Reacting to the Perimeter Double Team
- Do not pick up your dribble when the trap arrives. A live dribble lets you retreat, change direction, and create a better passing angle.
- Keep the ball low and close to your body, using your off-arm, hips, and shoulders as a shield against active, deflecting hands.
-Get your chin to your shoulder and keep your eyes up. Never turn your back completely to the defense, or you will lose sight of open teammates.
-Take a quick retreat or reverse dribble to back away from the collapsing defenders and widen the passing window.
-Use pass fakes to freeze active defenders and throw firm chest or overhead passes to avoid steals.
-Don't Panic! How do you not panic? By remembering that you have 4 teammates who want to help you. You are not in this trap by yourself.
Splitting a Perimeter Double Team with a Pass
-Remember to use your pivot and to fake passes.
-Drop your shoulder low and use your body, hip, and off-arm to shield the ball from the nearest defender.
-Explode through the tiny space between the two defenders using a sharp step with your non-pivot foot.
-Pass or keep your momentum moving forward to break the trap completely.
Reacting to the Post Double Team
-Keep the ball near your chest with elbows out. Never drop it below your waist where defenders can strip it.
-Keep your feet wider than shoulder-width to absorb contact and avoid getting knocked off balance.
-Establish a solid pivot foot instead of blindly panicking or immediately dribbling into the trap.
- Read the rotating defense. There will usually be a numbers advantage for your team on the weak side.
Passing Out of the Post Double Team
-Use a skip pass. Fire a strong, cross-court pass over the defense to the open player on the weak side.
-Use the reverse pivot kick-out. Pivot away from the pressure to expose a passing lane back to the top of the key or wing.
-The high-low feed. If a teammate flashes to the high post or rim as the second defender comes to trap you, drop a quick pass inside.
-The player who was guarded by the player coming to double team you is often the one who is open. But watch for defensive rotation.
