What is a 2-2-1 Box Press?
A 2-2-1 Box Press is a 3/4 Press with two players starting on the elbows, two starting at half-court and 1 playing back. The four players up front in the press form a box so it is called a 2-2-1 Box Press.
The front two players are trying to force the ball to sideline in order to get a trap on the sideline. The ballside players are working together to try and get the trap. The backside players are rotating back to either the middle of the court or as the rim protector.
The 2-2-1 Box Press can either be an aggressive press that is really working to get traps and steals. It can also be a press that is more passive that is trying to slow down the offense and not give up quick shots. The ability of the 2-2-1 Box Press to be both aggressive and passive gives it an advantage over other presses.
What is a Man Run and Jump Press?
A Man Run and Jump Press is a press where the defense is playing man to man defense but is looking to have one defender leave their offensive player in order to trap the ball. As the closest defender not guarding the ball leaves to trap the ball, the next 3 defenders will all rotate up towards the ball to try and steal any pass coming out of the trap.
The Man Run and Jump Press has to have all 5 defenders working together and in unison. As the trap defender rushes the ball, the other 3 defenders must move together to help cover any potential passes. All 5 defenders must be focused and attentive on what is happening and who is moving. Any defender not moving together with the other 4 defenders will give openings to the offense.
Since the defense is starting out in a man to man defense, the rotations and positions of each defender are going to change on each possession. This can make it hard for teams to run because there is a chance a slower post player will be the player guarding the ball. The post player may also be in the position of deciding when to leave to trap the ball.
The Man Run and Jump Press can be aggressive and trap as soon as the ball comes into play. Or it can have certain rules on when the 2nd defender is to leave their offensive player. The rules can change giving the press the ability to change its style making it hard for offenses to get comfortable in breaking the press.
Best Team Personnel for a 2-2-1 Box Press
In my opinion the middle two defenders are the most important players for a 2-2-1 Box Press. These two players must be smart and able to anticipate. They are going to determine when and where the trap is going to take place. They can not just rush into the trap but they have to wait until just the right moment of when to trap. This timing is key which is why I am always wanting smart players in these two spots.
The front two players must be able to guard the ball well. They are going to force the ball up the sideline. They cannot let the ball be dribbled around them and back into the middle of the court. Their job is to get the offensive player worried about them, so they do not see the trap coming from the middle players. They do not have to read the play at all. They just need to put as much pressure on the ball handler as they can while forcing them up the sideline.
The back player is also going to be involved in the press. Some presses have positions where a player can be hidden within the press. The 2-2-1 Box Press uses all 5 players in the execution of the press. The back player is staying in a vertical line with the ball and does not allow a sideline pass when the middle player rushes the ball for the trap. The back player must be fast enough to get to the sideline pass on the trap.
Beat Team Personnel for a Man Run and Jump Press
The best team personnel for a Man Run and Jump Press is a quicker team full of guards. The initial trap is going to have a defender needing to cover a lot of court quickly so bigger, slower post players do not work well in this type of press. The players need to be quicker and faster because the defense is going to be running and rotating a lot.
Teams that are all guards can switch easily so the run and jump style gives them an advantage. The Man Run and Jump Press is going to have defenders switching on a regular basis. Teams who are all guards can keep switching without worrying about certain defenders getting stuck guarding certain offensive players. The defenders will be able to play free and quick no matter how the rotations and switches end up affecting the defense.
The other personnel great for a Man Run and Jump Press is having one defender who is a lock down on the ball defender. When a defender is able to pressure the ball well, the offensive player will be so focused on the defender that they will not see the 2nd defender coming in for a trap. A great on the ball defender gives the defense more of an ability to get really good traps set in the open floor.
When to Use a 2-2-1 Box Press?
The 2-2-1 Box Press can be used in two different ways. It can be aggressive and trying to get steals. Or it can be passive in just trying to slow an opponent down to prevent transition opportunities.
The 2-2-1 Box Press can be used when behind to try and speed up the game and work to get steals. The middle players in the Box Press will be aggressive in trapping to give the defense more chances to get steals and easy baskets. It gives the defense the ability to guard the offense 3/4 court giving the players more space to get steals. This can help the defense get back into a game.
