Junk Offense Blog #1: Four reasons why you will see junk defense!
The first post in my series on junk offense focuses on the four main reasons to use junk defense and how you
can start to develop your own offensive philosophy versus junk. As a young coach, I was obsessed and determined
to learn as much as I could both offensively and defensively in order to build my own coaching philosophy.
I would go to clinics, buy DVD’s, watch college practices, and contact coaches I respected and admired.
It was during this time I had to learn a lesson the hard way. I got so caught up my offensive schemes
and system that I wasn’t fully prepared for when a team took us completely out of what we wanted to do
by playing an unconventional (junk) defense. We were prepared for pressure defenses, extended zones,
match-up zones and switching man. Sure, we had a plan for when we saw junk defense but we were not as
prepared as we should have been for teams that run it well. I failed my team as the head coach and I vowed
it would never happen again. I used the following summer to learn as much as I could about junk offense.
I contacted coaches from every level trying to learn as much as I could to help me develop my junk offense
philosophy versus junk. I plan to share my entire learning process in my fast model blog series on junk
offense. Here is the outline of my series:
Part 1: Four reasons why you will see junk defense
Part 2: Developing your offensive philosophy versus junk defense
Part 3: Junk Offense Attacking sets/concepts versus Box and 1 and Diamond and 1
Part 4: Junk Offense Attacking sets/concepts versus Triangle & 2
Coaches often use junk defenses for a myriad of reasons, but I am going to focus on what I
believe are the four most common reasons today: defending a star player, changing tempo/rhythm of a
game, gaining a competitive advantage, and lastly out of necessity.
Defending a star player
If you are a coach lucky enough to have an extremely talented player, more than likely you will
run into a junk defense designed to take away your star player. If your star player is a guard then often
times a face guard denial position is assumed all over the court to minimize the star player’s touches.
Usually a box and 1 or 1-3 chaser defense is employed where one player guards the star man to man
and the other four use zone principles. If your star player in a post player then usually the man to man
defender will front the post player and always have four zone players ready for help over the top
covering lob passes.
Change Tempo/Rhythm
I see more and more coaches using junk defenses as their change of rhythm/tempo defense.
Whether it is out of a time out or after a FT, coaches can use junk for a possession or two periodically
throughout the game to keep the opposing offense off balance. If the team handles it or is efficient
attacking the junk defense, then you go back to your primary defense. On the other hand, if a team
does not attack it well than you can stay in it as long as you are defending well.
Gaining Competitive Advantage
One of the most successful coaches in my state uses a junk defense as their primary defense.
They have won numerous state championships using both diamond and 1 and triangle and 2 defenses.
They are extremely difficult to prepare for, especially in a short (24 hour or 48 hour) because you have
to prepare for how to attack their junk defenses. What separates them is that this defense is the
identity of their program and the kids and coaches believe in the system. They spend less time
defending normal offensive sets and prepare for how you may attack their junk defense. It definitely
gives them a competitive advantage.
Out of Necessity
The last reason coaches often resort to junk defense is out of necessity. If you are looking for a
way to keep your team competitive against more talented and better teams, then junk defense could be
a great equalizer. It requires the opposition to play unorthodox which may give you a way to stay in the
game. I have also seen it used as a last resort during a game when your normal defensive schemes are
not working. Bob Knight even went to a box and 1 defense at halftime of a game I watched growing up.
If it is good enough for the general then it is good enough for my program.
In conclusion, I have listed the four main reasons you may see junk defense next season. As you
continue to prepare for the upcoming season don’t fall in love with your offensive system, because
sooner or later some team and or coach will use junk defenses to take you out of it. Make sure you are
ready.
Next Post: Developing your junk offense philosophy
Follow Coach Rory Hamilton on Twitter!!!
Rory Hamilton has 17 years of basketball coaching experience at the collegiate and high school level.
Coach Hamilton just finished up his first season at Norman North High School where the Timberwolves
posted a 17-9 record. Season highlights included a tournament championship at the Altus Bulldog
Invitational, runner up at the Sapulpa Chieftain Holiday Classic, and losing in the 6A area playoffs. Prior
to Norman North, he served as the head girls coach at Mount St. Mary Catholic High School in Oklahoma
City, OK. In seven years at MSM, he posted a 108-75 record and is the winningest girls coach in school
history. Coach Hamilton led the Rockets to three consecutive 4A state tournament appearances. In
2011-2012, the Rockets had a 20-7 record and made it to the state tournament for the first time in
school history. The next year in 2012-2013, the Rockets posted a 25-6 record and earned the silver ball,
losing in the 4A state championship game to Fort Gibson. Last season in 2013-2014, the Rockets posted
a 23-7 record and lost to Anadarko in the 4A state tournament semifinals. Coach Hamilton was named
Central Oklahoma Conference coach of the year three times and was selected to coach the Little All-City
all-star game three consecutive years from 2012-2014. Prior to MSM, coach Hamilton had assistant
coaching jobs at Cache High School, Maize High School in Wichita, KS and Newman University. Coach
Hamilton is married to the former Allison Barse of Norman, Oklahoma. They have two children, Maddox
(10) and Avery (6). He played collegiate basketball for one year at Butler County Community College and
then transferred to play baseball at Newman University and graduated with a B.S. in secondary
education and a B.A. in mathematics. Coach Hamilton received his M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction
from Wichita State University. Coach Hamilton’s interests include Wichita State Shocker basketball and
spending time in Norman with his family and friends.
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