How to beat a 2-3 zone defense in basketball video

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...

1. If wide open, the short corner player can take one step to the basket for a lay up.
2. The short corner player can shot fake and take it to the hole.

3. 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).

4. 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.

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What do you think? Let us know by leaving your comments, suggestions, and questions. ..

Basketball Coach's Clipboard 2-3 Zone Attack Principles

Home > Offenses > Zone Offenses >

By Dr. James Gels, from the Coach’s Clipboard Basketball Playbook

Watching Duke and Syracuse men's teams play each other in the NCAA "Sweet-16" was really interesting, with both teams trying to attack each other's 2-3 zone defense. Several evenings before, a very good Michigan State team had major problems attacking Syracuse's zone. After watching all this, studying it, listening to TV commentators, and taking notes, I came away with some strong opinions on what I now consider key elements in attacking the 2-3 zone defense.

I believe that the most important key is getting the ball into the high-post, "middle space", to an offensive player who can score and make good decisions with the ball. See diagram 1. Good things can happen when you get the ball inside in the green space. I'll discuss this below.

Don't settle for 3-point shots (diagram 1). It's very tempting and requires little effort to just launch 3-point shots, as you can always get a 3-point shot. You must get the ball inside, and you must establish this early in the game. If you can score inside, it takes the pressure off your 3-point shooters. If you can get the ball inside, the defense will have to sag more, and then the outside becomes more wide open.

Realize that against the 2-3 zone, you will have to work hard to get those inside shots, and you must be patient.

Take the first good shot that avails itself. Sometimes, especially with a shot clock, it's hard to get a good shot. Too often I see a pass go in to the high-post/middle area and instead of the player simply turning and shooting the open short shot, he/she passes it back out or forces a bad pass down low.

Pass fakes and shot fakes are very important fundamentals for opening passing and dribble-penetration lanes. Drill this in practice.

Avoid too much perimeter "passing around the horn" (diagram 2). We've been taught that passing quickly back and forth around the perimeter is a good thing, to over-shift the zone. But in reality, this leads to player stagnation with little player movement and usually fails, or results in someone just jacking up a 3-point shot. We have got to get the ball into that middle area seen in diagram 1.

Attacking the middle space

In the past, we have used a 1-3-1 offensive set with a player occupying the high-post area (see these set 2-3 Zone Offenses. But now I believe that instead of having a player constantly standing in the high-post (and clogging the middle), it's better to leave the middle space open, and then attack that space by having your post players flashing there for a pass. A good athletic wing player who is comfortable with the ball in the middle could flash there too.

Teach your players to flash, not just to the free-throw line, but more inside the lane (diagram 1). This space appears to be open more often than the free-throw line, and is harder to cover for the perimeter defenders, while still a difficult cover for the inside defenders. With players flashing in and out of this space, there is less chance of a 3-second lane call. Here are ways of getting the ball inside:

1. Opposite low post flash and pass from the wing or top. See diagrams 3 and 4.

- low post flashes into the middle space, gets the pass and open shot.

2.

. If the high-post player cannot get open for a pass, he/she could screen either of the top two defenders. This can result in dribble-penetration into the middle space. See diagram 5.

3. Opposite wing flash. See diagram 6. If your wing player is comfortable here, he/she can flash to the middle also. We have two inside post rebounders if he/she shoots here.

4. Dribble-penetrate the middle. See diagram 7. Instead to the guard going all the way to the hoop and into the shot-blockers, a nice simple pull-up jump-shot often works great here. Or a dribble-drive followed by a kick-out pass to the opposite wing may be right the play (diagram 8).

- several things in this clip. Duke shows good patience, working for the good shot. The opposite guard cuts into the middle space, gets the pass and kicks it out to the wing, and moves out. Later the opposite low post flashes into the middle spot, but doesn't get the ball. Finally, we see dribble-penetration to the middle, with a pass to the short corner for an open shot.

Making decisions in the middle space

A number of good things can happen once we get the ball to your "decision-maker" in the middle:

1. Turn and shoot (diagram 9). This is often the best option as it is a short, relatively easy shot when the shooter is open. Far too often, I see players passing up this shot, and some not even looking for the shot.

2. Pass hi-lo to low post (diagrams 10 and 11). The zone defenders will mess up from time to time and the low post will become open.

