On-Ball Defense: Positioning and Pressure
On-ball defense is the defense of the ball handler.
Team Defense
Gap Positioning
The "gap" is the space between an off-ball defender's man and the ball
Direct answer
What is Gap Positioning?
The "gap" is the space between an off-ball defender's man and the ball
Quick facts
| Category | Team Defense |
|---|---|
| Source volume | BASKETBALL_PLAY_VAULT.md |
What it is
- The "gap" is the space between an off-ball defender's man and the ball
How it works
- Defenders sitting in the gap take away driving lanes and can help on roll men without abandoning shooters entirely
- If the gap defender's man is a non-shooter, they can sag further into the paint
- Exploitation: The Grizzlies used gap positioning against Memphis opponents to set up Ja Morant (non-shooter) for decoy plays
Bilingual terms
| English | Gap Positioning |
|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese | 缺口站位 |
| Traditional Chinese | 間隙定位 |
Related concepts
One-Pass-Away Positioning: Denial
One-pass-away defense is the defense of a player one pass away from the ball.
Shell Drill: The Framework for Defensive Positioning
The shell drill is a 4-on-4 positioning drill without live defense.
Two-Passes-Away Positioning: Help
Two-passes-away defense is the defense of a player who is unlikely to receive the next pass.
Staying In Front and Gap Defense
"Staying in front" of a ball-handler is the fundamental on-ball defense principle.
3.2 Post Positioning & Footwork
Fronting defense: Post player's back fully to defender's chest → perfect lob position