Basketball Offense - 3-2 Zone Offense
From the Coach’s Clipboard Basketball Playbook, @ http://www.coachesclipboard.net
The straight 3-2 zone defense is similar to the 1-2-2 zone, except that the middle defender sags into the high post area. Click here, to look at the 1-2-2 zone attack.
First, if your point guard can shoot the three-pointer, he/she should get some open shots against this zone, since the middle defender is playing off the point.
Use a two guard front and put your best shooter in the ball-side corner, running the baseline. Put your two post players along both sides of the lane, in the gaps above the low defenders but below the outside defenders (Diagram A). Attack this zone from the corners.
Let's assume the defense covers the corner by having their low defender come out. If your corner shooter hits a couple, the low post defender will have to come out to defend and then you should be able to pass into the low post or lane (Diagram B). If the opposite low post defender comes over to help, you can dump it to your weak-side low post (Diagram C). But if he/she is being covered by the weak-side wing defender, then kick it out to O3 for the shot from the wing... either the weak-side low post or weak-side wing should be open.
Now let's look at two options for inside screens. For success, you will have to recognize how the zone covers the ball-side low block when the ball is in the corner. They can cover it by either:
(A) having the middle defender slide down from the high post area, or
(B) having the opposite low defender slide over to the ball-side block.
(A) As the ball goes into the corner, if the middle defender slides down to cover the ball-side low block, have your ball-side post screen the middle defender and seal him/her outside (Diagram D). The opposite post can now cut over for the pass inside. If the weak-side post covers this, then your post player who set the screen (O4) should have inside position (if he/she sealed correctly) and should cut to the opposite block for the pass (Diagram E). If their X3 defender is playing down, kick it out to the weak-side wing for a shot (Diagram F).
(B) As the ball goes to the corner, if the opposite low defender slides over to the cover the ball-side block, have your ball-side post player set a screen on the opposite post defender, before he/she slides over (Diagram G). You just screen that opposite post so he/she can't get there and O5 should be open for the pass and lay-up (Diagram H).
Now, let's assume the defense covers the corner by having the wing defender slide down. First of all, if the passing is crisp, your best shooter (O2) should get some open shots, as it will take time for the wing defender to get there. So look for the three-pointer from O2 as the first option.
As the ball is passed into the corner (Diagram I), O4 sets a down-screen on the low defender, and O5 cuts into the gap on the ball-side just outside the lane for the pass and shot (Diagram J). Another option (Diagram K) is to just have O4 step out into the gap for the shot... if the O4 defender comes out to defend, pass underneath to O5 cutting to the ball-side low block. Skip passes to O3 on the opposite side will be effective also.
Related pages: Zone Offense, 1-2-2 zone offense and 4-out zone offense
Several helpful DVD's
|
Tom Izzo: The 1-3-1 Zone Offense
with Tom Izzo, Michigan State University Men's Basketball Head Coach, 2000 NCAA Champs, 3X National "Coach of the Year" Get an insider's view into the Michigan State playbook with this fantastic DVD instructed by Coach Tom Izzo. These set plays have led Tom Izzo and his program to one NCAA National Championship title, four Final Fours, and eight NCAA appearances in his ten years as a Division I head coach. Coach Izzo has won 77% of his games utilizing these set plays. This video will demonstrate ways to take advantage of any type of zone defense... (more info) Price: $39.99 
|
|
Bill Self: "Basic" and "Motion" 3-Out 2-In Zone Offenses
with Bill Self, University of Kansas Head Coach; 2008 NCAA Champions Bill Self focuses on seven principles for effective zone offense and teaches you the Jayhawks' "basic" and "motion" 3-Out 2-In Zone Offense. He walks you through the necessary techniques of both the perimeter and post players such as quick ball movement, skip passing, lob passing, utilizing the short corner and using high/low motion. Self also demonstrates drills that any coach at any level can use to enhance the continuity in the zone offense. He discusses responsibilities and reads and demonstrates the cuts, screens and movement for every position. As a bonus, Self also includes a handful of quick-hitter plays and out-of-bounds baseline plays... (more info) Price: $39.99
|
|
Jim Boeheim's Complete Guide to Zone Offense
with Jim Boeheim, Head Coach, Syracuse University, 2003 NCAA Champions!! Coach Boeheim, one of the most respected minds on the zone and match-up zone defense, now shares on video, for the first time ever, his views on how to take advantage of any zone defense. Coach Boeheim's zone offensive principles are simple: ball movement, man movement, and patience. He uses each of these principles in teaching a zone offense which can be run against a 2-3, 3-2, 1-3-1, and match-up zone (odd or even fronts). He combines chalkboard instruction with on-court demonstration and game clips. In addition, he covers the techniques necessary to effectively attack any zone with these offenses that include... (more info) Price: $39.99
|
|
Mike Krzyzewski: Duke Basketball Attacking the Zone
with Mike Krzyzewski "Coach K", Duke University Head Men's Basketball Coach; NABC "Coach of the Decade," 12X NABC "Coach of the Year," Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2001), 3X NCAA National Championships ('91, '92,'01) In an energetic and information-packed on-court presentation, Coach Krzyzewski explains the zone offense and principles he uses in attacking a half-court zone defense. Krzyzewski believes the secret to effective zone offense is to keep it simple by running one highly effective offense that can be utilized against even the most potent defenses. Coach Krzyzewski has designed a zone offense that is easy to implement and impossible to stop! In addition, Coach K shares the five major components... (more info) Price: $44.99
|
|
Bruce Weber: Motion Zone Offense
with Bruce Weber, University of Illinois Head Coach, 2004 Big Ten Championship Coach Weber teaches zone concepts by not only running plays, but running a motion zone offense that emphasizes learning how to attack the zone in an efficient manner. He discusses key aspects such as spacing, penetration, ball movement, and screening and features numerous drills to outline each one. This offense allows for the creativity of your players and places players in a position where their skills can be utilized. Also included are Coach Weber's extensive on court demonstrations of post player and perimeter player principles... (more info) Price: $39.99
|
|
Geno Auriemma: The Simplified Zone Offense
Head Women's Coach, UCONN, 5X NCAA Championship Coach, 5X National "Coach of the Year" In an exciting on-court presentation, Coach Auriemma teaches simple strategies for beating a zone defense that are easy to implement and impossible to stop! Auriemma provides drills, strategies and player positioning to help your perimeter and post players beat the zone. He demonstrates a 3-2 Zone Offense and a 1-3-1 Zone Offense that include similar principles, but will confuse your opponents. In addition, Coach Auriemma also gives you eight quick-hitter zone plays... (more info) Price: $39.99
|
|
Jim Foster: The Multi-Purpose Zone Offense
with Jim Foster, Ohio State University Head Women's Basketball Coach, 2003 USA Basketball Developmental Coach of the Year Coach Foster introduces his "Multi-Purpose Zone Offense" which is easy to learn, understand, and teach, but impossible to stop. Foster uses four simple principles that will help your team create numerous scoring opportunities against a zone defense. He uses each of these principles in teaching a zone offense that can be run against a 1-3-1 zone, 3-2 zone, or match-up zones with odd or even fronts. In addition, Foster provides insights on how to successfully adapt this zone offense to fit any zone defense that you may be faced with... (more info) Price: $39.99
|