Hedging

[gym from delhi]

Can someone with more b-ball knowledge than me please explain what "hedging" is supposed to accomplish, (other than getting fouls called on Kenny Frease) ?

[JTG]

To disrupt the play. But I cringe every time I see it. Why have your center 20 feet from the basket. I would much prefer a pressing or trapping. But unless they are all exception athletes you cant press with just 7 guys.

[X-Expert]

Hedging occurs when the offensive team is screening so the person guarding the screener hedges. This is to keep the person with the ball from driving to the basket and if played correctly (hedger moves his feet forcing them away from the basket and not driving), they are not attacking the basket. The key is that the players down low must rotate and close (especially if there is a skip pass). Biggest problem when hedging is if the person with the ball splits the defenders and is able to attack the basket-if so, it is essentially a 4 on 2.

[Anti-Homer]

Can someone with more b-ball knowledge than me please explain what "hedging" is supposed to accomplish, (other than getting fouls called on Kenny Frease) ?

I cringed when Mack had Frease hedging because it took him about 6.7 seconds to recover back to his man. I like it with our mobile athletic bigs, Jones & Hankins.