Three Transition Defense Drills to Halt Fast Breaks

• By Grant Young

Having a well-rounded selection of transition defense in basketball drills is vital for any team aiming to enhance their defensive prowess and effectively thwart fast breaks. 

By integrating targeted drills focused on transition defense, teams can equip their players with the skills necessary to respond swiftly and strategically when confronted with a high-tempo offensive push.

One of the most significant advantages of transition defense drills is the emphasis on communication and teamwork. In the heat of a fast break, players need to grasp their responsibilities and the overall defensive plan. Drills can replicate these intense scenarios, helping players to cultivate instincts that allow them to make immediate, informed decisions. 

These drills also play a crucial role in conditioning. Fast breaks require explosive speed and agility, and focusing on transition defense can enhance players' endurance and physiological preparedness. Incorporating elements such as sprints, lateral movements, and rapid directional changes into practice not only sharpens skills but also ensures players are mentally and physically ready to face fast-paced offenses. 

Another vital component of effective transition defense drills is highlighting the importance of positioning and understanding angles. Successful transition defense hinges on a player's ability to foresee an opponent's trajectory and strategically position themselves to obstruct driving lanes. 

All of these examples illustrate why having a comprehensive collection of transition basketball defense drills is indispensable for every aspiring basketball team. By prioritizing transition defense in training, teams can significantly bolster their ability to counter fast breaks, ultimately increasing their chances of achieving victory on the court.

We have included three transition defense drills below (all of which are used constantly by highly respected coaches) that will drastically improve your team’s ability to stop the fast break.

TJ Rosene - 75 Drill

TJ Rosene is entering his 21st season as a head college coach, with the last 16 of those have been at the helm of the Emmanuel University Lions. During that time, Rosene has coached in 6 national championship games between NAIA and NCCAA. 

In the Lions' final year as an NAIA member, they made it to the National Championship game. In the 4 years following the Lions played postseason in the NCCAA winning 2 National Championships. The Lions have won 3 NCCAA National Championships since 2009. Rosene has accumulated over 400 wins with 12 20-win seasons, including a streak of 10 consecutive 20-win seasons in a row. Coach Rosene has been named National Coach of the Year 3 times.

In Coach Rosene’s ‘5 Drills to Improve Your Team in Transition’ course, he details his 75 transition defense drill, which he claims is the best drill he has for improving players against transition. 

The drill starts with a 5-on-5 in the half court. The team on defense will have two players standing along the sideline at half-court (one on each side), and two players on the court will be designated as not going back on defense beforehand. Regardless of the half court possession’s outcome, the team who was on defense will go on offense, now having two players already at half court which automatically creates transition opportunities. 

This will force the team that was on offense to sprint back and be diligent on transition defense because two defenders will already be behind them, which creates the sort of pressure and repetition that players must become accustomed to when improving their own transition defense abilities. 

Joe Pasternack - Floyd Transition

Joe Pasternack is in his eighth season at the helm of the UC Santa Barbara Men's Basketball team. Over his seven seasons with the program, he has accumulated a 148-68 record for a winning percentage of .685, the best in school history. His 148 wins is the most in the first seven years of any Gaucho head coach.

During 2022-23, the Gauchos set a new record for the most wins in a season with 27. Coach Pasternack led his team to The Big West Tournament Championship, a share of the regular season title, and their second NCAA Tournament appearance in three years. 

In his ‘Program-Defining Drills’ course, Coach Pasternack illustrated what he calls the Floyd Transition defense drill, which is focused on eliminating high percentage transition shots as best as possible. 

The drill can either be 5-on-2 all the way up to 5-on-5, and begins with the offense in the half court with eight seconds on the shot clock. The coach will instruct one player on offense that they won’t be getting back on defense (without letting the other players know which player it is.) 

Regardless of how the possession ends, the team who was on defense will then have eight seconds to score on the fastbreak while having a one player advantage. 

The goal here is to ensure that the first two players are back in transition (ideally the two guards) and covering the goal and the ball first and foremost. 

Paul Kelleher - Defense (Tempo)

Paul Kelleher recently stepped down as the Ireland U-18 Men National Team after 5 years running the program, securing the Bronze Medal at the 2018 "C" Division in Kosovo and the Dussman Trophy in 2019. 

Coach Kelleher’s ‘Transition Both Ways’ course details some important ideas to keep in mind when conducting transition defense drills, such as whether you want to emphasize numbers or spots in your transition defense strategy.

What he means by this is whether you want to prioritize your players getting back to specific spots on the court or whether the emphasis is getting specific players back. The downside to either strategy is that it may affect how fast you get back on the break and/or how well you’re able to offensive rebound.