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“FAT” is a made-up word for “Fake And Threaten.” This is the kind of defense you need to use when you are not guarding the ball but the ball is being dribbled toward you, or when you are trying to stop a fast break and hoping to get the dribbler to commit himself. You might also use FAT defense in a zone, while you are trying to guard two men, or when you want to guard a man inside but give a man outside the impres-

sion that you will not let him shoot.
FAT can be anything that indicates to the player with the ball that you

are about to do something that you are not really about to do. Defensive players usually play too passively. A good defensive player must learn to stay with his man while still making fakes and threatening the ball and getting the ball to commit.

FAT should help you to remember that a good defender is not content just to run back on defense alongside his man. Get back and face the ball, and be prepared to fake and threaten the ball to discourage a pass or a penetration. Defense cannot be played passively if you want to win.