Basketball Offensive and Defensive Strategies
Written By: Kyle Lin

There are five positions in basketball. Each position has specific jobs they have to do for the team. All five positions work together to create offensive and defensive plays.

These are the five positions in basketball and their jobs:
Point Guard: point guard specializes in certain skills, like other player positions in basketball. Their primary job is to facilitate scoring opportunities for their team, or sometimes for themselves.
Small Forward: The Small Forward is usually the shorter of the two forwards on the team but plays the most versatile role out of the main five positions. He must have enough height and the ability to play on the inside as well as agility to play on the outside, similar to a shooting guard
Power Forward: They play offensively with their backs towards the basket and position themselves defensively under the basket in a zone defense or against the opposing power forward in man-to-man defense.
Shooting Guard: The Shooting Guard needs to be good at dribbling fast, passing and having court vision by seeing the court. He is also responsible for driving the ball down the court and setting up offensive plays.
Center The center is the tallest player on each team, playing near the basket. On offense, the center tries to score on close shots and rebound. But on defense, the center tries to block opponents' shots and rebound their misses.


Offensive Strategies


Here are Five important offensive strategies with diagrams:

1. Early Offense: Early Offense creates flow action. It pushes the opposing team to play defense instantly before they can even their defensive setup. This type of offense often uses midrange shot or layup to score points.


2. Set Offense: In set offense, players play at a slower pace due to setting up an offensive play. This is important because it can sucessfully get you buckets if you are able to set screens and get open.


3. Motion Offense: This type of offensive requires players to move around the court to get opened. It is used against a team that has size advantage over the other team. It creates open shots, which can help you shoot three pointers.


4. Zone Offense: Zone offense requires lots of movements as well, as well as passings. This strategy can also get players open on the court so they shoot open shots.


5. Spread Offense: Spread offense is used when a team is up in points and during late games. Spread offense allows players to waste time which will lower the chances of the other team winning.




Defensive Strategies


Here are three important defense strategies with diagrams:

1. Person To Person Defense: Person to person defense is used when players are assigned to play defense against players that are their size and ability.


2. Zone Defense: Zone defense is used when players are assigned to areas that they have to guard. It can be used when the players does not possess a lot of athleticsm or quickness.


3. Combination Defense: Combinations defense uses a combination of defense strategies to play against a team thats versatile and that uses different offensive strategies. This can also just be defense strategies that are made up a team's coach based on their abilities and skills.


For more informations on basketball strategies, go to HoopTactics.