2012 NIKE BASKETBALL CLINIC WISCONSIN DELLS | TONY BARONE | MEMPHIS GRIZZLES “Defending the Pick & Roll”

Written by Coach Peterman

I have coached at the NCAA Division 2 (Southwestern Oklahoma State University), NAIA (USAO), and JUCO Levels (Blinn College and Carl Albert State College) as well as high school. I just felt that fellow coaches especially young coaches need to constantly work on their “game”. Just like the basketball players that we coach. We as coaches need to improve ourselves. That is my story and why I do this blog.

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Basketball Coaching Clinic Notes

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May 15, 2012

Coach Tony Barone joined the Grizzlies in 2000 and then was announced as the interim head coach in 2006. Since that time has served as the Grizzlies Director of Player Personnel. He also was the head coach at Texas A&M from 1991-98 and the head coach of Creighton from 1985-91.

Coach Barone of the Memphis Grizzlies spoke at the Nike Basketball Clinic on how the Grizzlies defend the pick and roll. Coach Barone outlined a few key factors in being successful against the pick and roll:

1. Defense is an “illusion”

2. Help defenders must master “stunting” to the ball

3. Must stay connected to your man at all times

4. The best teams have loud communicators on defense

5. Practice 5 on 5 vs. the pick and roll.

The Grizzlies focus on having some basic “coverage calls” for how they are going to defend the pick and roll:

· Red, Gold, Yellow, Black, Blue, and Surprise

Coverage | Blue

Here is an example of Rudy Gay forcing the ball baseline and Dante Cunningham coming to trap the ball on the sideline. OJ Mayo has is toe on the nail of the FT line reading whether or not to help off on the role.

Chris Paul

They also have special coverages for certain players/teams they are playing. Here is an example how the Grizzlies played Chris Paul on the pick and roll. The screener’s defender plays completely off the screener to try and help control Chris Paul out of the paint.