Are You Reading Defenders When You Drive?

This video breaksdown the concept of 2-level reads. When you're driving to the basket, you'll almost always have 2 levels of defense you have to read and react off of. Understanding this concept can make the chaotic task of making good decisions at full-speed much easier to understand.
When driving to the basket, the 1st level is the nearest defender to you, and will typically be the guy guarding the perimeter player closest to you. If he stunts (or helps) you should pass it to the guy he's guarding.
If you're able to get past him, you need to get your eyes to the 2nd level defender, who will typically be the "rim protector" (or the player who's guarding your biggest teammate). If they help, pass it to that defenders matchup, and if they don't you'll be clear to shoot it.
This concept might be one of the most valuable things to understand if you want to play high-level basketball.
I do not own the rights to this music or the videos.

[@FinancialCharles]

This is a super important video. Really changed my perspective when it comes to reading the defense. Thanks

[@TheFilmRoom1]

Happy to hear that! Thanks for commenting.

[@basketmental]

Straight quality content. Some Basketball IQ right here!

[@TheFilmRoom1]

Thanks for the comment! Are you training? Coaching?

[@basketmental]

@@TheFilmRoom1 Both! I´m a graduated sports psychologist (6+ in collegue haha) and basketball coach.

[@basketmental]

Greetings from Spain!

[@TheFilmRoom1]

That’s awesome. Good luck with your kids! Keep up the hard work, it makes an impact. Glad to have a subscriber across the pond 😄

[@triggatrey2112]

Year old but this is a great video. I just started relearning basketball and going from 1v1 to playing with a team I noticed that the biggest difference is having that IQ on drives. This definitely gave me some pointers.

[@TheFilmRoom1]

Glad to hear you’ve noticed that. You’re spot on. I hope you’ll get an opportunity to check out some of my other content. I think with you going from a lot of 1v1 to 5v5 a lot of my other videos can help you see the floor better.

[@watchalotadunks]

Me personally I see a guy sitting in the paint and I think to myself it's time to get in my poster 😂

[@TheFilmRoom1]

Hahaha if you got it like that, it makes the game much easier 😂

[@gz8793]

If he’s sitting in the paint maybe you can ask him if he’d like a cup of coffee😂

[@mmmmmmm81622]

@@gz8793😐😐😐

[@TTGTanner]

Ok Ja Wick

[@nothim-xt3ey]

I can’t even dunk it always bounces off the back iron or the side

[@purplewombat6735]

This is one of the best explanations I have every seen. Amazing

[@TheFilmRoom1]

Really appreciate the kind words. Glad you liked it!

[@Streux]

Great video! You explained this very well.

[@TheFilmRoom1]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for taking the time to comment.

[@martinmillan625]

This is the main difference between NCAA and NBA, in all these clips notice that strong side defender helps on the drive and leaves shooter, this in NBA is instant punishment and doesn´t happen. That´s why is harder to drive on NCAA.

[@viditlohia24]

Thanks sir really needed this , I am currently suffering going to the rim this helps a lot. 🙏

[@TheFilmRoom1]

Happy to help! Keep taking it one day at a time.

[@EliBallin]

@@TheFilmRoom1no diddy

[@buzzerbeater3350]

Awesome stuff! Please do more!

[@TheFilmRoom1]

Will do! Thanks for the comment

[@ij6431]

i love this, do more !

[@TheFilmRoom1]

That’s the plan. Thanks for the support and the comment

[@TFAGirlsBasketball]

My daughter’s studying your film today. Sophomore and 10 year old getting better 👊🏼

[@TheFilmRoom1]

Love to hear it! Tell them I’m proud of them for doing the extra work to get better. Let me know if I can help!

[@shoyuah5004]

Video really helped me improve my IQ when I drive, Good video!

[@TheFilmRoom1]

Love hearing that!!

[@Ali-io5wv]

That changed my perspective on the game i always pass the ball just in case i feel i will miss the shot and didnt aboit defenders ty

[@TheFilmRoom1]

You’re welcome. Happy to help & glad to know you see the game differently now. 🤝

[@coltonplays2k836]

Keep it going bro🎉

[@TheFilmRoom1]

Will do! Stay tuned

[@fergiesantoso357]

This youtube channel deserve subscribe 🔥

[@TheFilmRoom1]

I appreciate it!

