Florida Atlantic's Switching Defensive Schemes
How Florida Atlantic uses point and peel switching to protect the paint
Below is Florida Atlantic’s defensive shot chart and FGA % by region this past season. With a 97.2 overall defensive rating, FAU finished in the 94th percentile for all Men’s NCAA Division 1 teams. Take a look at the overall shot chart shown in the first image below, the large red circles represent FAU’s exceptional paint and rim protection. The second image gives a bit of insight into HOW they have managed to lock up the interior, baiting opponents into taking more mid range jumpers. Highlighted in green (second image) is FAU’s opponents FGA % by region of the floor and in this case, mid range 2s. Teams take on average 5% more mid range 2s vs. FAU.
Based on the concept of expected value, in the long run for the average player, 3PAs are more valuable than long twos due to the extra point that a made 3 provides. Let’s get into the tactical and technical details of how FAU has defended the rim (the shot type with the highest expected value) at an elite level, forcing teams to play a ton of isolation basketball.
Point Switching - Off the Ball Defense
Watch closely in the bottom right hand corner of the video below. The low defender simply points and takes the offensive player cutting through the lane and his teammate (the original cutter defender) takes two steps with the cutter before passing him off and fanning back out to the 3pt line with a hand in the passing lane.
Here’s another example of off the ball switching by FAU. This time draw your attention towards the baseline where two offensive players exchange and the FAU defenders once again point and switch taking away any advantage that could be created by trailing or shooting the gap on off ball screening actions.
The point switch requires ELITE communication and trust as each player is releasing their man prior to the “point” of the screen in order to get back to “square” on the catch. When executed properly as shown in these clips above, point switching can
Neutralize any advantage the offense may be looking to create through normal screening reads (curl, pop, fade etc.)
Allow the two defenders who are switching to be more aggressive with hands in passing lanes and be there on the catch
A couple things to keep in mind and ways to attack the point switch are…
There will obviously be potential mismatches as a result of all the switching.
This could put your defense at a disadvantage in terms of defensive rebounding position
Miscommunications between defenders, it’s going to happen from time to time.
Teams who will look to slip or screen their own defender
Is what you are trying to take away more significant than what you might give up? What are you willing to live with?
Peel Switching
The next form of switching that FAU has nearly perfected is what is referred to as the “Peel Switch”. First coined by Will Voigt (clinic on the origins of Peel Switching here) the concept of “peeling” is designed to keep bodies in front of bodies but once again neutralizing any advantages created off the bounce. In “simplified” terms, a peel switch typically occurs between two players on a penetrating drive. As the drive happens the nearest logical player fully rotates (chest in front of ball) to the ball handler while the original on ball defender “peels” off behind the ball resulting in a switch that ideally eliminates any straight line drive for the offense. See clips below.
What is most impressive about FAU’s defensive system is how good they are scrambling around and covering for one another in less than ideal scenarios. FAU has had great success implementing the peel as somewhat of a “protection plan” for instances where a defender might have gambled for a steal or gotten beat in the back court. As shown in the clip above, FAU can take some risks on the perimeter knowing the next defender will be ready to rotate.
Here is another example of the peel switch, this time on a baseline drive. After shooting the gap on an exit screen and being slightly out of position as the offensive player fades to the corner, FAU’s center is ready to pick up the drive while defender who was beat peels right to the offensive big man, keeping the ball out of the lane.
How about a peel and a point switch in one possession to really hit home on Florida Atlantic’s elite communication and switching defense!!
After watching a ton of their defensive clips these are two concepts that without a doubt contribute to their excellent rim and paint defense. Switching allows the defense to keep bodies in front of bodies, reducing the need for full help rotations and therefore forcing teams to play isolation basketball late in the clock, either on the perimeter or through a mismatch in the post. Regardless, the biggest takeaway in Dusty May’s defensive system is the trust and communication these guys developed to guard the ball as a team.