Cleveland Cavaliers Transition Defense Drill

This is a good change up to the traditional 3 on 2/2 on 1 transition drill by the Cleveland Cavaliers in their training camp from 2016.

Cleveland Cavaliers Defensive Closeout Drill

The drill in the video above is a part of our closeout series that we do.  We usually do this leading up tot shell defense.  Our philosophy is to give up no open shots.  To make sure that we can do this, we have to work on flying to our man, closing out with a high inside hand, and chopping our feet as we approach the ball-handler so that she can't blow by us.

Here the Cleveland Cavaliers show a couple of parts of their closeout progression in their training camp from 2016.

Transition Defense Drill

Everybody loves to sprint on offense, but you have to teach how to sprint back in transition defense and get matched up.

1 - Load to the ball
2 - Inside the line of the ball
3 - Talk and match-up

Puts 6 seconds on the clock to get a clean shot and end with a block out.

Circle Trap Drill

A great drill to work on legal traps and anticipating the pass as an interceptor, and it works on being strong with the ball and being sure and tough offensively against traps.  It also teaches your players to be more comfortable in a trap, to not panic, and to have a plan for getting out of the trap.

Defensively, it teaches those on the ball how to play strong with their hands up so they don't foul in the trap without fouling, how to get deflections, and how to anticipate the next pass as an interceptor.

I like how he shows to use the drill in different parts of the court depending on where you are anticipating you want to trap and where you anticipate your opponents will try to trap you.

Courage > Result

Winners Fail | Losers Hide

This excerpt and notes are taking from the book What Drives Winning.  They have a great website and a really good Youtube page.

Its important to redefine what losing and failure is.  Take the emphasis away from the result and place it on the action.

Courage is about being willing to operate and step out of your comfort zone.

Courage has nothing to do with the outcome.  It is about being all-in.  Have a circle around you that is supportive and who value you going all in over the results. 

You have 2 options with it comes to a challenge:

1 – You can hide from it
2 – You can chase it

In life, you have 2 options when it comes to courage:

1 – You can go all-in and risk being taken out of the game for the chance to be great

Or

2 – You can eliminate the chance of being great by playing tentatively and not getting taken out of the game

Think of going all-in like a stoplight:  Imagine what it looks like to have a green light v a yellow light. 

What does it look like when you live with a yellow light?

- Scared- Tentative

- Cautious
- Worried about what is going to happen next or what somebody is going to sya

What does it look like when you live with a green light?
- Courageous
- Risk taker
- Living free
- Not concerned with what is going to happen or what people think of you
- No regret

Play Green by finding your comfort zone and living as much out of it as you can.  The more you are out of your comfort zone and in your courage zone, the more your comfort zone will stretch.

Don’t Be A Cosigner – of your life or of others

1 – Agreeing with someone, or a teammate, because you don’t want to upset the person

2 – Not saying anything at all

When people cosign, it is usually because:

1 – Afraid of conflict

2 – Don’t know what to say

One way to beat it is to role-play with yourself or trusted friends on what to say and how to handle a situation.  Another way to beat it is to give ‘best friend advice;’ give advice to a best friend who is going through the same situation.  

We usually have the answers within us, we just have to find it.

I once read in a book about the importance of the fences and boundaries that we set in our lives.  They keep people in and to a degree, they keep people out. You have to set boundaries for yourself on how you will allow people to treat you and what you are willing to deal with.  When someone crosses those boundaries, you have to have the courage to speak up in an appropriate and effective way.  Have courage to live the life that you want to live.

Posting Keeping the Ball Up High

We always preach to our post girls the importance of keeping the ball high.  Here, Candice Parker initiates the fast break and keeps the ball high before converting in transition.  A great visual for all post players.

Simple 2 on 2 Rebounding Drill

The drill below is from the University of Arkansas.  A simple 2 on 2 rebounding drill.  I like how the coach also emphasizes making good outlet passes out of the drill.  

We will experiment with having our bigs stay on the ball, contest the outlook and look to chase and trap the outlet.  So, we will have our bigs chase down and breakdown on the outlet, simulating that they are trapping that pass.

If the offense gets the rebound, they get an offensive possession.  If the defense gives up an offensive rebound, they have to stay on defense with the next group.

High Ball Screen Reads

Here is a simple high ball-screen look with options for the kick out.  We run a continuity ball-screen offense.  We would tell our 4 to sprint into a second ball-screen no matter where the kick out is.  If the 4 gets the kick out, she would either take the shot or dribble into a hand-off and the rolling post would flash to the high post.

Learn Ed Cooley’s “Double Drag” Set Play

This is a good look in transition to get your point guard spacing to get to the basket and an option for a corner 3.

Elbow Play Against 1-3-1 Zone

Here is a simple 4 out 1 in look that starts in Horns to get a post up or corner 3 against the 1-3-1 defense.

Circle Up Into Transition

The secondary break being taught here isn't bad at all, but what I really like is the different way that they were able to flow into their transition out of the drill.  I am always looking for ways to start the drill, and we have used different starts, such as out of shell drill and out of a BLOB or SLOB play 5 on 0 or against dummy defense.

Minnesota Lynx 'Loop' Play

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeves shows us her 'Loop' play.  We run a side ball screen, continuity offense, so something like this could be a great quick hitter to get us in our stuff.

This also has a post up option for the guard, which is good for us because we have a couple of big guards who are good in the post.

25 in 2 minutes - A Great Fast Break Drill

This is a great fast break drill that Cheryl Reeve admittedly stole from NBA coach Fred Hoiberg.  We really emphasize looking for skips in transition, and this will help reinforce that, along with making 'snap passes,' catching with two hands, running the court, and finishing fast.

Key Teaching Points
- Spring the court
- Snap passes
- No dribbles
- Great catches
- Finishing with speed
- Quick outlets
- Talk, talk, talk

Don't slow down and wait for the ball - sprint and get ahead.  

Jay Wright Swing Series: Driving the Ball to the Basket

Swing series is when you are guarded on the wing, step across the defender, give the target a passer, catch and go.  If your man is denying, you have to get that foot on top and be strong to and with the ball.

Rip it tight to your stomach and push it out in front of you.  If you swing out away from your body, a tough defender will take it from you.

SMU : Get Better at Catching and Driving To the Basket

A simple drill led by Larry Brown teaching his athletes at SMU how to catch, rip low, and attack the basket.  Great teaching points include:

- Rip the ball low to the ground
- Direct drive to the basket
- Get there in one dibble
- Establish a pivot
- Put the ball down early
- Both feet catch outside the 3
- Run through the pass
- Take it to the ground
- Get the ball below your knees
- Don't drag your foot
- Straight line drives
- Jab at the defender
- Run with it
- Swing it and take it to the ground

Rip and Drive
Crossover and drive
Rip through pull-up