Exploring basketball's best ideas, strategies, and coaches around the world

Happy Sunday and welcome to all the new members from around the world!

ICYMI: Last week we released Penn St. Assistant Coach, Joe Crispin's, SG Socal Coaches Summit clinic on "Unique Offensive Ideas." View our newsletter recap HERE.

This Week at a Glance:

🔒 SG Plus Content: The Art of Switching

🎤 Slappin' Glass Podcast: Pat Delany {Toronto Raptors}

🥇Best of the Week: Skip Uphill DHOs & Stampedes​

​

A Switching Primer

Nothing can be more frustrating for a team than facing a defense that disrupts its offensive flow by switching actions and neutralizing attempts to create an advantage. As coaches know, switching has become one of the key tools in the defensive toolkit. Whether it’s a team’s primary strategy or just an occasional curveball, switching defense requires much more nuance than meets the eye.

Today, we'll dive into a "Switching Primer," outlining major considerations and teaching points, along with links to various videos we've shared on the subject.

Let's dive in...

Why Switch?

As switching has become an essential tool in disrupting modern offensive schemes, it’s crucial to understand the reasoning and intent behind the decision to switch. Like all defensive strategies, knowing the overarching goal of switching enables coaches to make more informed decisions and identify key factors for effective execution. Whether aiming to limit an opponent's strengths or hide defensive weaknesses, here are a few key factors to consider when deciding to switch.

• Take Shooting Out of the Game: By switching, teams reduce the likelihood of allowing open outside looks. The offense will struggle to create advantages for their shooters, both on and off the ball. Switching keeps defenders close, pressuring shooters and denying them space.
• Keep Bodies in Front of Bodies: Successful switching allows defenders to pass off opponents seamlessly, maintaining strong positioning between the ball and the rim (or the man and the rim). This approach limits the offense’s ability to create 2-on-1 situations through screens, reducing opportunities for breakdowns.
• Limit Help Rotation: Switching can eliminate the need for the low man to rotate on the roller or for other defenders to pull in for support. This limits long closeouts that the offense could exploit.
• Force Isolation Play: Neutralizing an opponent’s screening actions can push system-based scorers into isolation, where they must rely on individual creation. Opponents who rely heavily on schemes to score may be forced to generate advantages through dribble penetration.
• Problem-Solving in Real-Time: Switching offers an “emergency switch” option, enabling the defense to quickly resolve unexpected breakdowns.

When to Switch?

So, you’re ready to switch...now comes the nuance of executing the scheme effectively. With the "Why" guiding the "When," coaches can assess which offensive actions pose the most significant threats. Even within these screening actions, evaluating player personnel is essential to determine if switching remains the best solution. Here are some key considerations when deciding when to switch, factoring in matchups and disruptive opportunities.

• Like-Sized Defenders: The "No-Brainer." Switching works best when players of similar size and skill are involved, reducing the risk of a severe mismatch.
• Limit Touches for Primary Scorers: If the goal is to limit a primary player's touches, "switching to deny" can make it difficult for them to receive the ball in key spots.
• Challenge Role Players: Switches can force lower-skilled players to handle the ball and take on more shot-creation responsibilities. If a primary player or action is neutralized, the ball often ends up with less skilled players forced to make plays beyond their abilities.
  • Don't Switch Unnecessarily: If a less skilled player is involved in the screening action, it may not be necessary to switch. Instead, consider being aggressive on the primary player to force the ball into the hands of a less threatening option.
• Is it Fluff? If early offensive actions are more "fluff" than anything else, avoid an early, easy switch. However, if it’s a threatening early action, then switch.
• Special Situations: Consider switching in specific situations, such as late in the shot clock or in the final seconds of a play.

How? Switching Technique: “Touch, Talk, Take”

Switching effectively requires not only the right timing but also precise technique. The “Touch, Talk, Take” method is a straightforward approach to executing a switch with control and clarity.

• Touch: Make physical contact with the screener to disrupt their momentum into the screen. Steering them into the screen to prevent early slip outs by the screener, or their ability to "blur" the screen.
• Talk: Communicate clearly with other teammate, calling out the screen and using your language.
• Take: With the screener’s momentum stalled, push the screener into the vision the on ball defender, enabling them to effectively pick up the roll/pop.

Common Counter: While switching helps defenders stay close to their matchups, be aware that a gap often opens up behind the roll after a switch. This concept, often referred to as "driving the wake", is something we discussed with Birmingham Squadron Head Coach, TJ Saint, in our Film Room Session with him {🔒}. As the on-ball defender works to establish position with the roll, this can create an opening for the ball handler to cross back over and attack the newly created space.

Zooming In: After a switch, it’s crucial for the defense to quickly re-orient themselves to the ball and close the gap behind the roll.

Mismatch Prevention

No strategy is perfect, and switching inevitably creates mismatches. Therefore, contingency plans must be in place to address these issues and preserve the advantage gained by switching the initial action.

• Pre-Switching: Anticipate ballscreens early and switch the weaker defender off the screener with a stronger defender, usually off the baseline.
• Triple Switching: Post switch, bounce the smaller defender off the big rolling with a bigger body from the weakside corner or 45, as shown below...

• ​"Hit" the Perimeter Mismatch: Run a double team at the ballhandler after the switch to force a pass and bounce the big out of the mismatch—a strategy we've showcased in the past...

