Exploring the Hard Hedge Coverage: Pros and Cons for Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks‘ roster may look similar next season, but they’re poised for a tactical transformation under the guidance of new head coach Adrian Griffin. With Griffin at the helm, expect the Bucks to undergo a significant defensive evolution that redefines their style of play.

Unlike their previous approach under Mike Budenholzer, Griffin’s style leans towards an aggressive mindset. During his introductory press conference, he made it clear that the Bucks will be an active and energetic defense, prioritizing ball pressure and seeking to convert defensive stops into offensive opportunities. “We’re going to be a proactive defense, right?” Griffin said, “We’re going to get after it, we want to pressure the ball, we want to take our defense to the offense.”

After half a decade of only being exposed primarily to drop coverage, it’s understandable if Bucks’ fans are unfamiliar with other coverages. Allow me to unveil the curtain. In this upcoming series, I’ll be shedding light on alternative pick-and-roll defenses that the team could adopt under their new coaching regime.

Let’s tip this series off with the hard hedge.

Discover the advantages and disadvantages of the hard hedge pick-and-roll coverage the Milwaukee Bucks could potentially unveil this season.

Basic Definition

In this defense, the defender guarding the screener starts at or above the level of the screen and aggressively steps out to impede the progress of the ball-handler, buying time for the primary defender to recover. The screen defender’s goal is to disrupt the ball-handlers dribble penetration. Once the primary defender recovers, the hedge defender retreats back to their original assignment

Action of Ball-Handler’s Defender

1. Force the ball handler toward the screen.
2. Go over the screener and under the screen defender.
3. Get back in front of his man as quickly as possible.

Action of Screener’s Defender

1. Start at or above the level of the screen.
2. Take two steps with the ball-handler to ensure he can’t dribble penetrate toward the hoop.
3. Return to his man as quickly as possible once the original defender has returned.

Action of Help-Defenders

Someone on the weakside has to “tag” the screener until his defender can return. Depending on the specific coverage, this can either be the high or low man on the weakside. The “tagger” leaves his man to put a body on the roller, lightly guarding him until his man returns.

Pros

• Disrupts the ball handler, gets the rock out of his hands and into the screeners
• Forces the ball handler away from the basket
• Can create turnovers
• Provides support for ball handlers defender

Cons

• Quick ball handlers can blow past the screener’s defender
• Leaves the screener open for a moment
• If the screener is a good playmaker, he can take advantage after the screen
• Miscommunication and slow rotations can leave the defense vulnerable