- ballside high post drops to block as opposite low post flashes into the middle space, gets the pass, and makes the hi-lo pass.

3.

(diagram 12).

4. Pass to opposite wing, or to the point, for an inside-out 3-point shot (diagrams 13 and 14).

Other key elements

1.

. I'm repeating myself here because they are such important fundamentals.

2. Don't forget that rebounding on both ends of the court is very important, and strong defensive rebounding with the quick outlet pass and an aggressive transition offense can be very helpful, especially against teams that don't get back quickly.

3. Use of the high lob pass to the low-post. Watching these college games on TV, how often would we see a low post player sneak underneath (baseline) the zone defenders and get a lob pass for a dunk (diagram 15)? You might not have a dunker on your team, but still the lob and a two-handed tip-finish might be possible.

4. What if the defense brings the low middle defender up, like a 2-1-2 zone? That's OK if they have to adjust to you. You can still get the pass into the middle space, although the shot there might not be open as often, but the hi-lo pass to the low post will be easier.

In summary - be patient, work hard, and get the ball in the middle space and usually everything else will fall into place.

Related pages:

• Zone Offense
  
• 2-3 Zone Offense Sets
  
• Screening the Zone
  
• 2-3 Zone Plays
  

Triangular offense against 3-2 and 1-2-2 zone defense in basketball

February 5, 2014 Author: Maxim Gordienko

Hello, dear visitors of basketball-training.org.ua. In today's article, we will once again talk about offense against zone defense. This topic has been raised more than once in referee seminars, but it continues to raise many questions and create problems for the attacking team.

I was prompted to write this material by yesterday's defeat of our team, against which they once again placed a "high" zone with three players at the top and two at the bottom, which we could not beat. I will add that this material will be useful primarily to those teams and players who do not have a stable long-range shot (because we regularly created a convenient position for shooting from the perimeter - but we hit it very rarely). So let's start.

Triangular Offense (non-Lakers)

The essence of an offense against a zone defense is to overload one side of the court and outnumber your opponents. That is, if two opposing players are defending on the right, then you must attack from there with three players. Everything seems simple?

No. The problem of beginning teams that have not yet had time to play each other is that such a cluster of players on several square meters leads to the fact that they will interfere with each other more than help create a threat to the opponent's ring. A good dilemma turns out: on the one hand, to gather a lot of players on one side, and on the other hand, to make sure that they do not interfere with each other.

One solution to this situation is the triangular attack. I note right away that this type of attack is not a panacea, not a universal pill that will allow you to destroy an opponent. But this is an effective way to effectively complete an attack, and if you use it 5-6 times per game, and then use the elements of such an attack 5-6 more times, you will get 10-20 extra points. Agree, it's not bad. Let's watch the video.

[youtube]11d5mbWEi84[/youtube]

A small summary of what you just saw:

1. Location of attacking players: 2 small players above, to the right and to the left of the imaginary midfield line. One player (third number) is in the corner, the fourth and fifth numbers are in the top and bottom posts, respectively. Important: 3, 4, 5 players are on the same side.
2. 3, 4, 5 numbers are on the side of where the ball is currently located. If the ball goes to the other side, the players go with it, while the 4th and 5th numbers change places.
3. In the second minute of the video it is explained that if a zone uses a double team (double defense) against the player in possession of the ball (number 1 or 2), then he should not play for his "little partner", because. this will result in the loss of the ball. Instead, he should play a partner in the top post with a floor pass or play with a long pass from a partner in the corner. Note : High post - crossing the free throw line and the 3-second zone line.
4. Starting at 2:50 minutes, consideration of attack options begins. Everything is clear here, I think it makes no sense to describe.
5. At 3:25 we are told that when you receive the ball on the perimeter, you should first look at the high post (top post), then at the corner. That is, initially it is more priority to play a partner inside the zone in order to "open" it.
6. At 3:40 it is shown that the zone can rebuild, and one of the "big ones" will go to close the corner. Then you play the two big ones inside the zone (first pass to the top post).
7. But at 4:05 they show a combination with which I do not agree. Such a pass to the corner can be intercepted, or rather, it will definitely be intercepted (if the pass goes to a statically standing player). If the pass goes to the corner where the player is just going, then such a development of the combination makes sense.
8. From 4:45 we are shown that if the pass goes to the player in the corner, then the zone will adapt again and one of the "big" defending team will go to the corner, blocking the three-point shot. The second "big" - picks up the player at the bottom post, and the "small" from the perimeter falls to the top post. And here it is very coolly shown how, due to the competent setting of the back, the “big” attacking team receives the ball in the top post, again creating a “2 against 1” attack situation.