The 2-2-1 Box Press can also be a more passive press where the defense is not necessarily trying to trap the ball. It shows like it is going to be up and trapping but the middle players are never going to rush the ball to trap. They are going to retreat back into the half-court as the ball moves up the floor. This type of pressing forces the offense to slow down and not rush into a trap. Against a team that likes to score in transition, this can force them to slow down and play a more half-court game.
When to Use a Man Run and Jump Press
The Man Run and Jump Press is best used if a defense has a lockdown on the ball defender. A good on the ball defender is going to make the offensive dribbler worried with just their defensive pressure. When other defenders are able to leave their player and go trap the ball, the offense is really going to struggle.
The Man Run and Jump Press is also a good press with a half-court man to man defensive team. This gives the defense the ability to extend and press without losing their man-to-man principals. The defense guards’ man to man but keeps one eye on the ball looking for an opening to leave and trap the ball.
The Man Run and Jump Press also gives the defense a press that makes the transition from full court press back to half court man defense as easy as possible. A zone press can struggle transitioning from zone back into man defense when the offense breaks the press. A man press like the run and jump never has the defense in a zone setup so the defense is guarding an offensive player at all times.
Advantages of a 2-2-1 Box Press Over a Man Run and Jump Press
1) Structure Reduces Confusion
The 2-2-1 Box Press is very structured in its setup and rotations. Each player has an identified role at all times. As the ball moves with the offense, each defensive player has a certain spot and role they have to fill. While small adjustments can be made to the 2-2-1 Box Press, the rules and rotations do not change.
The structure of the 2-2-1 Box Press is nice for the players because they know what they are to do and when they are to do. It is nice for a coach because any breakdown is easily seen and can be fixed immediately. The players know where they have help. They also know what they absolutely cannot give up.
A Man Run and Jump Press is all about chaos and confusion. The defense adjusts to the offense every possession. Based on how the offense sets up, each defensive player will have their role adjusted. One defender will be the on the ball defender. The defenders who are one pass away are ready to rotate up to trap. This rotation depends on which way the ball handler dribbles the ball. Finally every other defender is ready to rotate in the direction of the rush trap defender.
The unknown of the Man Run and Jump Press allows it to cause more chaos. This chaos can be beneficial to the defense but it can also hurt the defense. If two defenders are both rushing to trap, then it leads to a triple team on the ball and two offensive players left wide open. It can be confusing for an offense to play against but at the same time the defense can get confused on their roles because they are changing each possession. That is the risk-reward of the Man Run and Jump Press.
2) Better Understanding of Press
Structured presses like the 2-2-1 Box Press help to build confidence among the players in the press because of the repetition of the actions of the press. Each player sees the same actions by the offense which triggers them to rotate a certain way. By having the same reactions to what the offense is doing possession after possession allows each defender a greater understanding of what they are doing and what the team is doing.
Better understanding the 2-2-1 Box Press has also gives the defense the ability to move players around the press when subbing. Players can change spots in the press easily because each defender knows what the press is trying to do and what their role is in each position.
Confusion and uncertainty will cause players to play slower. The players knowing and understanding what they are doing will cause players to play faster and with greater confidence. The structure of the 2-2-1 Box Press eliminates confusion and uncertainty amongst the players.
The Man Run and Jump Press lives in a state of chaos and confusion. A few simple rules are put in place and then it is up to the players to play within the chaos. There is no structure to the press. The roles of each defender changes with each possession. The uncertainty of the press helps to bring the chaos to the press.
The Man Run and Jump Press has no set positions or rotations. The next defender away from the ball is the defender rotating up to trap. This freedom of movement in the press helps to give the Man Run and Jump Press its identity. However, it can be confusing for the offense and defense.
Every defender looks like they are just running around and trapping without any reason. The lack of structure makes the Man Run and Jump Press effective against an offense. But the lack of structure can make it hard for defenses to execute it at a high level as well.
