It isn't often that you come across a Triangle and 2 Defense, but if and when you do see it, you will want to be able to run something simple against it. The following diagrams discuss three different quick hitters that can be run against a Triangle and 2 defense. Quick Hitter 1: O3 dribbles toward O4 at the elbow. O4 cuts down and replaces O5 as O5 slides up to the elbow opposite of O3. O2 clears out with his defender. O3 passes to O5 for the shot. If the defense comes up on O5, he … [Read more...]
Half Court Trap Attack Zone Offense
This half court press attack zone offense works great against those half court zone traps you will see from time to time, especially the 1-3-1 half court trap. It is a simple offense to run with a few options for attacking the trapping defense. 1) Option 1: O1 brings the ball up court and O2 stays even with O1. Prior to crossing the half court line, O1 passes to O2. (Remember, this is against a trap defense that is wanting to trap in the corners immediately once you cross the line.) After … [Read more...]
Double Stack Low
Double Stack Low is a simple zone quick hitting play intended to get a jump shot from the weak side. With this setup, it will work best against an even front zone such as a 2-3 or 2-1-2. 1) The play starts off with O1 (this should be your best jump shooter) bringing the ball to the middle. O1 calls the play (any number or name is fine). 2) Player's O2 & O3 pop out to the wings to receive the ball. 3) O1 passes the ball to O2. Once the two low post … [Read more...]
Full Court Zone Press Attack Offense
This is a simple, yet very effective offense to use when facing a full court zone press. 1) O1 takes the basketball out of bounds. O2 and O3 line up at the free throw line and will break opposite of each other. They may need to start out in a stack position and screen one another to get open. O1 passes the basketball to O2 and then sprints to the middle. If O1 is open, O2 passes him the ball. O1 will look to advance the ball up the floor with the dribble while O4 and O5 fill the lanes. O2 … [Read more...]
Double Skip Pass Drill
Purpose: This drill helps the players work on making skip passes, receiving skip passes, and moving into an open gap in the zone prepared to shoot. Drill: One line at the top as shown. Use as many baskets as you can to keep lines short. O1 starts by making a skip pass to the coach or manager (C). After making the pass, O1 slides down outside the 3-point line. 'C' skip passes back to O1. O1 takes the shot and follows it. Coaching Points: Players should work at making good passes and using … [Read more...]
Overload Continuity Zone Offense
This zone offense is so named because the continuity is created by the point guard dribbling from side to side, pulling the defense with him (thereby creating an overload on one side of the defense). Screens are also plentiful in this zone offense to create open shots. This is an efficient offense that can be run against either an even- or odd-front zone. 1) This continuity zone offense begins with the point guard dribbling to a side of the floor. For the description here, O1 starts by … [Read more...]
Post X Continuity Zone Offense
The Post X Continuity Zone Offense is a simple offense to run and is most effective against even-front zones. 1) The offense starts in something of a 1-4 high set as shown. The point guard, #1, can dribble the ball either left or right to initiate the offense. In this diagram, #1 begins by dribbling to the right. #1 dribbles to the right side and passes to #2. #2 can start low in order to cut out to the wing or utilize a v-cut. #1 passes to #2 and then cuts down the lane and out to the … [Read more...]
Box Breaker
This Box and One special play can be used when the defense goes to a box-and-one to shut down one particular offensive player. The 'Box Breaker' can be run after a dead ball or whenever the defense is able to get into the box-and-one. As you can see from the diagram, the offense sets up with a point guard (1), a short corner player behind the box defense (3), and two players at the elbows (5 and 4). (2) is the offense player who is being defended by a single defender. The 'Box Breaker' … [Read more...]
Baseline Breakdown Drill
Purpose: To work on attacking the zone defense when the ball goes to the baseline. This is a good place to attack from as the offense has now gotten behind the defense. Drill: Four offensive players on one side of the floor as shown. Three defenders playing a zone in a similar manner to the diagram. The drill begins with O1 passing to O2 on the wing. O2 dribbles at the defensive forward forcing the forward to stop the penetration. O2 then passes to O4 on the baseline. O4 drives baseline for … [Read more...]
Step Into Gap Drill
Purpose: The 'Step Into Gap' drill teaches the players to move into the 'gap' after making a pass against a zone. Drill: Two lines at the top as shown. O1 and O4 pass to their respective coach (C) or fellow player. O1 and O4 curl either down or to the top. O1's coach passes the ball back to O1 and O4's coach passes back to O4. O1 and O4 each take the shot. Coaching Points: Players should work at making good passes, faking a step one way and curling the opposite way, and also getting ready … [Read more...]