Conclusion

We've looked at one of the basketball zone defenses your opponent can play. Similarly, we have considered only one of the options for attacking such a zone that you can use. We looked at several scenarios (if you have a good player with a stable long-range shot from the corner of the court and if you do not).

But the most important thing is that you need to attack quickly against the zone. The ball must move quickly, as quickly as possible, otherwise the whole meaning of the combination will be instantly lost. A second delay, and you will no longer be able to give a sharp pass. This was not enough for us yesterday.

And on this, albeit not very optimistic, note, I finish talking about offense against a 3-2 or 1-2-2 zone defense. If you have questions or additions - write them in the comments. Join us on social networks Vkontakte, Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

I wish you successful training and I look forward to seeing you again on the pages of this site!

Gordienko Maxim.

Basketball terms everyone should know

These 11 concepts will help even a beginner to better understand the game

WE DECIDED TO HELP TO LEARN THE LANGUAGE OF BASKETBALL FOR BEGINNERS IN ORDER TO NOT GET LOSSED ON THE COURT AND TO BETTER UNDERSTAND EXPERIENCED PLAYERS.

RUNNING

Foul when a player with the ball takes too many steps without starting or after dribbling. The simplest and at the same time complex rule, because it has many nuances. This video breaks down the latest amendments and clearly explains what is and isn't allowed:

RUNNING

Foul when the player with the ball takes too many steps without starting or after dribbling. The simplest and at the same time complex rule, because it has many nuances. This video breaks down the latest amendments and clearly explains what is possible and what is not:

PENALTY (PENALTY SHOT)

A free-throw that is taken after a foul in the "throw phase", a technical or unsportsmanlike foul, or overrun of team fouls. On the site it is easy to find the line from where the free kick is taken.

We have an article with free throw guidelines. Read the blog: BASKETBALL PENALTY SHOT

AND1 (END ONE)

An exclamation and symbol used by players after a foul shot is scored. Denotes "and one more", because after hitting in violation of the rules, it will perform a free throw, and this is an opportunity to score more points for attack.

PAINT (THREE SECOND ZONE)

An area on the court in which an attacking player cannot stay for more than 3 seconds, otherwise there will be a violation. The name "paint" was derived from highlighting it with color on set.

THREE / LONG / OUT OF THE ARCH (THREE-POINT SHOT)

A shot that is awarded 3 points in big basketball and 2 points in basketball 3 on 3. On the court, the zone from which 3 points are awarded is marked with a line in the form of an arc.

LAY UP

The most common shot from under the basket, during which the player usually moves towards the basket.

DUNK / SLAM DUNK

Overhand throw when the ball is released from the hands over the hoop and moves straight down.

ALLEY-OOP

A pass after which the receiving player throws the ball before landing. Most often, such a transfer ends with a dunk, and it looks spectacular.

To dunk and finish alley-ups beautifully, you need to have a good jump. We have a video with 5 top tips for this:

ASSIST

Successful pass, after which the player hit the basket. In basketball, before throwing, he can perform one or two hits without beating the opponent, and the transfer will still be considered in the scoring column.

To give a lot of assists, you need to be able to make different passes. Read the article with types of passes: PASSING IN BASKETBALL

REBELLING

An event when a player receives the ball after a shot or block shot. Some players have made a whole art out of this element of the game. For example, Dennis Rodman:

Do you want to take your first steps in basketball or improve your basic skills? We have a Basic Basketball Skills workout for you. See the schedule and sign up:

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Coach: Yuriy Bespalov

- Professional player of the INANOMO 3x3 team;
- Champion of Russia 3x3 2019;
- Winner and medalist of the MOFB championship;
- MLBL Summer League MVP 2017;
- Multiple participant of the Moscow Open;
- Champion of Moscow 3x3 2017;
- MVP GrunisCup 2017.

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