Home »
Misc »
How do you beat a zone defense in basketball
How do you beat a zone defense in basketball
Tips for Beating a Zone Defense in Basketball
This basketball coaching article was written by Basketball HQ co-founder Kyle Ohman.
Most zone defenses in basketball aim to keep the ball moving aimlessly around the perimeter before a low percentage shot is eventually put up. Even knowing this, there are still a lot of offenses that still fall into this trap. Offenses will hit a few 3 pointers at the start but will fall in love with low percentage shots, and by the end of the game, they have fallen right into the zone defense’s trap.
Zone defenses can be exploited, and there are high percentage shots to be had if your offense is set up with the right situations. Hopefully, this offensive basketball coaching article will provide you with a few tips for beating a zone defense in basketball.
Don’t Stand, Move With a Purpose Against the Zone
As basketball coaches, we have all at one point or another yelled, “don’t stand, move!” Unfortunately, most of the time, our players (for lack of a better term) start running around like chickens with their heads cut off.![]()
They cut and move with no timing, and nothing comes of it. When it comes to beating a zone defense in basketball, players must understand when and where they should be moving.
If you have a more experienced team, you can talk about timing and some of the purposes of cutting, and this usually is enough because they have a higher basketball IQ. However, if you have a less experienced basketball team, a great option is putting in a zone motion offense with specific rules for when and where a player should cut, fill, space, screen, etc. This will allow your players not to get bogged down with overthinking and will help simplify their responsibilities.
In a zone motion offense, players still need to understand what is going on, but with the different rules, it helps to alleviate a lot of the pressure of knowing what to do off the basketball.
Shift the Zone Defense by Moving the Ball
Equally as important (or even more) as player movement is ball movement.
A zone defense in basketball is designed to load up on the side of the ball so that there are no angles to penetrate or make entry passes. So if you can get the ball moving side to side and even better yet, inside out, you have a great chance of making the defense shift, which creates potential defensive breakdowns.
The key is not allowing any of your players to be ball stoppers. There will be players on your team that feel the need to catch and dribble every time they receive the ball. If you allow this to happen, your zone offense will not work. Catching and holding the ball or catching and dribbling the ball without purpose allows the defense to recover and reset. Keep the ball moving.
Before a player catches the ball, they should already know what they will do with it. The three main options are; catch and shoot (if open and a good shooter), drive the ball (either to score or to kick), or pass (which is usually the most common option). The longer a player holds the ball, the more time the defense has to recover.
So the ball must be moving from player to player with purpose.
Hard Cuts Through the Zone
We have already touched on player movement, but specifically talking about cutting, players must be cutting hard and with purpose, even if they aren’t getting the ball. If a player can execute a hard cut to the basket, it is going to force the defense to respect them, and that means that either they are going to get a scoring opportunity, or it is going to open up a scoring opportunity for someone else. However, if the player doesn’t cut hard, the defense doesn’t respect the cut, and there is no shifting or over helping.
Hard cuts are extremely important in beating a zone defense in basketball. You must force the defense to respect and guard every player that cuts through the zone. This will force the defense to move and communicate, which will lead to (you guessed it) more potential defensive breakdowns.
Play Inside Out Against the Zone
If the goal of a zone defense in basketball is to keep the ball outside on the perimeter, it makes sense that the offense should want to get the ball inside the zone.
Playing inside out can be accomplished in several different ways. It can be created with hard cuts/player movement like we just talked about, it can be achieved by dribble penetration and attacking gaps in a zone, and it can be done by feeding the low or high post and playing out of it.
If you can get the ball inside through one of these means, you force the defense to have to suck in to help; this opens up kick-outs for open HIGH PERCENTAGE shots. There is a huge difference between inside out 3’s and 3’s from a lack of ball movement. Playing inside out forces the defense to have to move, shift, and recover, and any time you get a defense doing this, it opens up scoring possibilities.
Set Zone Basketball Plays
Against a zone defense, you aren’t really going to be able to run a set basketball play every time down. Still, during a game, if you execute correctly and run your set basketball plays at advantageous times, you can usually get 8-10 points from them, which could easily be the difference between a win and a loss.
