Final answer:
In man-to-man defense, each basketball player is individually responsible for guarding an assigned opponent throughout the game. This contrasts with zone defense, where players are assigned specific areas. The correct answer is c) Man-to-man defense.
Step-by-step explanation:
In man-to-man defense, each player is responsible for guarding an opposing player wherever that player goes on the court. Unlike zone defense, where each player guards an area of the court rather than a specific opponent, man-to-man requires players to cover their assigned opponent throughout the entire game, both on and off the ball.
The goal of man-to-man defense is to create pressure and disrupt the flow of the opposing team's offense by closely guarding each player.
This defensive strategy is commonly used at all levels of basketball, from youth leagues to professional games. It emphasizes individual responsibility and requires good lateral movement, quickness, and the ability to anticipate the opponent's moves.
Coaches often decide to use man-to-man when they want to challenge their players to take personal accountability in defense and to exploit matchups where one player may have a particular advantage over their direct opponent.