Spacing is a concept that many coaches and players talk about but very few really spend time understanding. We utilize spacing so that we can put the maximum amount of pressure on our opponents’ help defense. We feel we not only have to take advantage of defensive mismatches every game, we have to put as much pressure on the “help & recover” part of the opponents’ defense as possible. We believe the key to accomplishing this is through our spacing.

Our goals with our spacing are:

• make it difficult for one man to guard two
• make them be in a constant “close out” game defensively
• give the ball room to make a play (do not crowd the ball)
• distort their help, their recoveries, and their rotations

Some guidelines of spacing:

• stay 12’ – 15’ apart
• stay on a string with the player next to you; be ready to fill an open spacing spot if he cuts or roll
• be prepared to “drive the close out”; make a “decisive catch & read”
• finish your spacing, e.g. after making a cut to the basket and not receiving a pass – continue your cut outside of the three point line to space the floor back up (good teaching term – “when in doubt….spread out”)

Spacing is something we emphasize every day. Although it is a simple concept to explain it is a difficult concept to master even at the NBA level. With defenses today being so good we feel we have to put them in situations where they have to make an important defensive decision: do I help and risk not being able to recover or do I stay and risk us being driven on? This is the state of hesitation we want them in. It allows us just enough time to make a higher percentage play, and put the defense at a distinct disadvantage.