Man

/mæn/
[ man ]

Definition of Man

In basketball, "Man" refers to the man-to-man defensive strategy.

What is Man?

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In basketball, "Man" predominantly refers to a type of defensive strategy known as the man-to-man defense. In this scheme, each player is responsible for defending one player from the opposing team. They follow, or stay with, their man at all times during play. This is different from the alternative zone defense, where each player is assigned to guard a specific area of the court.

Examples of how to use the basketball term Man

What is ?

  1. Our coach decided it was best to play man defense against their fast guards.
  2. He excels at man defense, he's always able to stick with his assignment.
  3. When we play man, our communication on the court improves dramatically.

Man Strategy Tips

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The man defense is best against teams with one dominant player, as it allows for strict one-on-one defense. However, be cautious of mismatches that may occur.
Basketball Terminology

Browse the A-Z of Basketball Terms

Learn essential basketball terminology with definitions, pronunciations and the meaning of each word in layman's terms.

What does Man mean in Basketball?

In basketball, "Man" refers to a defensive strategy where each player is responsible for defending one specific player from the opposing team.

How would you explain Man in layman's terms?

In simple terms, "Man" in basketball is a defensive approach where each player on the team has the task of guarding one specific player on the opposing team.

What is the advantage of the Man defense in basketball?

The main advantage of the Man defense in basketball is that it can limit the productivity of a single dominant player on the opposing team.

When should a team use the Man defensive strategy?

A team should use the Man defensive strategy when they need to limit one dominant player on the opposing team or when their team's communication on the court is strong.

How does Man defense differ from zone defense in basketball?

In Man defense, each player guards a specific player from the opposing team across the whole court. In contrast, in zone defense, players are assigned to guard a specific region of the court, rather than a specific player.

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