » by **manun** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 9:51 pm

Its 1 on 1. There is nothing u can do? Damn, cause when i used to defend taller guys they would just try to post up on me but unfortunately im pretty strong and i can block them pretty easy cause they always bring the ball upwards before they shot (i just tap the ball from beneath and they would fumble it)

compucomp · Post #6 » by **compucomp** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 9:59 pm

manun wrote:Its 1 on 1. There is nothing u can do? Damn, cause when i used to defend taller guys they would just try to post up on me but unfortunately im pretty strong and i can block them pretty easy cause they always bring the ball upwards before they shot (i just tap the ball from beneath and they would fumble it)

Of course if you can play tight defense without getting beat off the dribble, you do that. But it is very hard to do that and in 1v1 if you get beat, you give up a layup. I'd probably give myself just enough space to stop penetration but be able to contest every shot and make it more difficult on him.

But I assume you were talking about the situation where he would make the contested jumpers consistently. Then the only thing you can really do is crowd, and if he's quick and can beat you off the dribble, you will have problems guarding him; that's why a basketball team needs team defense.

The post-up situation is a bit different because you're already crowding him because he's backing you down and you're right next to each other, so if he doesn't create enough space you can block his shot.

A.J. · Post #7 » by **A.J.** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:10 pm

stay in front of your man, and call for help when needed

MaxRider · Post #8 » by **MaxRider** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:30 pm

first thing first
you are not going to block his shots facing him
so DON'T leave your feet off the ground

for a shooter
always force him to put the ball on the floor
stay close to him (like Bruce Bowen)
if he's good at driving and is good at finishing around the rim
then you need help from your teammate
force him to pass the ball up and let someone else score

also you can study his shooting motion and try to discrupt his rhythm

jzmagik · Post #9 » by **jzmagik** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:40 pm

MaxRider wrote:first thing first
you are not going to block his shots facing him
so DON'T leave your feet off the ground

for a shooter
always force him to put the ball on the floor
stay close to him (like Bruce Bowen)
if he's good at driving and is good at finishing around the rim
then you need help from your teammate
force him to pass the ball up and let someone else score

also you can study his shooting motion and try to discrupt his rhythm

Bad advice, you still need to contest shots regardless to try to make it as difficult for him as possible.

Post #10 » by **dream34** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 11:09 pm

Don't go for the block every time, just keep a hand in his face. Don't let him see the basket when he goes to shoot.

And who plays to 7?

dontel · Post #11 » by **dontel** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 11:09 pm

just put a hand on his face whenever he' s shooting, just like battier's, sometimes it works!

manun · Post #12 » by **manun** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 11:14 pm

Ive tried the hand thing on the face, its hard cause when he drives sometimes i would accidently poke the persons eye :p.
But i didnt try it on him, so next time i will try it.

MaxRider · Post #13 » by **MaxRider** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 11:20 pm

jzmagik wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Bad advice, you still need to contest shots regardless to try to make it as difficult for him as possible.

don't leave your feet off the ground doesn't mean you have to keep your hand in your pocket
just use your hand

i have friend kept asking me why i always do pump fake on him
my answer "because you always fall for it"

Got em Coach · Post #14 » by **Got em Coach** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 11:42 pm

lol any advice for a 5'3~5'4 guy?

jzmagik · Post #15 » by **jzmagik** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 11:57 pm

MaxRider wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

don't leave your feet off the ground doesn't mean you have to keep your hand in your pocket
just use your hand

i have friend kept asking me why i always do pump fake on him
my answer "because you always fall for it"

I really don't see any way of contesting a shot against a shooter that's taller than you without jumping.

DraftBoy10 · Post #16 » by **DraftBoy10** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 11:58 pm

Use some tricks on him.

Run & Duck under him while he shoots. Straight at him. He'll think about you, not the basket.

Jump on the left or right side of the shooter always makes them put a little more force on the shot to the right or left depending on where you jumped.

Post #17 » by **TMU** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 12:01 am

Got em Coach wrote:lol any advice for a 5'3~5'4 guy?

just play hard and don't get posterized... :-?

coolguy569 · Post #18 » by **coolguy569** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 12:28 am

what ive learned is to put the hand in their face if u cant get high enought to block them, it sometimes scares them and its a lot harder to shoot when u cant see. im a shot blocker though so i usually block them, turn to the crowd, and do this.... :wavefinger:

jove9 · Post #19 » by **jove9** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 12:43 am

RaoulDuke79 wrote:Punch them in the taint. Never fails.

I'm with Raoul on this one.

hayden · Post #20 » by **hayden** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 1:00 am

Play like Battier. Hand in the face, clap your hands, yell at him.. tap him on the chest or midsection or elbow (hey, if he doesn't call it, why not?) when he shoots it... whatever it takes. If that doesn't help, get all up in his space and force him to drive.

And if that doesn't help, just don't miss on offense and he'll never get the ball.