As a young basketball player, coaches will often tell you not to give up a route to the baseline, as a defender. Of course, some coaches preach the opposite, saying that forcing your man to the baseline uses that stripe as a magical second defender. Traditional thinking at the senior level however states that funnelling your man to the centre of the court provides you with help defenders and the situation where your shot blockers can be in position for some “smackdown”.
This play here by Jerryd Bayless of the Portland Trail Blazers demonstrates an example of why you don’t want to give up baseline. Against the Sacramento Kings on March 9, Tyreke Evans did what he has done to pretty much everyone in the league this season: he bullied his way to the basket. In this instance however, Bayless might have stood some chance of a stop if he had been covering the baseline, rather than going for the charge toward the centre of the key. Take a look and decide for yourself.
It’s no great indictment on Bayless’ defence that he gave up a basket here. Indeed he was moving his feet and looking to pull off a charging call on Evans — moreover, Evans leads the league in points per game made at the rim this season (5.0 baskets per game), a remarkable statistic for a rookie and a true precursor of greatness.
