NBA Defense: Transition

A breakdown of Transition defense in the modern NBA.

Oct 19, 2023

After diving into NBA 5-Out offense over the last few years, I wanted to study modern NBA defense and how they attempt to slow down offenses in this era of pace, space, and shooting.

For part 2 of our modern NBA defense study, we are going to focus on Transition defense, typically the first 5-7 seconds of a possession. Transition defense starts off a live basketball from a rebound, or turnover, and is very chaotic, so most of the time it requires sprinting back first and then finding matchups after that.

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Latest Breakdown:

What Is Transition

Stats for transition defense are inherently flawed since most tracking services only chart transition possessions that end with a result of a play that occurs within the first few seconds of the possession. If the play starts with a transition possession where one team clearly has a 4-on-3 advantage and pushes within a few seconds but the defense stops the ball and forces them into a half-court set - this gets classified as a half-court play on most tracking sites and is not counted as a transition stop for the defense but instead goes into a half-court result.

This is something to keep in mind when looking at the best transition defense teams, since typically the best transition defense teams won’t even allow the other team to score in transition and force them to play in the half-court against a set defense.

Transition can be the hardest form of defense for any team, it is truly chaotic and you must make split-second decisions to react to the first threat - especially in clear disadvantage situations like a 2-on-1.

Here is a good example of doing just that from Chris Paul where LeBron and Kuzma have a 2-on-1 fast break and so CP3 must choose what the clearest “threat” to score is. He initially stunts at LeBron as LeBron is passing to Kuzma and then anticipating the lob back he jumps back toward LeBron as help is coming and forces Kuzma into an awkward missed layup.

Another example here is a 3-on-2 situation from Caruso in which he initially stops or puts himself between Booker and the basket but does not overcommit or step up allowing him to recover on the pass and the poor pass results in a turnover.

These situations are also common with a 5-on-4 or a 4-on-3 where a player is late to recover from offense to defense, has fallen down, or is unable to recover in time. For the defense, they must be able to contain, scramble, and force tougher shots or stop the break altogether.

Here Siakam does a good job stunting at the ball and slowing down the 2-on-1 and the play results in the Raptors stopping the break and forcing the offense to play against a set defense.

Communication

To me, the most important part of any defense, but especially in transition, is the communication of where players are, who each player is guarding, and communicating as early as possible. Below KCP does a great job of talking and pointing early, communicating with Jokic to take the ball, and Gordon pointing and talking in the trail spot.

Another example here as Gordon and Brown communicate so Gordon can take the matchup of Butler and Brown can recover to Martin.

Contain & Stop Ball

Next, defenses must contain and stop the ball even if that results in giving up other scoring opportunities as players and teams are running more and more to the corners for 3’s. Although it may seem counterintuitive, layups and shots at the rim in transition can be even more efficient than normal because of lack of help and matchups that keep rim protectors away from the basket.

Tatum here stops the ball when Bam is driving and then recovers out to the corner 3 to contest as best as possible.

Another example here of loading to Bam when he is looking to attack early, then all of the Nuggets can get to a matchup and stop any early advantage the Heat had.

Find Shooters

This dynamic changes when the other team has better 3-point shooting threats as teams will prioritize finding players like Steph, Klay, and the best shooters in the league. Here the Nets do a good job finding Steph early and containing the drive and then contesting the shot here as best as they can with 3 players.

This is something that teams have to adjust to because when you are defending a player like Steph you have to adjust your pickup point and matchup - whoever is close to Steph is now guarding Steph & especially in transition.

Of course, a player like Steph is an anomaly, but getting out to shooters like MPJ was a must for the Heat in the 2023 NBA Finals - even though they are a protect the paint first team.

Here is a good example of helping the helper first, then a big man like Jokic having to recover out to a shooter after sinking down to protect the basket first.

Having not only the IQ but also the ability to react quickly enough to contest these shots is a must in today’s NBA.

Guard Contests

One of the most important things for guards in transition defense is to be able to slow down the initial attack and force either a tough shot or adjustment to allow help to recover in time.

One of the main ways guards do this is by closing down space and forcing a shot adjustment or body adjustment so the recovering player can get there quicker.

Guards are the primary players that are responsible for getting back first in transition defense, so being able to stop quick attacks and vertical contest is very important.

One of the biggest guard contests comes from THE BLOCK from LeBron where JR stopped the 2 on 1 and forced an adjustment from Iguodala that allowed LeBron to get this historic block.

Contain & Kickout

Another responsibility for guards is to pick up and find any rim-running bigs to hold until they can be “Kicked Out” or the big recovering takes the rim runner and the guard then finds the closest player.

Here is an example where Steph picks up Horford and as Draymond is getting back on defense Draymond switches onto Horford and then Steph ends up stopping the ball as White drives right into him.

Another example here as CP3 initially takes AD and then when Crowder recovers he then closes out to the perimeter.

Kyrie fronts Collins here in the post initially resulting in a tough pass and turnover.

Load To Ball

One of the ways teams will stop or contain the ball is what we call a “load” or loading to the ball and keeping it on one side of the floor.

Doing this means having the ability to recognize where the ball is and where you need to stop the ball and then recover. Draymond here notices that on this early drive he is going to load to the nail and when it is passed, he swipes and forces the steal.

Multiple Efforts

Perhaps the most important factor outside of communication is multiple efforts, or the ability to sprint back on defense and disrupt the play. The best team in the NBA at this to me is the Miami Heat. Just look at these two clips with Butler and Strus sprinting back on defense to not only get back into the play but also stop it.

Give Up Something

We are talking about NBA defense here, so naturally you are going to have to give up something or just try to force them to shoot the hardest shot that you are going to “allow.” Most of the time these are going to be Above The Break 3’s, or contested pullups/floaters.

I hope you were able to take something away from this breakdown and be able to understand more insight into NBA transition defense. In the coming breakdowns, we will address the following in more detail and look at some early-season film to see if anything new stands out.

Ballscreen Defense

Help Defense

Closeouts

Switching Concepts

Putting It All Together

Enjoy!

Coach Pyper

Half Court Hoops - Coach's Cut

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