3) Keeps Defenders in Best Positions
The 2-2-1 Box Press is designed so each defender is in the right position for them. The guards are up front, the wings and forwards are in the middle and the post players are in the back. So, as the press drops, the transition to a half-court defense is made easier because most zone defenses have the same personnel setup.
Half-court defenses are going to want to keep the guards out on the perimeter as much as possible and the post players in and around the basket. The 2-2-1 Box Press has a setup that has that half-court setup but extended out to a full court press. So the guards are in the front to guard the ball. The wings are in the middle to play passing lanes and react to the offense. And the post player is in the back to be a rim protector.
Each defender is in the best possible position for them to be as effective as possible. No defender is going to be in a position to have to try and guard out of position. The guards should be guarding the opponent’s guards, wings guarding wings, and post guarding post.
The Man Run and Jump Press starts with each defender in their best defensive matchup. As soon as the ball is dribbled these matchups get completely erased. A defender rushes and everybody else rotates. This starts a scramble mode where the defenders are guarding the player closest to them.
Each defender is guarding the player closest to them. It does not matter if it is a good matchup or bad. The Man Run and Jump Press is just about matching 1 defender to 1 offensive player. As the rush to trap happens, then it is about going for the trap and steal. Once the offense gets out of the trap, the Man Run and Jump Press is about getting matched up 1 to 1. It does not matter the positions of each player. Only that 1 defender is guarding 1 offensive player.
The scramble to get to a 1v1 everywhere leaves the defense in matchups that are not the best. This is the drawback of having the chaos of the rush and trap. The defense is trying to cause chaos. If the offense can handle the chaos, then the defensive matchups become a problem.
Advantages of a Man Run and Jump Press Over a 2-2-1 Box Press
1) Chaos Causes Turnovers
The Man Run and Jump Press is all about chaos. It is unpredictable by design. There are no set positions nor are there set roles in the press. The offense determines the role of each defender by how each offensive player positions themselves. By not having set roles, the offense can never predict what the defense is going to do.
The unpredictableness of the Man Run and Jump Press makes the press chaotic. The chaos will confuse the offense because they do not know what the defense is doing. A good Man Run and Jump Press will look like the defenders are all just running around with no rhyme or reason why. But the defenders are running to spots and offensive players depending on where they are on the court and where the next offensive player is on the court. While it looks disorganized, it is structured when done correctly.
The offense will get confused by the Man Run and Jump Press which leads to turnovers. Two of the most likely turnovers will be a panic by an offensive player who has the ball and just decides to bury their head and take off dribbling. The dribbling leads right into a trap and turnover.
The 2nd scenario is the offensive player panicking and just throwing the ball to a teammate. These are not good passes. A Man Run and Jump Press that rotates well will have the next defender there waiting to intercept the pass.
Turnovers in a press are normally live ball turnovers that allows the defense to get a steal and immediately convert it into points. And that is the cycle of the Man Run and Jump Press. The defense rushes a trap. The offense panics and turns the ball over. The defense gets a steal and converts it into points.
The 2-2-1 Box Press can cause panic but not chaos and confusion. The rotations are well known amongst coaches. The offense should know exactly what to expect when the ball is in every spot on the court. The traps are going to occur in certain areas with certain players. All of this gives the offense a chance to consistently beat the press by having players in spots to counter the rotations and traps of the 2-2-1 Box Press.
2) Freedom of Play
The Man Run and Jump Press gives the defense and defenders freedom to just go out and play. Some teams and systems are so structured that the players are having to think about what they are supposed to do. This leads to overthinking and playing slow. Players are playing at their fastest when they do not have to think about what they are doing. As a coach, you want your players playing as fast as they can.
There is a distinction here between no structure and having just enough structure. The Man Run and Jump Press walks a very fine line between the two. I have seen teams use it without having any structure. This usually leads to offensive players being left wide open. Defenders are rotating up when they shouldn’t. Having no structure can give the advantage back to the offense.
