Kevin Eastman An Inside Look at an NBA Defensive System

Have knowledge of the old school, antennas up to the new school, and combine them for
1 school
Your advantage as a coach will come from growth, growth comes from learning, learning
comes from antennas
Big eyes, big ears, little mouth
Its not what you know, its what you bring
Thoughts on success
Hard work is the price of admission, separator is unrequired work
Networking only tells you how many people you meet, separator is relationship
builder
After you meet someone, 1 year of giving before asking
If I can ever help you, dont hesitate to ask
Reads 2 hours every day
Show up, shut up, keep up
1 perfect shot every time instead of 500 shots
Teach your players to score off of activity level and not just skill level
Motivation is physical, inspiration is in the heart
Seek to inspire
Fools gold in transition defense
Team is back but not set (in a stance, below the ball, seeing your man)
1 man back is a dunk
2 men back is a layup
3 men back give up a contested 2
4+ are back, game on
11 elements of transition defense
Start trans D on the raise of the shot; 1, 2, and 3 are back (Rondo is
exception)
First 3 steps are SPRINTS!
No buddy running dont run with a man, get back
Make them pass 2 times
Need communication in voice and pointing
Find and cover shooters
Get below the ball as fast as you can
Get to help spots as fast as you can
Not guarding a man, guard their team
Take away the early strike first 6 seconds
Have a trans D mindset
2 keys to great trans D
Guards have to make good decisions (getting back and not gambling is
always a good decision)
Bigs have to make great effort

7 musts of trans D
Must have trans D mindset
Sprint back, cant jog
Dominate first 6 seconds
3 passes will win the possession
Guard ours or theirs? (guard their team not individual matchup)
Trans D is about team, not matchup
Dont just talk, point
5 actions you must eliminate
Complaining to officials
Reacting to a missed shot
Celebrating a made shot (celebrate the win after the game)
Gambling and missing
Not following off rebounding philosophy
What shots do you want to take away? (layups, free throws, corner 3s)
Good shots come from ball getting in the lane. Keep the lane clean
Keep ball in front, protect the pain, cover the 3
Give up midrange contested and off the dribble
Work on closeouts
Communication
Intimidates opponent
Gives D a head start
Gives man on ball confidence
Wakes up a disengaged defender
Catch a mistake before it happens or lessen consequences of a mistake
Energizes team
Positioning, Awareness (sniff out next logical action), and Alertness (when the team
needs you, you are there)
Paint consequences block, charge, contest, hard foul
Rasheed Wallace fouled after initial foul was called because there has
never been 2 fouls called on the same shot
Defense is all about multiple efforts, offense is about multiple actions
Have a resolve to do what we do in practice every play
Must have a communication system early, loud, continuous
Have an adjustment system do it harder, do it better, take player out of game, change
strategy
Impossible to make a change if players arent playing hard
Type of defense isnt that important, being committed to it is very important
Winning on the road
Must defend
Take away transition offense
Rebound (especially defensively)
Have defensive resolve
Eliminate turnovers

4 things for any type of defense

Player commitment
Habits needs for type of defense
Focus needed for defense
Competitive motor/passion
4 stats to chart
Loose ball (want to get 70% of loose balls)
Loose balls also occur in the air
Win the first to floor game
Win take charges game (1 per qtr)
Deflections 6 per qtr (kick ball, strip, etc.)
Passion is great, but skills and knowledge must catch up
The best coaches have the answers before the players ask Lawrence Frank
Prepare for the what ifs
Repetition creates reputation
Trust on D is never turning your back
Charts consecutive stops
When post is 3 qtr fronted, put inside foot behind defenders foot that is closest to the rim
and raise up Vice
Know your nos
No middle
No layups
No uncontested shots
No buddy running
Have groups that can switch screens, not just positioned-based
Player-based
Pierce could switch screens with KG
Fouling negates hustle Pitino
Sprint to help, sprint to rotation dont just get there
On D Plug Holes
Crowd shooters, cushion drivers
Fight instincts late in games on D (going after fakes)
Be there before you get there prepare
During pick up- a player can get an average of 28 shots in an hour or they can work out
and get 400 shots in an hour