Newsletter #316

The 1-1-3 match-up zone defense was pioneered by coach Lute Olson and further developed by coach Mike Dunlap.   Your opponent rarely sees the 1-1-3 defense, and it can be confusing to them.  The keys to its success are (1) tight ball-pressure, (2) quick defensive rotations, and (3) rebounding.  If you fail in any one of these three facets, this defense will fail.

Other than the 1-1-3 set and its rotations, the defense uses man-to-man defensive principles, and the usual man-to-man breakdown drills are used to teach it.  If you spend most of your time just drilling the rotations, and neglect the importance of man-to-man ball pressure and rebounding, this defense won't work.

Rotations - simplisticly, when the ball is on the top (above the free-throw line), coach Olson used to say that one guard defender has the ball and the other guard defender has the high post.  X1 picks up the ball near half court with pressure trying to force the ball to one side (often the left side if the offense favors going right).

Dribble to the wing - when the point guard dribbles to the wing, X1 just stays with him as the others rotate over.

Pass to the wing - when the pass goes from the top to the wing, the rotation depends on "counting the sideline alley".  The sideline alley (yellow) is the area within about 6 feet or so of the sideline (diagram 5). If there is only one offensive player in the sideline alley, the low outside, ballside defender (X3) closes-out and pressures the ball.  X2 moves to the ballside elbow and X1 drops to the weakside elbow.

If there are two offensive players in the sideline alley, then X3 stays inside as X2 closes-out and pressures the ball, and X1 drops to the high post.

Pass to the corner - X3 pressures the ball in the corner.  X2 optionally could follow down and trap the corner.

Wing to point pass - X1 pressures the ball.  X2 takes the high post.

For more rotations including the wing dribble to baseline, corner dribble to wing, defending the high and low posts, skip passes, dribble penetration, trapping,  and covering for rotation errors, see Coach's Clipboard's 1-1-3 Zone Defense.  This article also discusses the important man-to-man principles of ball-pressure, stance, close-outs, jumping to the ball and communication, as well as the importance of rebounding.