VIEW CART
3 Quick-Hitting Plays That Work Against Any Zone Defense
By Dawn Byall, Head Girls Coach And Brad Phillips, Assistant Girls Coach, Fort Wayne Christian High School., Fort Wayne, Ind.
The following plays are versatile and can work against just about any kind of zone defense. The diagrams show the play as it’s run against a specific type of zone. But you’ll also find that they are easy to adapt and use against various zones.
You can come up with different names for these plays, but for purposes of this article, the plays are named “One,” “Two” and “Three.”
Play “One”
This is a great play to run for your point guard (1) or best shooter. The diagram shows the play run as if 1 is the primary shooter. 2 is your other shooter in this offense.
DIAGRAM 1: Play “One” Vs. 2-3 Zone (A). 1 passes to 3 on the wing. 2 pops out to the ball-side corner. 5 moves from the high post to post up at the mid post on the ball side. 3 passes to 2 in the corner and in-screens the top defender in the zone.
DIAGRAM 2: Play “One” Vs. 2-3 Zone (B). 2 passes back to 1 coming over the top of the in-screen. 1 looks for a quick catch-and-shoot opportunity. Meanwhile, 2 clears out of the corner and crashes the boards with 4 and 5.
DIAGRAM 3: Play “One” Vs. 1-3-1, 1-2-2 Zones. This version of the play is run the same, except now — due to the formation of the zone — you may get a wide-open shot for 2 in the corner or even an isolation in the low post for 5. If not, continue to run the play for 1.
You’ll be amazed at how many times 1 is open for the shot, regardless of the defense.
Play “Two”
This play is a versatile attack that involves the whole offense. 3 should be your best penetrator, 1 and 2 are your best shooters and 4 and 5 are the post players. If 3 is right handed, then run this play almost exclusively to the left.
DIAGRAM 4: Play “Two” Vs. 2-3 Zone (A). 1 passes to 3 on the left wing and clears out to the weak-side wing. 2 pops out to ball-side corner. 5 sets a backscreen on 3’s defender. 3 sets his or her defender up by faking a pass to the corner.
DIAGRAM 5: Play “Two” Vs. 2-3 Zone (B). 3 uses the screen from 5 and attacks the middle of the lane with dribble penetration. 5 rolls to the basket after the screen, while 3 reads the defender to determine what to do with the ball. 3’s options include:
• Dumping to 5 on the roll to the basket.
• Reversing the ball to 1 on the weak side for shot.
• Feeding 4 as he or she flashes into the lane.
Of course, if the defense doesn’t defend 3 off the screen, 3 can shoot or drive the lane.
DIAGRAM 6: Play “Two” Vs. Other Zones. The play is ran the same way against other zones, except now the focus for scoring shifts to 2 in the corner. 1-3-1 or 1-2-2 zones have difficulty defending both the pick-and-roll and the corner shooter. 3 often finds 2 open after coming off the screen from 5.
Play “Three”
This play is designed for a player that’s good at slashing to the basket and finishing. 1, 2 and 3 are the shooters and guards. 4 is your slasher or most mobile big forward, while 5 is the low-post rebounder.
This is a timing play. Tell your players to be patient, make the defense react and find the most open player.
DIAGRAM 7: Play “Three” Vs. 2-3 Zone. 1 passes to 3 on the wing and moves slightly toward the weak-side wing. 2 pops out to the ball-side corner. 5 moves away to the weak-side low post just as 4 flashes across the lane looking for a pass and shot.
3 must first draw the defense out with a shot fake or a pass fake to the corner. He or she then looks to feed 4 in the lane or 1 on the weak side. The goal is to make the second guard choose to defend either 4 or 1. Instruct 3 to hit the player the defense doesn’t defend for the open shot.
DIAGRAM 8: Play “Three” Vs. 1-3-1 Zone. This is the same play run vs. a 1-3-1 zone. 4 must make a more direct cut to the post against this type of zone defense.
You’ll find that as the defense rotates to follow the cutters and post players, 2 should be wide open in the corner for a shot.
DIAGRAM 9: Play “Three” Vs. 1-2-2 Zone. Against a 1-2-2 zone, when 4 flashes to the open space in the zone and 5 rolls to the weak-side block, 2 is usually wide open in the corner. 3 fakes an entry pass to 4 to draw the defenders and hits 2 in the corner for a 3-pointer.
If your slasher (4) is left handed, start him or her out on the right side.
