March/April 2019 - 24

DIAGRAM 1
DIAGRAM 2
DIAGRAM 3
DIAGRAM 4
DIAGRAM 5
DIAGRAM 6
up the lob, and body seals to establish post position. It's
also important to take advantage of offensive rebounding
opportunities by using the high post player options,
overloading a rebounding area, and by setting up
rebounding mismatches.
Create the right shots for the right players. Do it from
the right places and at the proper times.
Visualization
Regularly use practice time to have players visualize
positive outcomes against 2-3 zone scenarios. These
illustrations show some concepts that have proven
successful against the 2-3 zone.
DIAGRAM 1: 4 and 5 set up behind the defense and
Get into your offense right away with sets and cuts
that provide quick reads of the defense. Keep the proper
spacing between players, and exploit the middle of the
zone with passes to the post and dribble-penetration.
Remind players that they must swing the ball to force
the defense to adjust physically and mentally. Have
cutters moving to gaps in the zone from under and
behind it. Use pass fakes, eye fakes, bounce passes,
lobs, skip passes, double skip passes and judicious use
of the dribble to set up scoring opportunities. Avoid
telegraphed passes.
Motivate your perimeter players to see the post players
and make the inside pass when those players are open.
Use dribble-penetration to create good situations, but
eliminate uncontrolled dribbling in which the player
leaves their feet too early, drives into traps, forces passes
and shots, or picks up offensive fouls.
Coach high post players to assertively seek the ball,
but to avoid hurrying out of open areas. Employ screens
such as high-post ball screens, low-post screens to set
24 MARCH/APRIL 2019
flash to the high post looking for the ball or to screen.
1 dribbles at the defensive guard, and 2 sprints to the
opposite side.
1 reverses the ball to 3. 5 can dive to the low post or
short corner. 4 reads and can flash to the ball side, set a
ball screen or establish a rebounding advantage. 3 can
pass to either 5 or 4, or skip pass to 1 on the corner fade.
DIAGRAM 2: From a 1-4 set, run a high-low lob or
pass for a duck-in. You can do a lot of things from the 1-4
set to give the 2-3 zone a different look.
DIAGRAM 3: If the defense's forwards are aggressive
on the wings, have 4 screen the defensive center for 5. 5
can either cut off of this screen or screen for himself to
create a lob opportunity on the help-side.
DIAGRAM 4: 2 has the ball on the wing in a basic 1-3-1
set. 2 looks to swing the ball with the dribble off of 4's ball
screen or get the ball low to 5. 4 also can stay home in the
high post to receive a pass. After the reversal, 2 or 3 might
get the ball low to a post player, dribble penetrate or shoot
a 3-pointer.
March/April 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March/April 2019