Great basketball coaches can put their best players in positions where they can succeed. So if you have a player that is a knockdown shooter, run some different zone 3 point basketball plays throughout the game that will get them a wide-open shot. If you have a freak athlete run a misdirection zone lob basketball play for them, or if you have a post player that can’t be stopped in the post, run some different actions to allow your post player to get the ball around the basket.
Depending on your basketball team and strengths, you are going to have different set plays. So find the zone basketball plays that work best for your team and take advantage of them periodically throughout the course of a game.
Use Screens Against the Zone
Even though defenders aren’t specifically assigned to guard one player in a zone, it is still beneficial to the offense to set screens. The two primary screens that work the best to score against a zone defense in basketball are seal-in screens and ball screens.
If used correctly, both can put the zone defense in a difficult situation that forces them to rotate, shift, and communicate. This means that there is potential for defensive breakdowns and opportunities for the offense to get a great look.
Ball screens against the top defenders of the zone are also great because they create angles for penetration and overload situations. If the top defender chooses to fight over the ball screen, there will be an angle for the ball handler to attack. If the defender decides to bump off the ball handler to the next defender in line, it will create an overload situation if you place a couple of good shooters on the perimeter and quickly swing the ball.
Seal in screens are great to use for shooters on a quick ball reversal or a skip pass. If you can get the defense rotating one way and then seal them in on the backside for a quick reversal or skip pass, you can end up with some good action. If the wing defender leaves too early, the screener will be open for a shot or a finish at the basket.
As it goes with pretty much anything, it is easier said than done. So while all of these keys provide the information for beating a zone defense in basketball, it also takes a commitment to working on these keys with your team. It is essential that as a coach, you are consistently going over the keys of good zone offense with your basketball team. Whether you are facing teams that primarily run zone or face teams that use it sparingly, you must be able to take advantage of it whenever you come across it.
3 Simple Strategies to Attack a Zone Defense
By Jeff Haefner
Home > Coaching > Basketball Offense > 3 Simple Strategies to Attack a Zone Defense
Want to score more points against zone defense? Here are 3 really simple yet effective strategies that every coach should consider.
These strategies work against all types of zone defenses and will help you score more points.
..
Strategy #1 - Put Your Best Ballhandler in the Middle (Even if They're 4 Foot Nothing)
I picked up this strategy from Danny Miles who is #4 with most wins in college
history (900) and the head coach of Oregon Tech.
It's very common for teams to put their big man at the free throw line in the middle of the zone offense. Instead, he urges you to put your best
ball-handler and creator there. It's doesn't matter if they're 5'2".
Big players usually aren't as good at catching and handling a ball in traffic. But if you put one of your best ball handlers in the high post area,
they will be able to drive around the bigger defensive players. They can score, dish, and cause lots of problems for the defense. This especially
causes match up problems for the defense because they always put the biggest clumsier players in the middle of the zone defense. They will not be able
stop your quick guards.
Coaches should take a real good look at just putting one of their taller kids in the middle - because usually those kids don't pass or shoot it very
well and you don't attack as well with that kind of kid.
Strategy #2 - Attack from Behind the Zone
One of the best ways to attack from behind the zone it to always have at least one player in the short corner area.
You'll find that on almost every ball reversal the player in the short corner will be open. Then the wing can pass down to the open player in the short
corner.
Once the ball is there, this is a very tough place to guard because at the moment none of the defenders are looking at the short corner player (because
he or she is "behind" the zone).
Once the ball is caught in the short corner you have several excellent options to get high percentage shots...
-
If wide open, the short corner player can take one step to the basket for a lay up.
-
The short corner player can shot fake and take it to the hole.
-
The player in the middle can dive to the basket and receive the pass from short corner (this seems to be
open for a lay up almost 50% of the time).
-
If they double down, the short corner can kick it out for a wide open three pointer.
The key is to force the defense to guard what is front of them (with ball reversals, cutting, and screening actions) and then attack from behind the
zone. It works extremely well!
