Newsletter #342

Today's Theme... Attacking a 2-3 Zone

Key principles:

• Stretch and space the zone: keep shooters on the arc and corners to force defenders to cover more ground.  This creates gaps to attack.
• Get the ball inside (high post / middle space): make the high post (free-throw line area) your target to collapse the zone and create entry passes to the low block or kickouts.
• Ball reversal and skip passes: quick side-to-side passing and skip passes make the zone over-shift and open corner threes or interior seams.
• Dribble-penetrate and kick: guards attack the gaps; when the zone collapses they kick to shooters or feed the post. Don’t over-dribble — attack with purpose.
• Overload and flood: put more offensive players on one side (overload) to create mismatches and open cutters.
• Offensive rebounding and putbacks: zones often lack clean box-outs — crash the glass for extra high-percentage shots.
• Patience + one post touch rule: be patient but insist on at least one post touch before settling for a perimeter shot (when appropriate).

Sets, actions and plays that work well:

• 1-3-1 and 1-4 (one-guard) sets — split the two top defenders and create seams for the high post or corner shots.
• 4-out (Corners 4-out) — simple reads that create corner threes and high-post opportunities (plays like “Larry”, “Curly”, “Mo”).
• 3-out/2-in or 3-out/2-in variations with a high-post pivot to attack the middle gaps.
• Zone busters: simple, repeatable actions — ball reversal, pin screens to free the high post, baseline flash cuts, and clear entry rules to the post.

Practice drills to emphasize:

• Passing/skip passing circuit and quick close-out recovery (force quick ball reversal).
• High-post receiving and quick decision drills (catch & score, kick, or dump to low).
• Dribble-penetration into the seam with immediate kickouts and trailer fills.
• Offensive rebounding and finish drills vs rotated closeouts (teach where to crash based on the skip).

Quick coaching checklist (game):

• Identify if opponent’s 2-3 shows a two-guard top front — use one-guard offenses to split them.
• Call set plays that emphasize the high post and corners; keep the ball moving.
• Encourage cutters and timely pin/screens to free the high post or corners.

See these pages:

    2-3 Zone Offense — detailed options and diagrams:
    2-3 Zone Offense Drills — breakdown drills for teaching the attack:
    Key Elements / Principles in Attacking the 2-3 Zone — strategic points and examples: