What is 1-3-1 No Trapping Zone Defense?
A 1-3-1 No Trapping Zone Defense is a zone defense setup in a 1-3-1 formation that uses positioning to try and stop an offense. The 1-3-1 no trapping defense does not trap the ball like its name indicates. This defense tries to play passing lanes to get deflections and steals. It is a passive defense in that it is not a defense built on ball pressure. The 1-3-1 no trap defense wants to force players to pick up their dribble and not be able to pass the ball to a teammate. This defense tries to force the offense to not be able to make any passes and make mistakes because of it.
The 1-3-1 no trapping defense goes against what a typical 1-3-1 trapping defense tries to do. By playing against the trends of a traditional 1-3-1 trap, the 1-3-1 no trapping defense tries to counter how an offense typically attacks a 1-3-1. The 1-3-1 no trap will leave the ball alone at times. The players will look to stay in passing lanes to prevent the ball from being passed around the court. This keeps the ball in one player’s hands thus preventing the offense from being able to properly execute an offense.
What is Box-1 and Diamond-1 Defense?
A box-1 or diamond-1 defense is a combination defense using some man-to-man defense as well as some zone defense together. This is a defense mostly used against teams who have 1 really good offensive player or scorer and 4 mediocre or bad offensive players. This gives the defense the ability to focus all their attention on stopping one offensive player.
In a box-1 or diamond-1 defense one defender is going to be playing man defense against one offensive player. The other four defenders are going to be playing zone in either a box formation or a diamond formation depending on what each team decides to play.
A box formation has a defender on each elbow and block. Each defender is guarding their zone around them with the two elbow players guarding essentially the top and wings and the two block defenders guarding the paint and baseline out to the corners.
A diamond formation is when one defender is at the top of the key. Two defenders are mid-post to elbow. And one defender is in the middle of the paint in front of the rim. A diamond gives the defense the ability to put more pressure on the ball up front and better rim protection in the lane.
In either formation, the combination defense gives the defense some man-to-man principals and some zone principals. The defense has to have at least one good on the ball defender and the offense has to have one player substantially better than their teammates. The hope to is to have help all over the floor for the best offensive player while playing in a zone defense against the other 4 offensive players.
Best Team Personnel of 1-3-1 No Trap Zone Defense
The best team personnel of a 1-3-1 no trapping defense is a very tall team. The 1-3-1 is based on playing passing lanes rather than guarding a player or the ball. A team needs to be able to take away the ability to pass the ball. The taller and longer a defense is the harder it is going to make it on the offense to be able to see around them and to make passes.
The one exception to this is the bottom player in the 1-3-1. The bottom player needs to be fast. This player has to cover corner to corner so the team needs a player fast enough to run sideline to sideline.
When scouting and preparing for an opponent, the 1-3-1 no trapping defense would only be considered if the point and wings of the 1-3-1 are all significantly taller than the opponents guards. Without this size advantage the offense could not struggle as much with the defense playing in the passing lanes. The 1-3-1 no trapping defense takes the size advantage of the defense and increases it even more.
Best Team Personnel of Box-1 or Diamond-1 Defense
The best team personnel for a box-1 or diamond-1 defense is having at least 1 really good defensive player. When a team decides to use a box-1 it is normally because of a really good offensive player on the opposing team. This usually means a team is going to all out deny that player the ball knowing the other 4 defenders are in positions to help if the man defender gets beat.
This means the one good defensive player needs to be in good physical shape to chase the offensive player. They need to be quick to react to the offensive player to maintain a denial position to prevent the offensive player from getting a pass. And they need to be able to guard the ball well if the offensive player is able to get the ball.
The best defender is tasked with trying to prevent the offensive player from getting the ball. The other 4 defenders are going to be playing in a zone behind the lone man-to-man defender. These 4 zone players must keep good communication but there are no physical traits needed for these 4 defenders.
When to Use 1-3-1 No Trap Zone Defense?
