Help-Side Defense
Help-side defense is the organization of off-ball defenders who are two or more passes away from the ball.
Team Defense
Help and Recover
Help and recover is the two-phase sequence that every help-side defender executes when the ball penetrates the defense.
Direct answer
What is Help and Recover?
Help and recover is the two-phase sequence that every help-side defender executes when the ball penetrates the defense.
Quick facts
| Category | Team Defense |
|---|---|
| Source volume | BASKETBALL_PLAY_VAULT.md |
What it is
- Help and recover is the two-phase sequence that every help-side defender executes when the ball penetrates the defense.
- The ball handler beats their primary defender off the dribble and enters the paint or a dangerous intermediate area.
- The nearest help-side defender on the strong side (or the designated helper based on the team's coverage rules).
How it works
- - Trigger: The ball handler beats their primary defender off the dribble and enters the paint or a dangerous intermediate area. - Who helps: The nearest help-side defender on the strong side (or the designated helper based on the team's coverage rules).
- Trigger: The ball handler beats their primary defender off the dribble and enters the paint or a dangerous intermediate area.
- Who helps: The nearest help-side defender on the strong side (or the designated helper based on the team's coverage rules). Typically, this is the defender whose man is one pass away from the ball.
- - Trigger: The ball handler has stopped, passed, or been stopped by the help defender. - Recovery path: The helper sprints back toward their man — not back to their original spot on the floor, but to wherever their man has moved during the rotation.
- Trigger: The ball handler has stopped, passed, or been stopped by the help defender.
Bilingual terms
| English | Help and Recover |
|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese | 协防与回收 |
| Traditional Chinese | 幫助和回防 |
Learn before and after
These graph neighbors help place Help and Recover in the larger basketball map.
Closeout Technique
Closeout Technique: The closeout is the act of closing distance from a help-side position to a catch-and-shoot threat after a kick-out pass.
Related concepts
Switching Defense Forced Positionless Evolution
Switching Defense Forced Positionless Evolution is a defensive strategy involving switching defense—where defenders exchange opponents on screens.
Empty-Side / Empty-Corner Pick-and-Roll Coverage
Empty-Side / Empty-Corner Pick-and-Roll Coverage: How a defense guards a pick-and-roll run on a deliberately cleared side, where the strong-side.
Ball Screen Defense
Ball Screen Defense: The screener's defender steps out hard into the ball handler's path while the on-ball defender fights over the screen - Forces.
No-Middle Defense
No-Middle Defense: Team-wide scheme where all help is designed to prevent penetration up the middle of the paint - All ball screens defended in a way.
PRESS BREAK
PRESS BREAK is a defensive strategy involving the most widely used and most effective press break alignment.
Press Break Alignments
Press Break Alignments is a defensive strategy involving best against 2-2-1, any zone press 1-2-1-1 diamond zone presses 2-2-1 zone full-court man.