Open Practice with Rob Lanier: Defensive Build-up Drills, Close Outs & Transition Offense

with Rob Lanier,
Rice University Head Coach;
SMU Head Coach from 2022 to 2024;
Georgia State Head Coach from 2019 to 2022;
2022 Sun Belt Tournament Champions;
Sun Belt East Division Champions;
Assistant Coach with Virginia, Florida, Texas & Tennessee from 2005 to 2019;
Siena College Head Coach from 2001 to 2005;
2002 MAAC Tournament Champions;
Assistant Coach with Niagara, St. Bonaventure, Rutgers & Texas from 1990 to 2001;
played college basketball for St. Bonaventure

Features and Benefits:

• Defensive build up drills and concepts focused on good solid closeouts, being in gap defense, and ‘guarding your yard’!
• Use 3v3 and 4v4 drills to teach players to compete at a high level on the defensive end and limit opponents scoring runs!
• Transition offense that focuses on attacking the paint using dribble handoffs, screening action off the ball, and post entries that lead to back cuts and easy buckets!

Building a complete program takes time and effort. It takes an understanding that it's not what you teach, but what you emphasize. Rice University head coach Rob Lainer has learned to emphasize defense. Everywhere he has coached - from Texas to Tennessee to Georgia State to SMU - Lanier has built dominant defensive teams. In this Open Practice glimpse into a Rob Lanier-run practice, Lainer showcases some of the stable defensive drills he uses regularly to create a defense that only allows tough contested 2’s.

3v3 Closeouts
Jumping into team defense, Coach Lainer emphasizes having a hand on the ball to limit a rhythm shot and be able to prevent an easy ‘blow by’ drive. In this closeout drill, players have to fly around the perimeter and make sure they have their teammates gap. By deterring the driver, teams have to settle for an outside shot.

Mine Drill
Creating tough situations for defenses to guard allows them to prepare for games. In the Mine Drill, the defense has to play 4v3 and fly around to prevent an easy layup or score at the basket all while forcing the offense to take a contested jump shot. This drill will help develop your players' communication skills. Players will have to point and talk to each other as they pick up the next pass to prevent a straight line drive.

4v4 NY Defense
Putting together several stops in a row is a game changer! It can lead to your team going on long runs to put the game out of reach. In this drill, Coach Lainer has his teams get 3 stops to win the game. By playing 4v4, players can work on your half court offense or an opponent's actions. This is a great way to build in your scouting for upcoming games and prepare your team for actions they will see throughout the season. If a player makes a mistake and misses their coverage, Lanier emphasizes “Make the next play!” This is a great mentality to have and one to focus on building with your players - so they stay in the moment!

Offensive Action
With any good defense you still have to be able to score. In Circle the Wagons, Coach Lanier is looking to build their transition game. Playing continuous 5v5v5 or 4v4v4 helps build players' stamina and look to attack open space in transition. Building on this concept, players will go through 5v0 transition options and what they can score off of as they flow into their half court offense. In half court 5v5, you will get a detailed look at Lanier's split and shake action. Using a ball screen offense to create driving opportunities and score either in the paint or with a post feed, Coach Lainer teaches how the weakside should exchange and create good timing to confuse the defense. If you like 5v0 actions to help pick up some of today’s top scoring actions, Coach Lainer’s half court 5v0 offense will help you pick up a new concept!

Putting together the complete program takes time. Coach Lainer has been around some of the all time best coaches and programs and knows how to build a program up with high expectations. In this video, you will gain an appreciation for what it takes to build a high level defensive champion. Coach Lainer provides you with several defensive drills and concepts you can emphasize in your program, along with new offensive concepts you can install, to improve your players’ abilities to attack the rim!

Customer Review: 5 Out of 5 Stars!
“Defensive excellence! I love the simple things Coach Lanier does to teach players how to be good individual and team defenders! Excellent video!”

99 minutes. 2025.