3 Ways to Beat Aggressive Defenders
– Think The Game Thursday –

Many athletes view aggressive defenders as a problem. But PGC Director Lili Thompson shares how an over-aggressive defender is actually an opportunity for you to take advantage of during a game.

Discover 3 effective ways to cause havoc for aggressive defenders.

Think Deeper

Get Clever and Get Open

1. High-Foot Advantage

An over aggressive defender will often have their hand in the passing lane. Lower level athletes will allow the defense to push them further and further out of their shooting lane. Instead, while you are still down in the paint, create contact with your defender and get the high-foot advantage.

Get your inside foot higher than your defender’s top foot. This holds your defender on the outside of your body and allows you to decide where you want to burst open to.

2. Protect Your Space

Once you get open, always keep your pivot moving forward towards your defender. If you imagine that there’s a clock on the ground beneath you, 12 o’clock is right in front of you, three o’clock is to your right and six o’clock behind you. With an aggressive defender we tend to pivot from three o’clock to 6 o’clock and this allows them to take away our space and may take us out of a dangerous position.

As you catch the ball to get open, focus on pivoting from three o’clock to 12 o’clock and 11 o’clock, protecting your space and staying strong so that your defender is forced to respect you.

3. Sever the Angle

Play slow and sever the angle. Protect your space with your front foot at 12 o’clock and once pass the defense, sever the angle by putting your body in front of the defense, putting the defense on your back. By doing this, any fouls they commit will be obvious to the refs.