It seems that switching in man-to-man defenses is becoming more prevalent in today’s high school and college game. Switching man-to-man defenses is a strategic move to disrupt oppositions screening game (ball-screen, down-screen, flare-screen, and back-screens). Many teams switch like screens, such as guard-to-guard screens or post-to-post screens. In addition, teams that lack height, or have players with similar height will switch screens as well to eliminate indecision. It also eliminates indecision when it comes to scouting reports; teams will just tell their players they are switching everything. Lastly, teams will switch in late game situations or end of clock situations where a team needs a 3-point opportunity to tie a game. As you can see, there are many different philosophies when it comes to switching in man-to-man defense.
I think there are great opportunities to use switching in your man-to-man defense scheme, but I think long the way, as more and more coaches have used the strategy, the lack of individual defensive pride has decreased. Man-to-man defense is about defending the ball with five players, and more importantly as a team. But, there is an individualistic component to defending the ball, as well as a sense of pride. The pride element can be demonstrated in pressuring the ball, sliding/moving your feet, defending a player coming off-screens, among other defensive skills. Even something as simple as the offensive player isn’t going to score on me. I think these strategic components that are individualized in a way have been eliminated along with pride because “we can just switch the screen.”
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