Defense & Rebounding

Off-Ball Defense

nounbasketball / community term

Defense played away from the ball against cutters, shooters, and passing actions.

Good off-ball defense balances staying attached, helping the paint, reading passes, and recovering to shooters. In casual arguments, off-balling can also mean controlling a defender away from the ball.

Used in a sentence

“Watch the corner cut while playing off-ball defense.”

Also written off-ball

Community slang changes over time and can mean different things in different game editions, modes and groups.

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