(Rental)-Pressure Defense: Traps, Run & Jump, & Diamond Press

Pressure Defense Basketball Video: Traps, Run & Jump, and Diamond Press

Radford University head coach Mike Jones has used pressure defense basketball traps to help find success. Radford won the Big South Tournament in 2018, earned a trip to the NCAA tournament, and Jones was named the conference coach of the year. In this video, Jones discusses the keys to good traps, the run and jump press, and the Diamond press. He also includes drills that help to increase tempo and create turnovers.

Goals of a Pressing Defense

Before he breaks down the different presses he has used, Jones talks about what he wants from the pressure defense. These include:

• Creating turnovers as often as possible
• Forcing quick and bad shots
• Forcing tempo and disrupting flow
• Being difficult to prepare for
• Making the offense uncomfortable and tired
• Making offensive depth a factor

Trapping Fundamentals

For pressure defense basketball traps to be successful, players must know how to trap. Coach Jones wants traps to be elastic meaning the trap must contain the ball handler and not allow him/her to get out of the trap with a pivot. Jones also addresses “not breaking the glass” as a way to teach how to not foul.

Jones uses a 3-on-3 trapping drill to teach rotations in and out of traps as well as trapping fundamentals. 3-on-3 Circle Trap uses two trappers and an interceptor who reads the eyes of the ball handler. “Roose Stunting” is taught in a 3-on-3 situation with off-ball defenders executing stunts.

Man-to-Man Run & Jump

The run and jump pressure starts with the “mad man,” or on-ball defender. Other defenders remain one-third of the way between their man and the ball waiting to stunt or trap. With the trap set, Jones covers the responsibilities of the other defenders. The interceptor plays between the three nearest receivers and reads the eyes of the ball handler. You will also hear how players are to react to passes out of traps.

1-2-1-1 Full-Court Press

The 1-2-1-1 or Diamond Press starts by inviting the ball to the “coffin corner” where a trap can be made immediately. Once trapped, the interceptor then reads the eyes of the ball handler in an attempt to get a deflection or steal. The Diamond press is designed to increase the tempo of a game and create turnovers that lead to easy baskets.

Jones finishes the presentation by going over adjustments, the role of the baseline runner, and an how to defend the reversal pass. If you want to make offenses uncomfortable, Coach Jones video is for you. Rent this pressure defense basketball DVD today.