Three Rules to Perfecting Basketball's Lock Left Defensive System

• By Grant Young

The lock left defense has been one of the best ways for basketball coaches to nullify elite offensive opponents in the modern game. 

For those who don’t know the Lock left basketball defense is a strategic approach designed to stifle an opponent's offensive plays by forcing them toward a specific direction—namely, to the left side of the court. This technique is particularly effective when defending against right-handed players, who are generally more comfortable driving and shooting from their dominant side.

In essence, the lock left defense requires defenders to position themselves in such a way that they channel their opponents towards the left. This involves not only physical positioning but also keen awareness of the offensive player’s tendencies and skills. By anticipating moves and cutting off lanes, defenders can significantly disrupt an opponent's rhythm and limit scoring opportunities.

Implementing lock left defense can elevate your team’s overall defensive strategy. It encourages cohesive teamwork, as players must communicate effectively to ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding assignments and rotations, which can create turnovers and fast-break opportunities for your team.

Incorporating lock left defense into your team strategy will not only sharpen individual skills but also enhance team dynamics. And Tyler Coston can help you turn the lock left defense into a championship-winning strategy you can employ with ease. 

Coach Coston is the Founder of Savi Coaching and the developer of the Lock Left Defensive System and Race & Space Offensive System. He is known as a thought leader in player development, curriculum creation, and teaching methodology. Tyler spent the last 13 years providing leadership as Director of Basketball Development for PGC Basketball. 

In a recent clinic Coach Coston gave as part of the 2023 Bob Jones University Bruins Coaching Clinic held in Greenville, SC, he discussed player responsibilities for the Lock Left Defense, defensive rotations, build-up drills, and team drills.

Rule 1: Do Not Help One Pass Away

Coach Coston explains that the first aspect of executing the lock left defense is locking the ball. 

“How are we going to identify the threat early, pick up the ball early, shift it to one side of the floor, and then keep it on that side of the floor? How can we enter a little bit of doubt, a little of chaos into the mind of the opponent by them not knowing what it is?” Coach Coston asks. 

A drill Coach Coston uses to instill this chaos is what he calls “Lock 2 v 2”. The goal of this drill is to work on the relationship between the ball and the gap. 

One player will start at around half-court with the ball while their offensive teammate will be on the ball-side corner. A defender will be guarding the ball handler around the three-point line while the second defender is around the free-throw line.

Coach Colson explains that in the lock left defense, “We do not help one pass away”. Instead, the defense “skirmishes or scrams”. 

This means that the second defender isn’t really going to be helping with a potential drive, but rather looking to cut into the passing lane to steal the pass from the ball handler to their teammate in the corner. 

Because the lock left defense is forcing the ball handler to their left, that means they have limited options aside from passing it to the corner player when forced this way in the drill. This should make it relatively easy for the second defender to intercept a pass.

However, they also need to be aware that they’re aggressiveness could make them susceptible to a back cut. Yet, this isn’t the worst thing in the world because, in a real game, there would be another defender in the post ready to defend a successful back cut. 

Rule 2: Switching Everything

Another crucial rule for executing the lock left defensive system is that players will be switching everything on the court. 

What happens a lot when the ball is relegated to the left side of the floor is that a lot of little dribbles, hand-offs, and short-range pass exchanges occur, because creativity and playmaking are stymied when players are forced to operate with their weak hands in a small section of the court. 

And because the goal is to keep players pinned down on this side, defenders must be switching at every opportunity so as to not let the offense recover and move the ball back around the key or into the paint. 

A drill to emphasize this starts with four defensive players (three guarding players with one protecting the paint) and three offensive players. The defender on the ball is supposed to get beat. Once they do, the next closest defensive player is supposed to “scram” in front of that player to stop their attack while the defender who got beat will chase over to the passing lane that their defender just vacated. 

Rule 3: If You’re Off the Ball, You’re Back to the Ball

Coach Coston explains that one of the most controversial aspects of the lock left defensive system is that off-ball defenders are supposed to play with their back to the ball, rather than their chest to the ball. 

“Old school is that we want to deter the pass, new school is that we want to steal the pass,” he says. 

The key point to making sure this works is that the player should still be able to see their defender in their periphery, and they must remain below the three-point line if their defender is along the wing, so that they have enough time to react to any screens or cuts headed their way while they’re looking to secure a steal. 

All of these lessons and more are available in Coach Coston’s ‘Lock Left Defensive System’ course, which provides all you need to know about perfecting the lock left defense.