Some common options taken by defensive teams are:

  • Switching every screen;
  • Playing zone defence (essentially another form of switching on screens);
  • Having a tall player defend the passer, regardless of whether the passer is a guard, forward or centre. The defender will often angle their body to “allow” a pass to the perimeter, but to block any pass toward the basket;
  • Having defenders sag in towards the key, but to allow passes to the perimeter;
  • “Sagging” into the key, essentially allowing a pass to the perimeter but denying any pass into the key;
  • Strongly denying the “safety” pass. This can be particularly effective, as the presence of the backboard limits the areas of the court where this pass can be made.

There is no necessarily preferred method for defending a baseline inbounds pass but what is important is that the team is organized and all players understand (and implement) whatever method is employed.

A coach may also opt to have more than one way to defend, and then choose a particular tactic depending upon:

  • 剩余比赛时间或是投篮时限;
  • 两个球队之间的分差(对手是否必须投中一个三分球?)
  • 边线球的发球位置。

用于防守边线球的一些常用选项包括:

  • 换防掩护;
  • 让一个个子高的球员防守边线球 – 发球者还可站在一个特定角度以对球经过的球场区域造成影响;
  • 让一个球员“收缩”到罚球区以便阻止有任何高吊传球传给切入到篮下的进攻球员(这在做背掩护时常有发生,通常防守掩护者的防守球员会进行“收缩”);
  • 允许边线传球,但双人夹击防守一个特定的接球球员;
  • 完全阻绝向位于三分线以外的对方球员传球,迫使对方球员切入三分线以内(若是进攻球队需要获得三分,则可采用这种做法);
  • 防守边线传球者,然后在其进入场内后强力阻绝这个传球者接球;
  • 阻绝向球场地面的一个特定的位置传球(例如,基于特定球员喜欢在哪个位置投篮进行防守或是阻止特定的投篮)。