Pack-line D?
- Thread starter CatChatAR
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I think Jon Crispin believes NU is running the pack line. He referenced it in his post game interview Sunday.
Whatever it is, the Cats are running it very effectively.
Can someone more knowledgeable than I (meaning, pretty much any of us) explain a bit about the basics - or even intricacies, if you're so inclined - of the pack line defense?
I'm no more knowledgeable than you but I found this excellent reference. A short excerpt is posted here:
The 'Pack Line' defense is a variation of man-to-man defense. The biggest difference between the two is that instead of the off-ball defenders being out pressuring their player and denying the pass, everyone except the player guarding the ball must be inside an imaginary line 16 feet from the rim.
This 16ft line is know as the pack line. You can see the differences in positioning in the diagrams below…
When in Pack Line defense all players are inside the shaded yellow area protecting against penetration. In traditional man-to-man defense the players are denying the pass one pass away.
At all times there must be one defender pressuring the player with the basketball, and four defenders in gap/help positions. The only exception is if the offensive player picks up the dribble and it becomes a ‘dead ball’, then all players can go out and deny looking for the steal.
The premise behind this defense is that by having four players within the pack line, it discourages the opposition from penetrating and getting inside the paint and forces them to beat you with well executed offense and great outside shooting.
When the ball is passed around the perimeter, the next defender closes out with high hands to prevent the rhythm shot and then provides on-ball pressure while the defender who was playing on-ball defense falls back within the packline.
Again just to emphasize the most important point… At all time there must be one defender pressuring the player with the basketball and four defenders in gap/help positions.
http://www.basketballforcoaches.com/pack-line-defense/
Last edited:
Very helpful. ThanksI'm no more knowledgeable than you but I found this excellent reference. A short excerpt is posted here:
The 'Pack Line' defense is a variation of man-to-man defense. The biggest difference between the two is that instead of the off-ball defenders being out pressuring their player and denying the pass, everyone except the player guarding the ball must be inside an imaginary line 16 feet from the rim.
This 16ft line is know as the pack line. You can see the differences in positioning in the diagrams below…
When in Pack Line defense all players are inside the shaded yellow area protecting against penetration. In traditional man-to-man defense the players are denying the pass one pass away.
At all times there must be one defender pressuring the player with the basketball, and four defenders in gap/help positions. The only exception is if the offensive player picks up the dribble and it becomes a ‘dead ball’, then all players can go out and deny looking for the steal.
The premise behind this defense is that by having four players within the pack line, it discourages the opposition from penetrating and getting inside the paint and forces them to beat you with well executed offense and great outside shooting.
When the ball is passed around the perimeter, the next defender closes out with high hands to prevent the rhythm shot and then provides on-ball pressure while the defender who was playing on-ball defense falls back within the packline.
Again just to emphasize the most important point… At all time there must be one defender pressuring the player with the basketball and four defenders in gap/help positions.
http://www.basketballforcoaches.com/pack-line-defense/
It definitely needs a better name.
"Matchup zone" is intuitive (different than this, of course, but also a hybrid).
I propose "bunch man".
What's interesting is that modern offense is designed to maximize three point attempts, and this defense would seem to allow it. However, the success of the Pack Line (Virginia has ridden it to a perennailish top 15 ranking) emphasizes the fact that shots are easier to make when coming off of penetration.
True. Explains why an inferior team that is unconsciously hot from 3 (Chicago State) can stay in a game while solid banger teams get shut down (Penn State and Iowa).
I purposely sit fairly high in section 212, row LL, so the railing is not in our view. I have noted three massive changes:
1) Rebounding. Our players have been coached very well on boxing out and positioning for a rebound. We have had a dearth of home games against quality home opponents due to scheduling, but only Minny has beaten us on the boards fro the games I have seen. Our players have also become very strong.
2) Switching. Our man to man is fascinating with the switching. I have seen a difference in how we also guard the pick and roll. It seem the player who is picked then works to double the passer, while at the same time fading/sliding to guard against the pass to the roller. It is hard to describe how it is done, but we have the quickness to cover or inhibit the pick and roll. which we did not previously have. Brown has really begun to pick up on this. Io_a's point guard was a great interior passer, but it looked like his passes were not to the roller, but it seemed they were running a cutter from the baseline after the pick.
