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Coach Mike
Oct 21, 20221 min read
Chest It - Stop Dribble Penetration
On this platform we’ve talked a lot about cushion slides, staying square and keeping the offensive player in front. However, defensive...
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Coach Mike
Oct 18, 20224 min read
Does Fouling Make or Break a Defense?
There has been a long-held belief in basketball that great defensive teams don’t commit many fouls. In fact, many sages of the game have...
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Coach Mike
Oct 12, 20223 min read
Defensive Warmup Routine - On Ball Defense
When we craft a defensive warmup, we should think of doing so the same way we craft a ball handling warmup. We don’t simply stick to one...
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Coach Mike
Oct 5, 20223 min read
The Closeout Footwork Debate - Chop or Not
To Chop or Not to Chop? Over the years, there has been a lot of debate if players should or should not chop their feet in a closeout....
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Coach Mike
Oct 4, 20222 min read
Pressure Box 1v1 Drill - Disruptive Control
This is one of my favorite pressure developing drills. It allows players to experiment with different techniques and get exposure to the...
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Coach Mike
Oct 1, 20222 min read
Outside Hand Steal - Tony Allen
When Tony Allen speaks on defensive technique, I’m surely going to listen. Many years ago I did a breakdown of his defense - it was so...
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Coach Mike
Sep 26, 20221 min read
Defending Ball Screens - On Ball - Forearm
This technique is credited to the first coach I saw teaching the concept, Coach Calipari and his staff at the University of Kentucky. It...
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Coach Mike
Sep 21, 20222 min read
Steering the Screener
Using Switching as a Weapon In the most recent Lockdown Podcast with Pistons Assistant Coach Brandon Bailey, he mentioned the importance...
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Coach Mike
Sep 19, 20222 min read
Mental Toughness - Courage to Fail
As a coach we all want players who embody toughness. And although I’ve spent much time talking about this subject on the Lockdown Defense...
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Coach Mike
Sep 8, 20222 min read
Reaction Defense Drill : The Mirror
Not only is defense a movement skill but past that it is also a reaction and anticipation skill. Having explosive movements does little...
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Coach Mike
Sep 7, 20222 min read
Corrective Drill - No Flat Feet
This next drill is one that falls under the corrective category. Sometimes the use of this drill is unnecessary because the athlete...
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Coach Mike
Sep 6, 20222 min read
Off-Season Agility : Drill 1
I believe strongly that at its core, defense is a movement skill. Of course there are key perception elements, reaction time and...
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Coach Mike
Aug 31, 20222 min read
Why the Long Slide?
The next drill in Cringe Week is the strive for harder, longer, tougher. The drills that make players slide the full distance of the...
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Coach Mike
Aug 30, 20221 min read
Ditch the Hip Swivel
Another drill that appears on my cringe list, is a drill I unfortunately have used many times in the past. And typically it’s been a...
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Coach Mike
Aug 29, 20222 min read
I Hate the Zig Zag Drill
The Zig Zag drill is one of my least favorite drills. And let me make sure I’m clear, the zig zag drill I am referring to is the...
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Coach Mike
Aug 20, 20222 min read
The Post Defense - Cushion
How did Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen and multiple great defenders hold their own in the post against much bigger and stronger defenders?...
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Coach Mike
Aug 19, 20222 min read
Pippen Front - Interceptor
This is one of the most advanced techniques in the post and another one named after an all-time great. "The Pippen Front" is a concept...
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Coach Mike
Aug 17, 20221 min read
Podcast: Liability to Capability
Episode 2 of the Lockdown Defense Podcast was just released! This was a fun one! We discussed what makes a bad defender bad, how to help...
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Coach Mike
Aug 16, 20222 min read
Fronting the Post & Needed Adjustments
Fronting the Post seems to be a growing trend the more coaches I’ve talked to in preparation for the upcoming season. In this article the...
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Coach Mike
Aug 15, 20222 min read
The Jam - Post Defense Part 1
This post does not focus on classic post defense. Instead, it focuses on how a defender can combat a mismatch post up or difficult power...
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