How to Score Against the Half Court Trap

Trapping defenses in basketball are designed to force turnovers and disrupt the rhythm of an offense. The half-court trap is popular because there are fewer gaps between defenders, and those gaps are smaller than the gaps that can be exploited in full-court trapping defenses. Regardless of the initial alignment of the defense, the half-court trap always consists of a force defender, two wing trappers, a high-post defender and an interior defender protecting against lob passes.

Things You'll Need

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Instructions

    • 1

      Players on offense must anticipate the trap. If the ball handler waits until the trap is applied before passing the ball, the other defenders will already be in their new positions, limiting the options. By anticipating the trap and making a pass before the trapping defender closes in, the pass will be too quick for the rotating defenders, creating an open shot.

    • 2

      Make an extra pass. Once a trap is defeated, the defenders must rotate quickly to cover all of the players on offense. Unselfish play will allow the offense to score against the trap. The first open shot is not likely to be the best open shot available. Passing up the first open shot to make an extra pass to a teammate who has a better shot increases the chances of scoring.

    • 3

      The ball handler should step through the trap if unable to anticipate it. Once the trap is applied, the ball handler can only pass over or split the trap. Trapping defenders are taught to keep their arms extended above them, creating a wall as high as eight feet in a small space. Passing over the trap results in high, slow passes that are easily intercepted. Instead, the ball handler can step between the defenders, bending at the waist to slip through them at hip level. The ball handler can then dribble out of the trap unless the dribble option has already been lost. If the dribble dribble has been lost, finding an open teammate to receive a pass is easier after stepping through the trap.

    • 4

      The ball handler should push the ball toward the middle of the floor. Whether by dribbling or passing, keeping the ball in the middle of the floor eliminates the possibility of a trap. The force defender's job is to make the ball handler go to the left or right sideline so that a trap can occur. The ball handler can use speed to get around the force defender and back into the middle of the floor.