Giving up the baseline

[Flatulence]

I have a question that has bothered me for years. Being very old school it was considered an act of defiance to allow a man to beat you baseline. We were benched if we got beat baseline because so many things could happen that cost the team. NOW, it seems that we force baseline and I see the offense get the upper hand most of the time with either a foul or a bunny. Why is it that giving up the baseline is considered a good thing now?

[backdoor54]

middle penetration creates a disadvantage for the defense that can last for 2 or 3 passes, if its even cut off the first time. Baseline penetration can be cut off by a post man/shot blocker or by sliding and getting your chest in front. Sometimes a foul is drawn, but most good referees wont bail out an over aggressive offensive player by calling a foul when they have no place to go and step out of bounds.

[eagles73Taylor]

I understand you flatulence, giving up the baseline drives me nuts. Our varsity coach puts it like this, if you are quick, force baseline, if you are big force middle. Sometimes it looks like kids give the baseline instead of force. lol

backdoor, how does allowing penetration to the middle break it down easier. If your defense is on good helpside, there should be enough help to rotate except for the kickout.

[Flatulence]

Backdoor, I look at it this way: by forcing it to the middle there is a lot of trash in there and the ball will probably be kicked out for a jump shot from about 18' away---a lower percentage shot. By going baseline, with smart coaching, I see a great opportunity for: 1. a foul; 2. a ball bouncing off a defensive players leg or face; 3. a bounce pass for a lay-up or 5'to 7' jumper. In my book all of these options are better than an 18' jumper. The "paint" should be for defensive players only. Am I that far off base?

[tiger_4_ever]

Flatulence,

I understand your concern. Old school is out and new school is better! I'm not so sure but I see it all the time. One thing for sure if a coach coaches baseline defense, players better know how to rotate.

[farmer]

Giving up the baseline is part of old school basketball. But a team the can does not give up the baseline seems to be the teams that are more fundamentally sound. They seem to do the little things that promote a team concept of defense instead of leaning on the atheletic ability to come thur. In games that some refs are more picky a good defense in not giving up the baseline works better.

[fighting_falcon]

I think there is a mis-understanding about giving up baseline. All the good coaches talk about forcing baseline not giving up baseline, there is a big difference. You force baseline but cut the player off in the short corner area. It gives you another defender (the baseline itself) and almost no where to go. If you let a player get into the lane very few good things can happen for the defense at that point. I guess some are better at than others.

[NICKNEVADA]

I say you should not give up anything! Don't let them go baseline and don't let them penetrate.Simple. Play D!

[MightyOaksFan]

Forcing baseline and giving up the baseline are 2 totally different things.

You must force baseline but then cut it off. If beaten then as long as your D is in helpside then it can't hurt you if the rotation is there.

[Spartan]

another hangup i think of forcing baseline, is that if the help does come, the opposite corner is open and then comes the nightmare of recovering under a controlled closeout. Arch the dribbler, and do not allow straight line drives, scout your opponents and improvise from there according to personnel.

[kobe01]

dont give up baseline , force them to the middle where you have help.

[3ptspecialist]

in myopinion giving up baseline is the one cardinal sin of basketball. Its the equivalent of giving up the sideline in a 1-2-2 press. A good basketball team that plays good line of ball defense is in better position to help or take a charge when giving up middle penetration. At the very worst you give up an open outside shot which will happen when someone gets beat off the dribble. However, if a defender gets beat baseline there may be only one defensive player in position helpside if the team plays good line of ball defense. The majority of the time giving up baseline results in a foul, or a layup. Unless yourteaching a trapping defense whereas then thebaseline acts asanother defender you should always force the man to the middle of the floor.

[backdoor54]

the opposite corner isnt open if your rotation is good. You dont give up baseline, but you should force it. If you give up middle the worst that happens isnt a 17 foot jump shot. The worst that happens is help and recover for 2 more passes until the defense is so out of position a layup or wide open jump shot is there. If you happen to get beat on the baseline, you should have someone there to rotate and cut it off then the back side must drop. Giving up anywhere is not good, but if I had to pick, Id rather the opponent stay out of the paint.

[iwearblacknikes]

force baseline then trap why would you want to let some one go middle?

[Coach Skinner]

IF your rotation is good the opposite corner isn't open. That is a big IF>

Probably whatever you do, if you make it what you are going to do, and work hard at it and get good at it, is probably the best thing you can do, depending on your personnel. Just my opinion fellas.

[Amen Corner]

The percentage when you give up baseline is likely going to be 2 points and when the defense comes late it will be 3 point play.

You force the ball towards the middle because you have help defense and the percentages go up for a defenseive stop.

Old school still works for me.