How to Guard Max Strus
Max does most of his damage from three-point (77.4% of his attempts) and is a genuine outside threat. The plan below is built from where he actually shoots this season.
Where Max scores
Share of his 2025-26 field-goal attempts by zone, with how efficiently he finishes each. This is the map the game plan is built on.
The scouting report: how to defend Max
Chase over screens
Max is a real volume threat from deep (40.2% on 82 attempts, 77.4% of his shots). Go over ball screens, top-lock him off the ball, and never help off him on the perimeter.
Quiet edges on Max
- Scores 6.3 PPG more at home — more aggressive at home
- Barely affected by tight contests — 50.0% contested vs 45.7% open. Contest quality matters more than contest frequency.
- Highly volatile scorer — std dev of 9.1 PPG (coefficient of variation 0.81). Some nights 35, some nights 12. Game plan should account for both versions.
Get Max's full matchup plan
HoopBrief turns this shot profile into a complete plan: the exact coverage to run, positioning, what to take away first, and the mistake to avoid, in your own coaching lens. Ask it directly.
Frequently asked questions
How do you guard Max Strus?
Chase over screens: Max is a real volume threat from deep (40.2% on 82 attempts, 77.4% of his shots). Go over ball screens, top-lock him off the ball, and never help off him on the perimeter.
What is Max Strus's biggest weakness on offense?
Relative to the rest of his shot diet, Max is least efficient on his three-point attempts (40.2% on 82 shots this season). Steering him toward that shot, rather than the ones he makes at a high rate, is the statistical edge.
Is Max Strus a good three-point shooter?
Max has taken 82 three-pointers this season and made 33 of them (40.2%). That share of his offense (77.4% of his attempts) is what decides whether you chase him over screens or sag under them.
How many points per game does Max Strus average?
Max is averaging 11.2 points per game this season, along with 2 assists and 5.4 rebounds. Scoring volume is why he draws the defensive game plan on this page.
How to guard other players
Shot-profile and box-score figures reflect Max Strus's 2025-26 season. Defensive recommendations are generated from that shot distribution and are teaching guidance, not a guarantee of outcome.