Here is an effective quick hitter you can run against a zone defense. It will probably work best against a 2-3 zone defense, but can be used against other zone defenses. This basketball play uses a quick reversal and then counters back the other way to get a good shot attempt. If the potential shooter is defended, he has multiple passing options to create a scoring chance. O1 initiates the play by dribbling toward O2, who clears out to the opposite side. O4 slides out to the short … [Read more...]
Gonzaga Wing Runner Play
In this zone quick hitter, the shooting guard dictates the action based on how and where he decides to cut. This basketball play creates a lot of scoring options and can attack the zone defense in any number of ways. 1 dribbles to the right pushing 2 into the lane. 2 stops at the basket and positions his back to the baseline. 3 replaces 1. 2 can choose to a) cut off of 5, b) cut straight up the lane, or c) cut to the weak side wing off of 4. In this option, 2 uses the screen … [Read more...]
Gonzaga Triple Zone Option
In this zone offense quick hitting play run by Gonzaga, there are at least 3 potential scoring options from in the post to penetration to a 3-point shot. An excellent basketball play... 5 and 4 sprint up to set screens on the outside zone defenders. 1 uses the screen to dribble to the right wing. 2 replaces 1. 5 and 4 roll after the screens. 1st option: Pass to 4 posting up inside. 2nd option: Pass to 2 at the top of the key for an isolation play. 3rd option: Swing the … [Read more...]
Zone Double Flash
The Zone Double Flash is a quick hitter that begins with both low post players flashing to the high post. Once the ball is received in the high post, there are multiple options available to get an easy scoring opportunity. This is an effective and efficient basketball play that will yield good results. 4 and 5 flash to the elbows. 1 passes to 4. Once 4 has the ball, 2 slides to the corner, 5 dives to the rim, and 1 moves opposite. If 5 or 2 aren't open, 4 passes back out to … [Read more...]
Double Overload Zone Offense
The Double Overload Zone Offense can be run as a continuity zone offense or a quick-hitting set. As the name indicates, it overloads one side of the zone defense to create multiple easy scoring chances. While it can be run against any zone defense, it is probably most effective against the 2-3 zone defense. The Double Overload can be run to either side with O2 and O3 high on the wing. In our diagram, O1 starts the play by passing to O3 high on the right wing. O1 cuts to the elbow and … [Read more...]
2-3 Zone High Lob Play
This quick-hitting basketball play is designed to create a scoring opportunity against a 2-3 zone defense. The ultimate objective with this play is to use a lob pass to get an easy basket (dunk, layup). It's a simple play to execute and should give you at least one opportunity at an easy two points. O1 initiates this play by passing to O3 on the wing. O1 then cuts over to opposite wing while O2 cuts to the top, replacing O1. O3 passes the basketball to O2 at the top. O2 swings it over … [Read more...]
Vandy Screen Low Zone Play
This is a nice basketball play to run against a 2-3 zone defense. It does a great job of screening the zone to create an inside scoring opportunity for your big or an open perimeter shot. O1 initiates this play by passing to O3 on the wing. O3 returns the pass to O1 at the top. O1 dribbles left toward O2 as O3 clears through to the opposite corner. As O1 is dribbling over, O2 cuts down and screens the middle defender. At the same time, O4 is moving over to screen the far side … [Read more...]
Dribble-Drive Weak Flash Play
This basketball play utilizes inside screening to create a great shot opportunity against a 2-3 zone defense. Players O4 and O5 set up below the low block and/or behind the defender. This play can be run to either side, just as long as the players know what to do depending on where the point guard initiates the pass. For our example, we are running this to the right side of the floor. O1 passes the basketball to O2. O2 drives baseline in an attempt to draw the baseline defender to … [Read more...]
High/Low Zone Offense
This High/Low Zone Offense is a simple basketball continuity offense that is effective against zone defenses, particularly even-front zone defenses such as the 2-3. The movements are simple to execute and therefore allow it to be an effective offense for youth teams that come up against a zone. It is also an efficient zone offense for higher level teams. Even against better 2-3 zone defenses, scoring opportunities can be created because this simple offense does a great job in overloading the … [Read more...]
Quick Lob vs. 2-3 Zone
This set play can be used against a 2-3 zone defense to get a quick hitting score. This can be an especially useful play against a 2-3 that overextends on the perimeter. This play can be run to either side. If the play is called, the side is determined by the point guard. In the diagram below, the play is run to the left. O1 dribbles to the left and passes to O3. O3 should slide down far enough so he gets defended by the low wing defender. O3 returns the pass to O1 and takes a … [Read more...]