Strategy #3 - Put Em Where They Ain't
I can thank Coach Ken Sartini for reminding me about this strategy and catchy phrase...
I heard a college coach say this about attacking zones... "it's not rocket science... put em where they aint!"
Keep things simple, put your kids in the gaps of the zone.
This is a common strategy but I feel it's worth mentioning in this context because it's a good reminder to keep things simple. Attacking a zone doesn't
have to be complicated.
Not to mention, wording things so players understand can certainly help. Sometimes when you say "find the gap" players don't really understand what you
mean (even when they tell you that they do understand).
Try wording things differently. Simply tell your players to find spots where's there no defense (go where they ain't at).
Do you currently employ all three of these strategies?
I'll bet not. Use these simple suggestions and you'll get better. These strategies work against all types of zone defenses.
Recommended Products:
|
|
Beating the Zone - 75 Set Plays to Score Against Zone Defense
In this eBook, you will find 75 zone plays that you can use against any zone defense. It includes 2-3 zone plays, 3-2 zone plays, 1-3-1 zone plays, baseline out of bounds plays, and multi-purpose zone plays. You will also learn how to exploit the weaknesses of zone defenses, learn new ideas for running zone plays, and much more ... (more info)
|
What do you think? Let us know by leaving your comments, suggestions, and questions...
Basketball defense | Basketball coach
Defense in basketball is the second most important factor, along with offense, which allows you to fight for victory in the match. In modern basketball, the most attention is paid just to the attack, however, the correct game in defense is a much more important success factor. There is an unspoken rule in basketball: "good offense wins the game, good defense wins the title." Today we will focus on the basic concepts of defensive tactics in basketball.
There are two main defense tactics in basketball: zone and personal.
In addition, there is a combined version of protective actions, called mixed protection. Personal defense in basketball involves the individual guarding of each opposing player. When playing "personally", the task of the defender is to constantly be close to one of the attackers (it should be noted that players are sorted out at the beginning of the match, as a rule, starting from the opponent's physical characteristics and playing style). In the figure below, you can see that each attacking player (white circle) is answered by a certain defender (black square).
During the game, substitutions and permutations are possible, and, consequently, the change of guarded players. However, even before the opponent's attack begins, the defender clearly knows who he should defend against. The main task in defense is to “complicate” the life of the attacker as much as possible. A correctly occupied position will allow you to cut off the player from the transfer or perform an interception.
Good footwork and movement with the opponent will not allow him to get into a comfortable place to shoot towards the basketball post. And, of course, the creation of various obstacles during the throw (including block shots) will protect the ring from an accurate throw.
Zone defense in basketball is similarly aimed at taking the ball away and preventing the opponent from making an accurate shot around the ring. Nevertheless, such a system of play in defense provides for the guardianship of each of the defenders of a certain section of the site (zone). As you can see from the diagram below, regardless of the placement of the players in the attacking group, the defenders (black squares) are always placed in the same way and defend a certain area of the court.
The zone is a single well-coordinated mechanism that has a certain construction scheme, moves smoothly, depending on the position of the ball on the court. With zone defense, it is possible to establish a more organized game in defense, adapt to the physical characteristics of the attacking players, increase the likelihood of intercepting the ball, and limit the opponent's combinations.
The zone is most relevant in the game against screens, however, it is vulnerable against teams with snipers who have the ability to make naked shots from the perimeter, especially from the corner of the court. In addition, personal defense is more motivating and responsible for the players, since each player is responsible for the actions of a particular opponent. The “Zone”, on the contrary, makes it possible to count on insurance from partners and getting rid of feelings of guilt and responsibility. Personal defense, among other things, is more exhausting for defenders, especially if the team preaches fast-paced basketball in attack, then there is little left for personal defense.
In order to minimize the shortcomings of one of the above systems of defense, there is a mixed type of defense in basketball . According to it, some players build a zone defense, and some personally take care of the attackers. As a rule, the coach decides to use a mixed defense in case of adaptation to the opponent's style of play or especially careful marking of certain players of the team.
