I've heard of both methods being taught. A lot of smaller teams want to force the action toward the baseline to use it as a defender, and also it takes away shot angles on the basket if it is done correctly (the ball and dribbler end up behind the basket). Sometimes teams with more size want to force the action into the lane toward their shotblockers. When I'm playing, I use both, depending on who I'm guarding and who I'm playing with. This is of course assuming I have enough energy left to play defense after a couple of times up and down the floor. It's so much easier running the sidelines reffing than keeping an offensive player in front of you.
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