The 5 Habits You Must Unteach to Run Better Defense

Hey Coach,

Mark and I just got back from clinics, and I wanted to share something that keeps hitting me every time we install LockLeft with a new team…it works faster than most coaches think.

When you teach it with clear standards, simple language, and visual demos, players connect the dots in one practice.

If you don’t have time to watch the full episode, here’s a full rundown:

Why LockLeft Connects So Fast

Every coach’s first reaction is the same: “This looks crazy.” But once they see it live, they realize it’s just man-to-man defense with purpose. Every role fits together like a puzzle.

When five players do their job—angle the ball, wall up, stunt and hunt—you don’t just defend plays, you control possessions.

LockLeft works because it’s a system, not a tactic.

You’re not teaching “force left.” You’re teaching five coordinated jobs that get the ball where you want it.

Standards Before Strategy

Before we ever diagram a rotation, we set three standards: Knees, Names, Noise.

• Knees: Trot everywhere. No walking—ever. It’s the simplest way to change your gym’s energy. (Even Damian Lillard used “trot everywhere” as a pre-draft mindset.)

• Names: Call out roles and spots so players see the same picture you do.

• Noise: Purposeful talk that matches your system’s tempo.

If we walked into your gym, what would we see? Players walking or trotting? That one standard tells me a lot about your culture.

Show, Don’t Tell

Players don’t see what you see. If you say “deny,” “hedge,” or “help,” they’re pulling from five years of mixed definitions.

So don’t explain it—show it.

Place them in real spots:

• Ball at the Wide Spot

• Defender on the Nail

• Angle the chest to the ball

• Run a rep. Miss it. Reset. Run again.

Five minutes of clear demos beats fifteen minutes of talk.

The Five Habits to Unteach

These are the first things I correct in every LockLeft install:

1️⃣ “Keep it out of the paint.” → Make the ball go.
Angle to jail, chase the hip, and force decisions off the bounce.

2️⃣ “Classic denial.” → Open snipe stance.
Chest to ball, one step off, bait the pass, and steal with the outside hand.

3️⃣ “Help on drives.” → Stunt and hunt.
Fake help, then leave to hunt the next pass. Real help only comes from the Wall.

4️⃣ “Choppy-feet closeout.” → Close off the line.
Sprint, sit, and take away the catch-and-shoot. We want every catch to become a dribble.

5️⃣ “Hands up!” → Move first, contest second.
Hands above your head kill movement. Only go vertical on a shot or body contest.

How to Install It Tomorrow

1. Start with standards. Make your gym look fast—trot between every drill.

2. Go 5-on-5 slow. Give players the mental picture before you speed it up.

3. Name every job. Wide Spot, Nail, Wolf, Wall, Jail—call them out loud.

4. Layer the system. On-ball → Snipe → Gap → Wall.

5. Film everything. Watch clips immediately—players learn fastest when they see it.

A Simple Filter for Teaching Decisions

When you’re choosing what to emphasize, use this:

Often → Simple → Never.

• Often: Which situation happens most?

• Simple: Which is easiest to teach and execute right now?

• Never: If we could never do one again, which loss hurts more?

That filter will clarify every decision you make.

Stay SAVI,
Tyler

P.S. We just updated the LockLeft Course inside the membership—new 10-layer structure, new drills, new film. Start your 7-day free trial and install LockLeft with your team this week.

Join SAVI Basketball on a 7-Day Free Trial, and you can hop in and check it out now.