There are two instances in which the 1-3-1 no trapping defense would be the best time to use it. The first is like I stated above and that is when the defense has a significant height advantage over the offense. The height advantage of the defense added to the positioning of playing passing lanes could make it very difficult for the offense to score the ball. The offense would need to rely on a single player creating and making their own shot and at a height disadvantage. This is very hard to do.
The second instance is when the opponent has a dynamic point guard or driver of the basketball. If an opponent has a player that can drive the ball and score at a very high rate, then the defense has to do something to counter this one player. The 1-3-1 no trap would disguise what it is doing. And in turn invite the drive only to collapse around them when they do drive. The defense can use the 1-3-1 no trapping defense to help corral the guard to limit their scoring.
The 1-3-1 no trapping defense is going to play the passing lanes. So, if a player on offense has the ball out front, the point man of the defense is going to be playing the reversal pass and the wing on ball side is going to be in the passing lane to keep the ball out of the corner. This means the middleman of the 1-3-1 is actually guarding the ball in the traditional sense. This is inviting the scorer to drive the ball at the middleman. Once the drive starts and gets close to the middleman, the point and wing can collapse down effectively triple teaming that scorer. The 1-3-1 no trap invites the drive only to surround the drive as the ball gets close to the lane. The offensive player can get too deep into the zone and panic. This panic leads to turnovers. It is basically corralling the scorer into an area and then overwhelming them with defensive players. This can help limit the ability of the scorer to score.
When to Use Box-1 or Diamond-1 Defense?
The box-1 or diamond-1 defense is used mainly in two different situations. The first situation is when the opponent has 1 very good offensive player and the other players on the team are not good offensive threats. This means the entire focus of the defense is on stopping that one player.
The box-1 or diamond-1 defense keeps all the focus on that one player. It gives the defense the ability to double team that player every time they catch the ball while keeping 3 other players in and around the basket. The hope is the double team will help to prevent the best offensive player from shooting and scoring as much during the game.
The 2nd situation is an in-game decision. If a player on the opposing team is having a career night offensively, then the defense can go to a box-1 or diamond-1 to try and disrupt the rhythm of that player. The only problem with this is the coach has to recognize the opposing player is having a very good night scoring. And the defensive team must have prepared the box-1 or diamond-1 defense in practice already.
The box-1 or diamond-1 is a specialty defense so most teams do not practice the defense. If the team has not practiced the defense, then it is unlikely to work. So, in order to use it during a game unexpectedly the team has to have it prepared beforehand. And this is normally not the case for most teams.
Advantages of 1-3-1 No Trap Zone Over Box-1 or Diamond-1 Defense
1. Better Lane Coverage
The 1-3-1 has a middle player staying in and around the lane. The box-1 or diamond-1 takes this player and puts them into a man-to-man defense. That frees up the middle of the defense in a box-1 defense. The 1-3-1 keeps that player in the middle of the defense which forces the offense to play more from the outside.
The 1-3-1 No Trap tries to force the offense into driving into the middle of the defense in order to surround them with more players. The middle defender is key in stopping the ball to let the defense surround the ball. In a box-1 any dribble drive has a chance to get all the way to a layup because of the lack of a middle defender.
2. Offense Cannot Pass the Ball
The 1-3-1 No Trap tries to keep the ball in one player’s hands. The defense does not want the ball to be passed around the outside. This forces the ball handler to make good decisions and good passes. The 1-3-1 No Trap extends the defense out but does not look to trap the ball and be aggressive. The offense is given time and space. But any bad decision or bad pass will result in a turnover.
The box-1 or diamond-1 is only focused on one offensive player and lets the offense pass the ball around the perimeter as much as they want. Ball movement is going to help beat either defense but the 1-3-1 No Trap is the only one that tries and prevent the pass.
