Everyone is aware of what a good trap brings to the defensive table. It can...

• Be smothering
• Create turnovers
• Put stress on any offense

However, to run around and try to constantly trap everywhere, can also put a lot of stress on your defense. One breakdown, or one bad trap, could mean an easy scoring opportunity for the offense.

This is why the walling technique can be so effective at times.

If you mix up traps and walls, it might give your defense the edge you are looking for!

How To Build Your Wall

Most people understand what a trap is, but the walling technique is not nearly as common.

Put simply, a wall is where defenders stay back from the ball approximately 3-4 feet.

x1 and x2 in the diagram are walling 1.

If 1 takes a dribble at them, they could either take a step back and continue to wall, or they could take that opportunity to trap.

When walling, players may even keep their hands down.

Why?

Because when walling, you are trying to bait your opponent into making a bad pass.

Advantages of Walling

Building a wall can have its advantages if done correctly.

This is one of the reasons Buzz Half Court Trapping Defense incorporates walls with traps.

Let's look at a couple advantages of walling:

1. Less Gambling - Walling is less of a gamble than trapping. Your defenders are in a better position to recover if they do not get a steal off the pass.
2. Bait The Offense - Walling also can bait players into making a bad pass. Offensive players don't feel like the wall is pressuring them, they think they have an easy pass, then BAM, the defender jumps to steal a lazy pass and is off to the races.
3. Quicker Corner Trap - Walling on the wing puts you in great position to trap the corner.

The corners are always a great place to trap. You essentially have two extra defenders (the baseline and the sideline) to help you trap.

Going From A Wall To A Trap

If you are walling the 1-man and the pass goes to 2-man in the corner, look at the distance x2 now has to travel.

It is a relatively short distance.

The corner trap in the situation will likely be ultra effective!

Trying To Go From A Trap To A Trap

Now let's take a look at trying to go from a trap to another trap.

In theory, you are hoping that x1 and x2 create a turnover.

But, if they don't get a steal, your defense gets a stress test. The offense will have significant numbers advantages.

In this diagram take a look at how far x2 has to travel on a pass to the corner.

This is too much distance for x2 to travel and effectively trap.

Unless the 2 is a very bad player, they will have a great opportunity to either shoot, or attack on the closeout by x3, as x3 waits for x2 to arrive and trap.

So, if you are looking to run a defense that traps in the half court, you may want to consider using walling action to mix things up. There are definitely some advantages to keeping the offense guessing whether they will see a wall or a trap.

Where To Wall & Where To Trap

There's no definitive answer on where you must use each.

When Coach Kevin Furtado teaches his Buzz Half Court Trapping Defense, he has a few rules that have worked for him over the years (to the tune of 490+ wins)!

• First, As the ball is crossing half-court the top 2 defenders in the 2-3 zone look to trap. This is a great time to trap because it gets the ball quickly out of the primary ball handler's hands and uses the half-court line as an extra defender.

• As shown in earlier diagrams, If the ball goes to the wings, the wall technique is used. Players look to make passes difficult to the high post, corners, or reversals.
• If the ball goes to the corner, then it is trapped. Again, you have 2 extra "defenders" by using the sideline and baseline making this an ideal area to trap. And because you walled the previous pass, you are in a great trapping position!

The Perfect Union

Ultimately mixing the walling technique with trapping in the half court could prove to be a perfect union of two similar, but different defensive tactics.

Want to learn more about how to mesh the two tactics together creating an aggressive defense that gets easy buckets for your offense?

Then check out The Buzz Half Court Trapping Defense that helps Coach Furtado average 30+ ppg off turnovers!

Good luck this season!

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