This can be run as a quick hitter against a 2-3 zone defense and it can also be taught as a technique to be used against a 2-3 zone, even if it isn't specifically called as a play. This play is especially effective against a 2-3 when the bottom outside defender has a tendency to move too far into help position. O1 starts by passing to O2, who immediately passes back to O1. O1 quickly reverses the basketball to O3. O2 slides down into the open gap as O4 screens the defensive … [Read more...]
Screen the Zone Last Second Play
In late-game situations, many teams with a lead will defend by playing a zone defense. Certainly for some teams, the zone is their main defense. For others, they may choose to do so because they do not want to get beat on a play to the basket. Regardless of their reasoning, it is important to have a play that you can go to in a last-second situation against a zone defense. This 'Screen the Zone' play will work best against a 2-3 zone defense. You might get a quick, easy bucket (if the defense … [Read more...]
Iowa Overload Reversal
This zone quick hitter creates an open jump shot by first overloading one side of the zone and then using a ball reversal to get the defense pulled out of position. Players begin as shown above... 3 cuts through to overload a side 2 cuts to block 1 passes to 3 3 passes back to 1 2 starts to cut through 1 dribbles off 4 ballscreen on outside of zone 1 passes to 2 2 dribbles up to take bottom of zone 3 cuts baseline corner for shot … [Read more...]
Wing Skip to Skip Zone Offense Play
This zone offense set play incorporates a couple of skip passes to create an open jump shot. It sets up best against an even-front zone such as the 2-3 but can be useful against any zone defense. Players set up as shown with O4 and O5 on each low block, O2 and O3 at the free throw line. O1 dribbles to the left wing and O2 pops out to the top of the key to replace him. O3 fades to the opposite wing. O5 posts up and O4 stays active and in weakside rebounding position. Once at the left wing, O1 … [Read more...]
Nail Action Zone Offense Play
This basketball play can be run against any zone defense, particularly a zone defense where you are looking to get the ball into the middle of the zone. The players are set as shown in the above diagram with 3 perimeter players and 2 set in a low post doublestack. O3 flashes and gets the ball at the nail. O3 can catch and drive or hit the O5 ducking in. If O3 doesn't hit the low post she hits the wing. O5 pops out. O2 hits O5. O3 dives to the low block. If O3 wasn't available diving to … [Read more...]
Point Guard Screen Play
Run this play against a zone defense to get a 3-point attempt from the corner. As you can see from the diagrams below, the point guard is screened to receive the pass and create an opening for the shooting guard to attempt the shot. 1 passes to 3 on the wing and cuts to the ballside block. 4 pops out to corner and receives pass from 3. 4 screens outside of zone for 1 to cut to corner. 1 dribbles to bring out bottom of zone. 2 runs baseline for one more pass and the shot! … [Read more...]
Wing Low Post Iso
This set play is designed to be used against a zone defense. The objective is to create a 1-on-1 opportunity in the low post for a player that initially starts out on the wing. The play begins with O1 passing to O2 on the wing and cutting to the opposite low block. O2 dribbles back to the top of the key as O3 dives to the nail (middle of free throw line). O3 dives down to the low block and sets a double screen for O1 who cuts to the corner. After setting the double screen, O5 pops out to … [Read more...]
Racer Zone Play
This zone offense set play, which will work best against a 1-3-1 zone defense, incorporates a quick ball reversal and down screen to get an open perimeter shot opportunity. From a 2-3 high offensive set, O2 passes to O4 on the wing, cuts to the basket and comes around a screen by O3 on the weak side. O5 steps out, receives the pass from O4 and quickly reverses it to O1, who passes to O2 for a wing / baseline shot. O3 should time the screen by not setting it too quickly. He will also be … [Read more...]
Overload the 2-3 Zone Play
Overload is a set we will look to run against a 2-3 zone. We will start out in a 1-3-1 look like you see here. Once the pass is passed to a wing, we will start the offense. Here we are passing the ball to the 3. Once this happens 4 at the high post will cut to the short corner, followed by the 5 who breaks all the way out to the corner outside the 3-point line. Finally the 2 will break in directly to the high post. We will first look to the corner then to the short corner. The last look will … [Read more...]
Middle Screen Zone Lob Play
Screen the middle post defender of a zone defense for a lob pass and easy scoring opportunity. O1 passes to O2 on the wing. As O2 receives the pass, O4 moves under the basket and screens the middle defender who is in front of O5. O5 makes a hard fake to the middle and then goes back to the basket. O2 makes a lob pass to O5. This play can be run to either side of the court. … [Read more...]