An example of a mixed defense is the construction of a zone defense according to the 2-2 scheme (4 people participate, who are arranged “in a square”) plus the team’s sniper’s personal guard.
Summing up : In some ways, defense is even more important in basketball than offense. There are two fundamental defense tactics: personal and zone. In addition, teams often use a mixed type of protection, combining elements of the two above schemes.
Continue training with an online basketball coach
Offensive vs. zone defense
ATTACKS WITH ZONE DEFENSE
Basketball coaches have long debated the value of zone defense. But regardless of these disputes, zone protection, as one of the means of defense, is used by many basketball teams.
A team using a zone protection system is not able to reliably protect the entire field - some areas of the field remain less protected. Those methods of attack are based on the use of these weak points, during which the players adhere to the so-called zone principle of attack in the arrangement.
Diagrams 1-4 show the most common methods of zone protection. The least protected areas of the site are shaded. The designation of players both in defense and in attack goes from the middle line to the front. For example, "zone defense 2-3" ion "attack 2-3" means that two players are closer to the middle line, and three - to the front.
Against the 2-1-2 zone (diagram 1), it is best to use the 1-3-1 formation in attack, as it allows you to often carry out long-range side throws on the basket from the least protected places on the court. If the opponent tries to cover these places more tightly, by mixing players, it will be possible to use passages under the shield.
The 3-2 zone defense (scheme 2) has the most vulnerable spots at the foul line and in the corners of the site. In this case, it is best to use the 2-1-2 formation in attack. One of the defenders standing closer to the front line is forced to patronize the attacker playing near the penalty line.
As a result, one of the corners remains unprotected.
Basket shots can be made from there.
In zone 2-3 (Scheme 3), the court is least protected near the sidelines, from where it is relatively easy to make targeted shots. The attacker with the ball (1-3-1 formation), moving in the center, makes an attempt to pass between the two front defenders. One of these defenders, naturally, tries to prevent him. Because of this, the player on the touchline remains without guardianship Having received the ball from the central striker, he makes a throw around the ring.
Defensive 1-2-2 (diagram 4) leaves open space in the free-throw area and (for a short time) the corners of the court. The best formation in attack is 2-1-2. The task of the center player, who is in the free throw area, is to draw a defender to him and thereby free one of the partners from custody for aimed shots from the middle line or give him the opportunity to play against only one defender.
Of course, the choice of one or another arrangement in the attack depends on the individual qualities of the players.
For example, a 2-1-2 offense requires a team to have two good center players, and the rest to be able to dribble around the opponent and drive forward sharply. An attack in a 1-3-1 formation is impossible without well-aimed "shooters" from the sidelines and a tall center player who could fight the ball in the event of a rebound.
To exploit the weaknesses of any zone defense system, it is necessary to have players in the attacking team who are good at shooting from the least protected areas of the court. Forwards must be good at long-range throws and throws from the front line (from a distance of 4-5 m).
In training, we advise you to pay great attention to practicing shots, especially long-range shots from the side lines and from the corners of the site. It is difficult to throw the ball at the basket from the foul line with a hook and turn. This is thwarted by retreating defenders. The most convenient in such conditions is a jump shot. In training, you need to ensure that the player, practicing this technique, releases the ball from his hands, being at the highest point.
Otherwise, the throw loses a significant amount of effectiveness.
When attacking in a zone defense, the player must be able to hit the ball that has bounced off the basket into the basket.
When the players have mastered the basic techniques of an individual attack, you can move on to team training. It is best to start with the game on one half of the court.
In order for the attackers to learn how to use the weak points of the zone defense in training and gain confidence in the accuracy of the throws, the defenders are positioned correctly, but do not offer active resistance.
It is useful to train with three fives Two fives, using any of the zone defense arrangements, defend the baskets, and one attacks. If the attack is successful, the attackers will attack another basket. In case of failure, the attacking five becomes defensive, and the defending five attacks, etc.
In further training, the defense is activated. Defenders, having mastered the ball, are trying to make a fast break .
