The more you understand offense, the easier defensive concepts will become. The more you understand defensive philosophy, the more effective offensive player you can become. The “game within the game” is the individual challenge between offensive player and defender. Very few players become accomplished defenders. Ask yourself ‘why not’? You would think that a superior offensive player who applied him/herself could be. In fact, Michael Jordan applied himself to excel at both ends of the court.
Here’s a terrific summary (not all-inconclusive) about cutting. A critical part of solid defense is denying cutters, and understanding how the best offensive players think AND move will help you at both ends of the floor. In general, offensive deception involves change of direction and/or change of pace.
Here are a few excerpt highlights:
Good faking is an important key in just about every offensive basketball skill
Legendary coach Bob Knight has often said that the two most important and undertaught offensive weapons are the shot-fake and the pass-fake.
I cannot remind you enough, the mental to the physical is four to one in importance. When the power of your mind exceeds that of your opponent, you are already winning the battle.