3) Stupid shots. I reference Ohio State. Matta's teams rarely take stupid shots. Now, we do take some bad bail out shots, but I rarely see us take a stupid shot. It is hard to pick this up on television, but at the game, you can see the player movement and the working for a good shot. Brown was good for the stupid but not necessary shot earlier this year, but has really improved on this. The stupid shot is the same as a turnover. The tear drop shot by McIntosh is maddening, but understood at the game. It is a high quality shot. He or Lindsey make a few of those and later in the game they can blow past the opponents for a lay up or sets up the give to our centers.
I think these 3 items explain why we have been in every game and are winning
1) Rebounding. Our players have been coached very well on boxing out and positioning for a rebound. We have had a dearth of home games against quality home opponents due to scheduling, but only Minny has beaten us on the boards fro the games I have seen. Our players have also become very strong.
2) Switching. Our man to man is fascinating with the switching. I have seen a difference in how we also guard the pick and roll. It seem the player who is picked then works to double the passer, while at the same time fading/sliding to guard against the pass to the roller. It is hard to describe how it is done, but we have the quickness to cover or inhibit the pick and roll. which we did not previously have. Brown has really begun to pick up on this. Io_a's point guard was a great interior passer, but it looked like his passes were not to the roller, but it seemed they were running a cutter from the baseline after the pick.
3) Stupid shots. I reference Ohio State. Matta's teams rarely take stupid shots. Now, we do take some bad bail out shots, but I rarely see us take a stupid shot. It is hard to pick this up on television, but at the game, you can see the player movement and the working for a good shot. Brown was good for the stupid but not necessary shot earlier this year, but has really improved on this. The stupid shot is the same as a turnover. The tear drop shot by McIntosh is maddening, but understood at the game. It is a high quality shot. He or Lindsey make a few of those and later in the game they can blow past the opponents for a lay up or sets up the give to our centers.
I think these 3 items explain why we have been in every game and are winning
Exactly. For the pack-line defense to be successful, the defender of the person receiving the next pass (out in 3-point range) has to close on that player very quickly so he is not comfortable taking a shot in rhythm. This year we have defenders who are able to make that quick step or two out to the player receiving the ball. Without that, the penetration and kick pass leaves people wide open for uncontested 3's.
You have to have athletes who are long and quick to run this defense. Scottie and Law fit the bill at the wing positions.
Exactly what happened against Minnesota. They could not get out to cover Coffey and he buried 3 or 4 wide open threes. One thing I have noticed over the season, defense is always good but better when, as with Iowa, McIntosh can effectively cover one on one on the perimeter.
It's worth noting that we switch up our style and execution quite a bit depending on the opponent. Against some teams with great wing scorers, CC will matchup Vic or Sanjay against them and have them play tight denial 1 on 1 against them all over the court to make them work as hard as possible. He also varies up our post defense tactics depending on opponent. And when a team gets hot against us and in rhythm for a few possessions, he likes to switch to a light 2-2-1 press or else the matchup zone for a couple possessions just to shake them out of their offensive rhythm - he used this against both Minnesota and Nebraska, though in both games switched back to our standard D later. He also changes personnel based on opponent and matchups- some days Ash plays more (e.g. PSU), some days Brown plays more. Same for Tap vs Skelly.
I like that he isn't dogmatic about philosophy and adjusts his approach depending on the opponent and what is (or isn't) working.
Thanks, Fitz; much appreciated.I'm no more knowledgeable than you but I found this excellent reference. A short excerpt is posted here:
The 'Pack Line' defense is a variation of man-to-man defense. The biggest difference between the two is that instead of the off-ball defenders being out pressuring their player and denying the pass, everyone except the player guarding the ball must be inside an imaginary line 16 feet from the rim.
This 16ft line is know as the pack line. You can see the differences in positioning in the diagrams below…
When in Pack Line defense all players are inside the shaded yellow area protecting against penetration. In traditional man-to-man defense the players are denying the pass one pass away.
At all times there must be one defender pressuring the player with the basketball, and four defenders in gap/help positions. The only exception is if the offensive player picks up the dribble and it becomes a ‘dead ball’, then all players can go out and deny looking for the steal.
The premise behind this defense is that by having four players within the pack line, it discourages the opposition from penetrating and getting inside the paint and forces them to beat you with well executed offense and great outside shooting.
When the ball is passed around the perimeter, the next defender closes out with high hands to prevent the rhythm shot and then provides on-ball pressure while the defender who was playing on-ball defense falls back within the packline.
Again just to emphasize the most important point… At all time there must be one defender pressuring the player with the basketball and four defenders in gap/help positions.
http://www.basketballforcoaches.com/pack-line-defense/
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