The Man Run and Jump Press works best when there are a few simple rules and the players stay within those rules. The best Man Run and Jump Presses are when the five defenders are all working in unison because they are all following the structure that is in place. They are able to play fast without worrying about when or if they should go trap or rotate. There is the difference between no structure and just a little bit of structure.
The 2-2-1 Box Press is very set in its design and rotations. Each defender must do their job at the right place and at the right time. It is structured in a way that each defender has their job in the press and they have to complete their job at exactly the right time and place.
The 2-2-1 Box Press restricts the freedom of play because the players do not have the ability to make mistakes. Any mistake causes the entire press to breakdown. Defenders are confined to the structure of the 2-2-1 Box Press and any deviation from it will result in easy baskets for the offense.
3) Controls Tempo
At the high school level and below, one of the biggest advantages a team can make for themselves is to control the tempo of the game. Some teams want a lot of possessions and want to play fast. Others want to keep the score very low and slow the game down. Being able to control the pace of the game is a huge issue.
At the college level you see this as well. Wisconsin with Bo Ryan played slow. Iowa with Ben McCollum wants to play slow. Both of these teams are excellent at shooting and scoring with the shot clock under 5 seconds or 10 seconds. This can be very frustrating for opposing teams to defend well for 30 seconds and still give up a basket.
Then there are the teams who play fast. Nate Oats at Alabama plays a high tempo game. Rick Pitino with his St Johns teams and his previous stints at Louisville and Kentucky play a high-pressure game. Bob Huggins and his Press Virginia play at West Virginia. All of these teams are using tempo and pressure defense to play a high possession game at a much higher pace.
The up-tempo pace can force opponents to get tired if they are not used to playing at that speed. When playing against a fast tempo team, it is not only the speed that can cause problems but also the conditioning of the team is put to the test. Tired players struggle at the end of games. A high tempo game can wear out opponents physically.
The Man Run and Jump Press forces the tempo of the game. The defense is constantly trapping and rotating so the offense never has a chance to slow down. If the offense were to slow down, then the defense will trap which leads to all sorts of other issues. The offense is forced to play fast so they are not constantly in a trap.
The Man Run and Jump Press is a high pace press and it forces the offense to match its speed or be in traps. The offense has no choice but to play fast. With the speed that the game is being played at, the conditioning of the offense is put to the test as well. The Man Run and Jump Press has the ability to control the tempo of the game just by being played.
The 2-2-1 Box Press can help to speed up the game but the offense still has the ability to slow the pace back down once they beat the press. The offense can also move the ball up the court slowly depending on how aggressive the front two defenders are being.
The battle of controlling the tempo for a 2-2-1 Box Press is difficult at times. It is not an all-out aggressive press that forces the tempo. At the same time, it can be aggressive in its trapping which causes a faster pace of play. It can control tempo but the offense can still do things to get the tempo in their control.
Which is Better? A 2-2-1 Box Press or a Man Run and Jump Press
Both of these presses are good. I have used both of them frequently in my coaching career. The 2-2-1 Box Press helps to funnel the ball to the sideline and then overwhelms the opponent with trapping and pressure. The Man Run and Jump Press is an attacking press that never gives the opponent a chance to be comfortable.
This decision boils down to the difference between a zone press and a man press. The 2-2-1 Box Press is a zone press that needs the offense to cooperate with it in order to be its most effective. The Man Run and Jump Press is a man press that controls tempo with its all out aggressive trapping.
Some teams are better suited for a zone press. Others are better with a man press. Each team could have a different thought on which is better depending on whether that team is better with a zone concept or with a man defense. That difference is what separates these two presses.
For me, I have to give the edge to the Man Run and Jump Press. The constant trapping and pace of the press can cripple an opponent. The Man Run and Jump Press controls the tempo of the game. Controlling the tempo of the game is a big factor in who wins at the high school level and below. A team that is able to play at the pace they want can overwhelm a bunch of opponents. And the Man Run and Jump Press is like a snowball rolling downhill. It could take some time to get going but once it does, it can be hard to stop. So, all things being equal, I have to give a slight edge to the Man and Run Jump Press over the 2-2-1 Box Press.