• "ACE" Defense: This technique is similar to a “Hit,” but involves trapping back with the original matchup once the screener begins to roll. The defender briefly trails the roller to plug the short roll, and once the screener rolls long, the defender releases to trap the ball handler (More to come in the following weeks).

Above are a few of the more interesting tactics defenses are using to address the mismatches created by switching. It's also important to consider post-trapping schemes against opponents who are committed to exploiting the size mismatch in the post.

Switching remains a powerful defensive tool in disrupting modern offensive schemes, but it requires careful consideration and precise execution. By understanding the "why," "when," and "how" of switching, coaches can enhance their ability to neutralize threats, prevent mismatches, and maintain defensive integrity. As with any strategy, successful implementation hinges on adaptability and preparation, ensuring that defenses are equipped to respond to the inevitable counters that come with switching.

For further resources on Switching here are a few of our favorites available for SG+ Members:

🔒 Switch & Shrink - Sarunas Jasikevicius​

🔒 Switch to Peel - Solving the Mismatch on Penetration​

🔒 2-3 Zone Triple Switching​

🔒 Switching Defense - Big Men Perimeter Defensive Techniques​

🔒 Facundo Campazzo - Post Mismatch Defensive Techniques ​

Official Sponsor of "Start, Sub, or Sit?"

Imagine scouting opponents, validating on-court observations, and evaluating players with just a few clicks. Our partners at Just Play's latest innovation, AInsights, empowers you to do all that, tailoring reports to your specific needs in seconds. This is more than just data; it's your personalized narrative. AInsights puts you in control, letting you curate reports that focus on the metrics most relevant to your strategy. Don't settle for generic analytics – AInsights lets you craft the information you need to gain a decisive edge.

AInsights is a game-changer for coaches. It removes the analytical barrier, replacing it with a user-friendly interface and actionable insights. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a rising star, AInsights puts the power of advanced analytics at your fingertips, allowing you to optimize your scouting, refine your game plan, and ultimately, secure victories on the court.

If you are interested in learning more, go to justplaysolutions.com/slappinglass.​

Slappin' Glass Podcast

We sat down this week with the Assistant Coach for the Toronto Raptors, Pat Delany! In this terrific conversation we dive into Coach Delany's thoughts on defending great offensive teams in the half court, and discusses coaching skills learned in the film room, along with efficient and focused practice planning during the always fun "Start, Sub, or Sit?!"

Listen to the entire conversation here...

Together with Hudl

We're proud to partner with one of the best tech companies in the world of sports, Hudl! Every play, every stat, every breakdown. On their own, they’re essential. But all together, they’re undeniable. Hudl recently introduced their newest product, Hudl Instat – a new advanced data platform that integrates with Sportscode and every Hudl product you rely on to create an all-in-one data powerhouse. Hudl Instat’s advanced tagging and next-level stat reports help you develop your team – and its global film library helps you find the missing piece to get the most out of every second of film. Visit ​hudl.com/slappinglass​ to learn more.

Tactical

📺 Dead Corner ATO's - Skip Uphill DHO​

"Two well-executed ATOs that strategically space a big in the weakside corner to exploit the low help defender with a skip pass to an uphill DHO."

✚ Pair With: The Utah Jazz's Double Pop Variation involving the second player in the pop sprinting directly into a DHO with the corner player of the skip pass.

✚ SG Plus Content: Our "Film Room" session with G League Coach Jimmie Oakman on offensive concepts and actions when non-shooters are spaced in the corner.

​

📺 "Hit & Get" Side PNR - Corner Stampede​

"A well-timed corner stampede off Monaco's "Hit & Get" Side PNR entry."

✚ Pair With: Creating a corner stampede catch out of the Turnout Entry.

✚ SG Plus Content: Our recent breakdown on Coach Oded Kattash's Transition Offense with multiple bigs.

Interesting Reads

📚 Collecting Color​

“Another exercise that is very effective is walking on colors. Pick out all the reds on a street, focusing only on red objects—brick, lights, sweaters, signs. Shift to green, blue, orange, yellow. Notice how the colors begin to stand out more sharply of their own accord.”

​

📚 A Few Ideas I Can't Stop Thinking About​

"Never criticize something before understanding why it exists in its current form.

Chesterton's Fence: Never tear down a fence before understanding why it got built in the first place. It might be holding back the wolves that you didn't know existed because it was preventing them from entering."

​

📚 Economic Inequality as a Driver of Intensive Parenting​

"The logic behind the relationship between income inequality and parenting style is this. When inequality is low, parents assume their children will be roughly equally well off in material comforts in adulthood regardless of what direction they take in life, so it is best to allow them to enjoy their childhood, explore, discover their interests, and pursue a future of their own choosing. When income inequality is high parents worry that their children may fall into poverty if they don’t outcompete their peers, especially in the schooling mill, so parents become more likely to restrict free play and push schooling and other competitive, adult-directed activities that might eventually contribute to a strong resumé."

​

Quote of the Week

​

Thank you for reading and have a great week coaching,

Dan and Pat

info@slappinglass.com

We're proud to partner with the leading Sports Travel company in the basketball world, Beyond Sports! Follow the link above to learn more about why more than 600 universities have trusted Beyond Sports for their team's foreign trips. Let them know Slappin' Glass sent you!

​