The following zone offense is designed to create many problems for most zones. It is convertible to meet odd front (1-2-2 and 1-3-1) zones or even front (2-3 and 2-1-2) zones. The Convertible Zone Offense is from Mike Harkins in a book titled "Successful Team Techniques in Basketball". Coach Harkins coached Eastern Montana College (now MSU Billings) from 1960-1976, sending 10 teams to the NAIA national tournament in Kansas City. He compiled a 290-158 record at EMC, winning 12 conference … [Read more...]
Lob Continuity Zone Offense
The Lob Continuity play is designed to create multiple scoring opportunities, with the easiest of all being a lob pass for a layup or dunk. It is an effective quick hitter that can also be run as a continuity as the ball swings and reverses from side to side. The Lob Continuity play starts with O1 passing the basketball to O3 on the wing. O3 then dribbles down toward the corner. O1 follows his pass and replaces O3. O2 cuts to the top and O4 flashes to the ballside elbow. O5 posts up on … [Read more...]
Zone Delay Spread Offense
The Zone Delay Spread Offense is an offensive set you can utilize at or near the end of game situations when you are trying to use clock and the defense is in a zone. It is not entirely a continuity offense because there isn't a set pattern to follow but it is effective against a defense that is pressuring you with a halfcourt zone. I think more often than not, most teams that are behind in this situation will play man-to-man but I have seen some teams stay in their zone. This is a simple … [Read more...]
1-4 X Zone Offense
The 1-4 X Zone Offense starts out in a 1-4 set as shown in the following diagram. It can really be used against any zone defense because as the offensive players move, they will be flashing and cutting to open areas in the zone. The 1-4 X Zone Offense works well as a quick hitter but can also be run as a continuity, as you will see in the last diagram. This is a great set which helps you attack the middle of the zone defense. The 1-4 X Zone Offense starts from a 1-4 high set and can be … [Read more...]
1-3-1 Control Game Offense
The 1-3-1 Control Game Offense is a continuity offense with a baseline roamer. This offense works equally well against man-to-man or zone defenses. A control game is much like a delay game in that you are attempting to control the tempo of the game. You can certainly achieve this tempo in a motion- or passing-style offense but, depending upon your team and personnel, you may prefer to do this via a continuity offense. To begin the 1-3-1 Control Game Offense, the players align themselves as … [Read more...]
4 Principles for Attacking Junk Defenses
Junk defenses such as the Box-and-One, Triangle-and-Two, Diamond-and-One, or any other combination a coach may come up with are essentially combination defenses because they combine both man-to-man and zone principles. These types of defenses are generally not what a team utilizes so you can't really prepare for them in a 'normal' manner. Because there are many variations and because they are used so sporadically, it would be nearly impossible and downright foolish to practice a special offense … [Read more...]
21 Strategies for Better Zone Offense
The following 21 Zone Offense Strategies will help your zone offense be more effective and more dominant. These strategies are basically individual or team tactics you can utilize against any zone defense - and with any zone offensive system - to help you move the basketball and the defense to create open scoring opportunities. Zone Strategy 1: Pass and Move O1 passes inside to O5 and moves to the right or left away from the defender, preferably to the direction that the defender's back is … [Read more...]
10 Fundamental Ideas for Building Your Zone Offense
Many teams are unprepared for playing against zone defenses. That is why a lot of teams employ a zone defense. Playing against a zone is not rocket science, but we often make it more difficult than it should be. It is impossible (and very unwise) to ignore zone defenses because at some point you will be forced to play against one. As the coach, it is imperative that you equip your players with the knowledge and techniques necessary to beat a zone defense. The following 10 fundamental ideas … [Read more...]
1-4 High Continuity Zone Offense
The 1-4 High Continuity is an effective zone offense to employ against odd-front zones such as the 1-2-2. The point guard, O1, can initiate the offense to either the right or left side. In this diagram, O1 starts by dribbling to the right. As he goes right, O4 steps out to the the 3-point line to receive a pass from O1. O5 pins the guard on the elbow. As O1 passes to O4, O2 and O3 slide down to their respective corners. After pinning the guard at the elbow, O5 looks to slide into … [Read more...]
9 Principles for Attacking Pressure Defenses
Expect pressure. At one point or another, your offense can expect pressure. It may be from an opponent that pressures the entire game or simply a team that employs pressure to help them get back in the game. Regardless of how teams pressure and when they choose to do so, expect it to come. Now that you can expect it to come, make sure you prepare for it. Pressure will kill you if you're not prepared for it. Therefore, drill against pressure in practice and teach your players concepts that will … [Read more...]