The 3 Best Man Left Defense Drills To Lock The Ball Left
It goes by different names: Man Left Defense, Lock Left, Force Left, Weaking.
Whatever you call it, this style of defense has become increasingly popular. Coaches are seeing the logic in forcing your opponent to make plays with their weak hand.
When done correctly, this leads to turnovers and missed shots.
This system is sound. If you're ready to try it, you'll want to build it through the use of quality drills.
Drill 1 - Left 1/3 Closeouts
This closeout drill is very simple: the defender closes out on the offensive player, who takes two dribbles and stops. The defense calls "Dead! Dead! Dead!" and then the drill moves on to the next defender.
The purpose of this drill is to reinforce Man Left's defensive habits while closing out.
Setup
- Have a coach or player with the ball at the top of the key.
- The other offensive player is on the left wing.
- The defender starts in the gap, ready to "fake & fade".
Instructions
- Player 1 passes the ball to player 2. On the pass, x2 closes out to 2.
- When closing out, the defender should place the left hand near the right ear of the offensive player.
- The defender's left foot must also be higher than the offensive player's right foot.
- The closeout must take away the 3 and right-hand drive.
- Player 2 will take 2 hard dribbles left.
- x2 should focus on directing 2 to the Gray Area.
Drill 2 - Angles Drill
Coach Brost runs this drill every single practice. Players must communicate what they are doing throughout the entire drill. The reasoning is that if you want players to communicate in games, make them do it in practice. Teach players to give teammates reminders BEFORE they are needed.
This drill serves as not only a quality warmup but also reinforces the Man Left habits: correct closeout angles, help D, and Fake & Fade.
Additionally, this drill requires each player to:
- Closeout at correct angle
- Go to Gap Position
- Go to Help Position
- Closeout again at correct angle
Setup
- Start one line on the baseline, just to the right of the hoop (facing the rim). If you have a large group, do the drill at both ends.
- Position 5 cones as shown:
- Right corner
- Right slot
- Left slot
- Left corner
- Left "gray area"
Instructions
- All players close out at the cones, one at a time.
- On the black dots positioned in the diagram, players are either in denial, help, or gap position.
- 2 goes as soon as 1 reaches the first dot and is in denial position.
- 1 goes from denying at the dot positioned between the top of the key and the cone to playing the gaps at the free-throw line area.
- 1 then closes out at the cone on the left side then moves to denial position on the dot located at the left wing.
- 3 starts as soon as 2 is in denial position on the right wing
- 1 drops to the left block in help position, 5 should go when 4 is in denial position on the dot on the right side of the court
- 1 then closes out at the cone on the left corner then ends the drill by moving to the cone located on the left baseline. This simulates the spot where you want players to pick up their dribble.
Drill 3 - 4v4 Man Left Scoring Small Sided Game
Coach Brost likes to use short-sided games to deter bad habits from accumulating for the Man Left Defense. The scoring system should be used to help your team figure out what you do NOT want to have happen. Adjust the scoring as needed to try to reach the outcomes you want to see.
This drill is fast-paced because transitioning quickly between offense and defense creates more "chaos" and challenges the players. There will be quite a few "fix it" situations that the defense must address. The defenses should always rotate to the most dangerous scoring threat first.
Playing 4 v 4 puts extra pressure on the defense and forces them to do things perfectly. The margin of error is slim for defenses in a 4 v 4 setting because there are two fewer players on the court. The spacing and passing lanes will become far more advantageous to the offense.
The Man Left defense is designed for teams to play at an up-tempo pace. Opposing teams often take quick shots when attacking the Man Left defense. It is also very challenging to make a good pass while driving full speed to the left.
It takes a remarkable level of patience and discipline to slow the game down and to get the best possible shot on offense. Even if the opposing team can succeed in slowing themselves down, it still does NOT guarantee that they will get a good shot.
The help defense should be on the rimline (middle of the lane) when the ball is on the left third of the court. Defenders should Fake & Fade on a baseline drive as well.
What should NOT happen in the Man Left defense:
The Man Left defense follows a very analytically-sound thought process in terms of the shots they do not want to give up. These are the three most important shots to prevent when in the Man Left defense:
- Right-hand layups
- Uncontested 3's
- Right-hand drives
Setup
Play normal 4 v 4 in the half court.
Man Left 4v4 Rules
- The rules of 4 v 4 short-sided game scoring incentivize the offense to take the type of shots that the Man Left defense does not want to give up. You can start the short-sided game with an action you want to emphasize. Players will make adjustments based on the scoring because they want to win.
- The points are allocated based on what the defense does NOT want to give up. For instance, allowing right-handed layups is the worst possible outcome in the Man Left defense. Right-handed layups therefore get the highest point total.
- Right-handed layup = 5 points
- Uncontested 3 (Make or Miss) = 4 points
- Mid-range shot on left side = 0 points
- Mid-range shot on right side = 1 point
Modifications to 4v4 Man Left Scoring
You must adapt these drills to whatever situation you find yourself in. Regardless, here are some core principles for these short-sided games:
- Can be adjusted to meet your exact needs (e.g., go 2 v 2 on the left side)
- Should be drilled daily
- Help players figure out HOW TO WIN
- Can be used on the offensive end as well
Players will figure out how to win during the Short-Sided Game Drill. If your team is struggling to defend open 3's, make that a point of emphasis and score it higher, maybe 7 points. If skip passes have been hurting your team, give 5 points for every successful skip pass.
What A Children's Story Can Teach You About Building Your Defense
You might remember the saying, "Inch by inch, life's a cinch. Yard by yard, life is hard."
Defense is no different. The Man Left Defense is a proven system. As with any system, implementation is critical. These 3 drills give you the start of a framework for installing the entire thing:
- It all starts with how you guard the ball.
- It builds to how you play 1 pass away.
- It culminates with the addition of help defenders and an entire unit acting in lockstep.
For more drills and concepts to force left and make your opponent miserable, check out the Man Left Defense with Coach Rob Brost.
What do you think? Let us know by leaving your comments, suggestions, and questions...
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