[@CaelCogan]

Yo I needed this ❤ thanks

[@TheFilmRoom1]

You’re very welcome! Happy to help

[@frederickrohn]

i always get stuck when i'm driving to the rim, i don't really know when to attempt a lay, floater, or a pickup on help defenders. My issue isn't passing, i don't score enough. Could really use advice, a linked resource, or anything regarding how to score once you get into that awkward space when there's some someone waiting in the paint but you've got your defender tailing you from the side

[@TheFilmRoom1]

Hey, thanks for reaching out. I’m attaching a link to one of my videos about finishing. Let me know if this gives you some answers to your questions/problems. Breaking Down the Finishing Moves You Need kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWeTdYelrd-Cbqs

[@geoffcollinson3051]

Great Vid!

[@TheFilmRoom1]

Thanks Geoff, I’m glad you enjoyed it. I appreciate the comment!

[@jalogoj6755]

how do we train this ?

[@TheFilmRoom1]

I would have set up 3 v 3 drills where the defense either stunts or stays & you have to make the correct read while a defender stays on your hip & plays “dummy defense”. Use the examples from this video to set up the same scenario.

[@TheFilmRoom1]

Ultimately, you get better from doing it in live scenarios - so play a lot of 3v3, 4v4, and 5v5 pick up and learn from your successes and failures. The key is knowing when you did it right or wrong and why. Good luck!

[@strawbs9555]

needed this. Im the fastest on my entire team and one of the best ball handlers. Best midrange shooter and on my way to the top of 3s aswell. But i still struggle alot with IQ and driving.

[@wenjunbian4335]

Thank you

[@TheFilmRoom1]

You’re welcome! I appreciate the comment

[@wenjunbian4335]

hi coach, any tips for how to read the second defender will fully commit to block? is pro hop finish better because I can jump stop and choose pass or finish. Or shall I stay more upright when driving so I can read the defender better?

[@HarryCheng-bt7su]

I need this.

[@solar2197]

bet

[@ryry4589]

Thanks for the tips

[@TheFilmRoom1]

Happy to help!

[@edwardsmith7160]

The ball defender at that considered the first level?

[@TheFilmRoom1]

In my opinion, I would say the guy who is guarding you is your primary defender, and his job is to keep you from getting to the basket. The defenders away from the basketball have decisions that they have to make. That’s why I would not consider the on-ball one of your reads, because you already know he’s trying to stop you. Let me know if that makes sense. Thanks for the question!

[@Effectivebasketball]

Nice idea to talk about, yet it has so little to do with the driver and everything to do with proper spacing and the abilities of 4 others.

[@TheFilmRoom1]

I agree that the spacing & and abilities of the other 4 players is a huge factor. But, after watching hundreds of hours of film and coaching players myself - guys miss wide open people all the time. So I have to disagree that it has little to do with the ball handler, because there’s too much video evidence showing guys are missing wide open teammates all the time at every level because they don’t anticipate the reads. I appreciate the comment.

[@ramondickens5906]

Cooked

[@Tomasvideos94]

I don’t understand, when should I drive and when should I not?

[@TheFilmRoom1]

You can drive anytime you feel you can get by your defender. The purpose of the video was to focus what to look for once you decide to drive. Does that help?

[@junyuzhang414]

What if u can’t even beat ur own defender lol any tips for that ? Is that defender consider first level or is it only the help defense ?

[@TheFilmRoom1]

The first level is only referring to help defenders. If you’re struggling to get past your defender, that’s when you should look for opportunities to drive close outs, or utilize ball screens to get downhill. I’ll attach links to 2 videos that I think could help you.

[@TheFilmRoom1]

This is the Reason Why Defenses Don't Switch Ballscreens kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioPVgpJ7lNV9rNE

[@TheFilmRoom1]

Learn The Gap Theory in 4 Minutes kzbin.info/www/bejne/babSXn-mrJihiqc

[@junyuzhang414]

@@TheFilmRoom1 thankyou!

[@Prince10KP]

Is there a3rd level

[@TheFilmRoom1]

That’s debatable. If the second level rotates and you have to pass it out, technically the backside help would be another “read” so you could consider that the 3rd level.

[@aoe2023]

Need to be reading BOOKS while you LIVE

[@TheFilmRoom1]

I’m not sure what you mean by this comment.

[@aoe2023]

It was a play on words. Instead of Black Males putting all of their energy and Attention into Reading a Defense in Basketball, they should put that same level of effort and energy into Reading a Book in Life.. considering we have the highest prison population and lowest reading scores than all other races... That is what I Meant.