Okay, so today I decided to dive into the world of Shaka Smart basketball. I’ve heard a lot about his “Havoc” defense and wanted to see what it’s all about, and maybe, just maybe, try to implement some of it with my own team.
I started by watching some old VCU games. Man, those teams were relentless! They were constantly trapping, pressing, and just generally making life miserable for the other team. I spent a good hour just watching highlights, trying to get a feel for the overall flow and energy.
Then I tried, key word: tried, to map out some of their basic defensive rotations on a whiteboard. It looked like organized chaos at first. Players flying everywhere, double-teaming the ball, then scrambling back to cover open players. It was a lot to take in.
- Full-court press after made baskets.
- Trapping in the corners and half-court.
- Lots of switching and helping.
- Emphasis on forcing turnovers.
Drill Time (and a Little Bit of Pain)
Next, I wanted to put some of this stuff into practice. I found a few drills online that focused on Shaka Smart’s defensive principles. One drill had us working on full-court pressure, with two defenders hounding the ball-handler. Let me tell you, it was exhausting! I was completely gassed after just a few minutes.
Another drill focused on trapping in the corners. The idea was to force the ball-handler towards the sideline and then have a second defender come and trap. We fumbled through it at first, bumping into each other, not communicating well… it was a mess. But, slowly, we started to get the hang of it. A tiny, tiny bit.
We also did some basic shell drills, working on rotations and help defense. This was probably the most “normal” part of the practice, but even then, the emphasis was on being super aggressive and active.
The Takeaway (So Far)
Honestly, this is a lot harder than it looks on TV. The Shaka Smart system is all about intensity, communication, and teamwork. You need players who are in incredible shape and who are willing to buy into the system completely. I’ve got a long way to go, my team will have a long way to go for sure. But it was definitely an eye-opening experience. I’m not sure if we’ll ever be able to fully implement “Havoc,” but even incorporating some of these principles could make us a much tougher team to play against. I definitely plan on keeping at it, and maybe I’ll update you all later after our team give these drills a try!