It takes a long time to learn a large number of attack options. Therefore, it is recommended to first study the attacks in the arrangement of players in the attack 1-3-1. With this arrangement, you can use the weak points of all options for zone defense, and in case of a ball loss, you can quickly organize the defense of your basket (if the opponent, having gone on the attack, applied a fast break).
Skillful arrangement of attackers 1-3-1 can create a numerical superiority over the defenders in one or more areas of the site. Therefore, the placement of attackers is sometimes carried out not only in a straight line (schemes 1 and 3), but also along the diagonal of the site from right to left or left to right. The players do the same. as in a straight line.
Against a zone defense, when there are two players in the front row (2-1-2 and 2-3), it is recommended to use a forward formation. If there are one or three players in the first line of defense (1-2-2, 1-3-1 or 3-2).
it is better to place attackers diagonally. The attacker / determines in which arrangement his partners should act. At the right moment, he dribbles the ball from the middle to the right or left to the sideline, stops there, and the total players move accordingly (diagram 5). Player 5 basically doesn't change places. The same, only in reverse order, occurs when moving from a diagonal arrangement to a straight line
The coach must position the players in such a way as to make the most of their abilities, to create an offense capable of destroying any zone defense system.
What qualities should players have who use the 1-3-1 formation in attack?
Player 1 organizes attacks. He also insures the rear. It is his duty to quickly determine what kind of defense system the enemy has used and organize the attack accordingly. This player must be able to perform excellent passes, a direct throw from 6-7 m, be able to play a calm, consistent game plan. In this position, the height of the player does not really matter, but speed qualities are very important to him.
After all, he often has to quickly move from attack to defense and fight with a numerically superior enemy (one against two or with a partner against three).
In the free throw area there is a player (5) who is better than others in the team in fighting for the rebounded ball. He must be able to throw the ball into the ring (from the foul line and closer) from any position - while facing the basket and with his back to it. In the arsenal of his techniques should be hook throws, and jump shots, and throws with a turn, and an accurate transfer of the ball.
Player 4 is the second strongest player on the team in the fight for the ball bouncing off the ring. He must be able to perfectly perform throws from under the basket and from short distances, jump shots, and clearly pass the ball to partners.
Player 2 must be able to pass the ball and have a good long-range shot. The role of this player must be played by the third strongest player in the team in the fight for the bounced ball.
Player 3 is a defender. He must be able to accurately throw the ball from the spot, pass the ball to partners, quickly come back and intercept the ball from the opponent.
At least three players must participate in the fight for the bounced ball. They seem to form a triangle: one is located in front of the basket, and two are on the sides of the shield. The remaining two players step back at the moment of the throw to organize protection in case the opponent takes possession of the ball after the rebound. Such insurance is necessary for the team in case of an unexpected transition of the enemy into a fast break.
Players 2 and 4 fight for the ball after each failed throw, the latter acting on the side where the combination was started. Center 5 fights for the ball in front of the basket.
Player 1 does not challenge for the ball He is outside the free-throw area semi-circle in the center or to the side (left or right depending on the direction of the diagonal attack).
If, after an unsuccessful throw, the attackers regain possession of the ball, player I is included in the attack. If the ball is at the opponent, he goes to the defense.
Player 3 acts as a defender. He takes part in the fight for the bounced ball only when player 2 shoots at the basket from a distance of more than 6 m or when he himself shoots from a distance of less than 5 m. /, 4 or 5). he joins player 1 to organize a defense. Player 3 must always be ready for an immediate defensive retreat.
When player 2 or I throws at the ring, players 2 and 4 fight for the bounced ball from both sides of the basket, player 5 from the front side. Using the attack option 1-3-1 allows the team to effectively attack the opponent. For example, the enemy used a 2-3 zone defense (Scheme 6). Forward /. acting with the ball, distracts the defender /. At this time, player 5 of the attacking team quickly moves to the other side. There he receives the ball from player 1. If defender 3 (or any other defender of the second line) interferes with the shot at the basket, player 5 passes the ball for an aimed long shot to player 2 or to the outgoing player 4.