3. Funnels and Creates Turnovers on Dribble Drives
The 1-3-1 No Trap Defense tries to create a funnel to allow the offense to dribble into the middle of the defense. Once the ball gets into the middle, the defense surrounds the ball which causes turnovers. With the current game of basketball using the dribble drive much more often the 1-3-1 No Trap takes what offenses are trying to do and makes it to the defense’s advantage.
A Box-1 or Diamond-1 Defense stops the main offensive player but does not actively try to stop the other 4 players. If one of the other four players is able to drive into the middle of the defense, then it is going to give the offense easy shots.
The dribble drive is being used so much that a box-1 does nothing to prevent it from happening. This means the defense is not preventing the offense from running their normal offense.
Advantages of Box-1 or Diamond-1 Defense Over 1-3-1 No Trap Zone
1. Ability to Prevent One Player from Scoring a Bunch of Points
The Box-1 or Diamond-1 puts all the focus on one offensive player. If this is the main scoring threat, then the defense is trying to keep them from scoring their average. The thought is if the best player has a reduced scoring night, then the defense will keep the score low enough to give them a chance to win the game.
The Box-1 or Diamond-1 can do a couple of things to stop one player. The defense can double team that player every time they touch the ball. The defense can deny the player any pass making it harder for them to get the ball.
A box-1 can also be a psychological advantage by challenging that one offensive player causing them to try and do more. When a player tries to do more, it usually makes that player play worse. This can cause the opponent to sub out the best player which can be a major advantage to the defense.
2. Puts Pressure on Other 4 Players to Score
A Box-1 or Diamond-1 forces the offense to get scoring from the other 4 offensive players. If the other 4 players start scoring, then the box-1 or diamond-1 becomes useless. However, if the other 4 players can not or do not score, then the defense works at stopping one player and challenging the other 4 players to score.
The box-1 or diamond-1 puts the pressure on the other 4 players to score. These players are usually not good scorers to begin with so the defense is adding even more pressure on them to try and score the ball. This added pressure can be too much for those 4 players and make them have an even harder time trying to make shots.
3. Can Trap Offensive’s Best Player
A Box-1 or Diamond-1 setup has the ability to immediately trap the offense’s best player using the man defender and the defender closest to the player in the zone. The box-1 does not cause the defense to over-rotate when trapping. This keeps the other 3 defenders in good guarding positions while trapping with the other 2 players.
This feeds into the 2nd advantage by putting even more pressure on the other 4 offensive players. An offense that is able to pass out of the trap can usually get a wide-open shot. The offensive players can put pressure on themselves to make these shots because the defense is not guarding them and giving them open shots.
If the best player does not pass out of the trap, then they are going against a trap and possible 3rd defender depending on where they decide to go on the court. Most players are not good enough to play against a constant double team and be successful.
Which is Better? 1-3-1 No Trap Zone Defense or Box-1 or Diamond-1 Defense
These are both passive defenses. The 1-3-1 No Trap plays passing lanes and tries to get the offense to make bad decisions with the ball. The box-1 or diamond-1 play soft against 4 players but really aggressive against the offensive’s best player. Both defenses rely on the offense making bad passes or bad decisions to be successful.
Both defenses are very situational. The box-1 or diamond-1 needs an opponent with one good player and 4 bad players. The 1-3-1 no trap defense needs a tall team that can use its length to prevent passes. Without this height advantage the 1-3-1 no trap is not really that effective. With a good size advantage the 1-3-1 no trap defense is very hard to go against.
I would pick the 1-3-1 no trap defense as the better defense. The reason for this is simply because of the option to mix in other defenses to keep the offense uncomfortable. The 1-3-1 no trap defense can be used alongside the 1-3-1 trapping defense to keep the same defensive look but change how the defense is guarding the offense. The 1-3-1 press can be added to the 2 half-court defense to give the same 1-3-1 look in a press and a half-court trap and a half-court no trap. This gives a team the ability to teach essentially one defense set but have three different defenses to use. The versatility of the 1-3-1 look and all of its variations gives the 1-3-1 no trap the advantage over the box-1 or diamond-1.
