Walling Up: How to Defend Without Fouling or Fading

When defending the ball, the toughest part of the job isn’t always staying in front. The real question is—what happens when the offensive player puts their shoulder down and forces a finish? That final moment, right at the rim, is where many defenders lose the possession. They reach. They fade. They try to block the shot with their arms. And in doing so, they surrender control and open themselves up to fouls or soft layups. All that effort up to that point becomes meaningless if the defender doesn’t finish the possession properly.

That’s where walling up comes in.