What is a 2-3 Matchup Zone?
A 2-3 matchup or 2-3 matchup zone is a man-zone hybrid defense. The players are going to be guarding man-to-man but only against the player in their zone. Once a player leaves the defenders zone, then that offensive player will be guarded by another defender. The defenders are constantly switching or passing offensive players back and forth as the offensive players are moving on the court.
In a 2-3 matchup, each defender will be guarding an offensive player at all times. However, as the offense moves the defensive matchups are always changing. The defense is called a 2-3 matchup, but the defense morphs and changes its shape to match what the offense is doing. So, if the offense has four players on the baseline, then the defense is going to look like a 1-4 zone defense. If the offense is in a 1-2-2 formation, then the defense will look like a 1-2-2 zone.
The matchup zone makes it hard on offenses because it is not a zone defense, but it also is not a man defense. This means that a traditional man offense may not work against the matchup, but a zone offense may also struggle to score against the 2-3 matchup. The matchup zone can force the offense into scenarios different from playing against both man defenses and zone defenses. This unfamiliarity can cause confusion with the offense playing against a 2-3 matchup.
What is a Box-1 or Diamond-1 Zone?
A box-1 or diamond-1 defense is a combination defense using some man-to-man defense as well as some zone defense together. This is a defense mostly used against teams who have 1 really good offensive player or scorer and 4 mediocre or bad offensive players. This gives the defense the ability to focus all their attention on stopping one offensive player.
In a box-1 or diamond-1 defense one defender is going to be playing man defense against one offensive player. The other four defenders are going to be playing zone in either a box formation or a diamond formation depending on what each team decides to play.
A box formation has a defender on each elbow and block. Each defender is guarding their zone around them with the two elbow players guarding essentially the top and wings and the two block defenders guarding the paint and baseline out to the corners.
A diamond formation is when one defender is at the top of the key. Two defenders are mid-post to elbow. And one defender is in the middle of the paint in front of the rim. A diamond gives the defense the ability to put more pressure on the ball up front and better rim protection in the lane.
In either formation, the combination defense gives the defense some man-to-man principals and some zone principals. The defense has to have at least one good on the ball defender and the offense has to have one player substantially better than their teammates. The hope to is to have help all over the floor for the best offensive player while playing in a zone defense against the other 4 offensive players.
Best Team Personnel for a 2-3 Matchup Zone
The 2-3 matchup being a hybrid defense needs a little bit of personnel for a man defense and a little bit of personnel for a zone defense. All five players need to be able to guard 1-on-1. They do not have to be great defenders. Since the person each defender is guarding is constantly changing, they need to be able to guard multiple players on the other team. However, since the defense is going to be in a zone setup, each defender is going to always have help behind them. Because of the hybrid style there is not any one instance or personnel needed to play the 2-3 matchup. The 2-3 matchup lends itself to be used for all kinds of different personnel groupings or teams.
The ideal personnel group is two really quick guards on the top. These guards will be able to gamble a little bit more, going for steals knowing they have help behind them. The zone aspect lets them be more aggressive pressuring and gambling out front.
The middle player of the zone would be a serious rim protector. A shot blocker or shot changer is preferable. Having this type of player in the middle gives even more freedom for the guards to gamble for steals. The guards know if they get beat, then the middle player is going to block the offensive players shot. So, now the guards are even less worried about getting beat off the dribble which means they can be more aggressive with their pressure.
And the two block players would be either tall and long players that can fill gaps and space. Or really quick players that can cover a lot of ground. The tall players would make it hard for the offense to pass the ball around the 2-3 matchup as well as giving the defense more rim protection outside of the middle player. This can keep the ball out front having to constantly go against the quick guards who are trying to create turnovers. On the other hand, quick players can give the defense the ability to extend the defense farther up the court making the offense start farther away from the basket. Their quickness gives them the ability to turn and sprint back if a pass is made over the top of the defense. But if the quickness makes the offense start near half-court, then the offense is going to struggle to score. Either way, the defense can play to its strength in these two spots.
Best Team Personnel for a Box-1 or Diamond-1 Zone
The best team personnel for a box-1 or diamond-1 defense is having at least 1 really good defensive player. When a team decides to use a box-1 it is normally because of a really good offensive player on the opposing team. This usually means a team is going to all out to deny that player the ball knowing the other 4 defenders are in positions to help if the man defender gets beat.
This means the one good defensive player needs to be in good physical shape to chase the offensive player. They need to be quick to react to the offensive player to maintain a denial position to prevent the offensive player from getting a pass. And they need to be able to guard the ball well if the offensive player is able to get the ball.
The best defender is tasked with trying to prevent the offensive player from getting the ball. The other 4 defenders are going to be playing in a zone behind the lone man-to-man defender. These 4 zone players must keep good communication but there are no physical traits needed for these 4 defenders.
When to Use a 2-3 Matchup Zone?
There are coaches and teams out there that only use a 2-3 matchup zone. In speaking with them, they say it simplifies teaching defense. They take only the matchup and do not have to worry about anything else. They morph it depending on the opponent. This is using the 2-3 matchup zone as a primary defense. What if you are using the 2-3 matchup zone as a secondary defense?
If man defense is the primary defense, the defense ran most often, then the 2-3 matchup keeps the fundamentals of the defense the same but gives the ability to play defense against a team that you cannot guard. Once the primary man defense is taught, the 2-3 matchup keeps all of that teaching the same except for switching offensive players as they move. This can help maximize time of practice. It gives a man defense team the ability to play a zone without changing much of the defense.
Likewise, if a team is a primary zone defense, it gives the team the ability to play in a more man defense style while keeping the formation of the zone the same. It gives the players the familiarity of the primary defense while adding some components of the non-primary defense.
So, if a man defense cannot guard an opponent with man defense, then a 2-3 matchup can be used to provide the backside coverage needed to play against the team without losing the man defense principles. A zone defense can switch into a 2-3 matchup so they can extend farther out away from the basket and put more pressure on the offense. It can take a zone defense from a reaction defense to a defense that can force the offense into bad positions by guarding more man within the zone.
When to Use a Box-1 or Diamond-1 Zone
The box-1 or diamond-1 defense is used mainly in two different situations. The first situation is when the opponent has 1 very good offensive player and the other players on the team are not good offensive threats. This means the entire focus of the defense is on stopping that one player.
The box-1 or diamond-1 defense keeps all the focus on that one player. It gives the defense the ability to double team that player every time they catch the ball while keeping 3 other players in and around the basket. The hope is the double team will help to prevent the best offensive player from shooting and scoring as much during the game.
The 2nd situation is an in-game decision. If a player on the opposing team is having a career night offensively, then the defense can go to a box-1 or diamond-1 to try and disrupt the rhythm of that player. The only problem with this is the coach has to recognize the opposing player is having a very good night scoring. And the defensive team must have prepared the box-1 or diamond-1 defense in practice already.
The box-1 or diamond-1 is a specialty defense so most teams do not practice the defense. If the team has not practiced the defense, then it is unlikely to work. So, in order to use it during a game unexpectedly the team has to have it prepared beforehand. And this is normally not the case for most teams.
Advantages of a 2-3 Matchup Zone Over a Box-1 or Diamond-1 Zone
1) Maintains Man-to-Man Principals
A 2-3 Matchup Zone is a man-to-man defense but each player stays in a certain area. The defender guards the offensive player in their zone. When this player leaves their zone, the defender stays and guards a new player that is coming into their area.
In a man-to-man defense each defender stays with their man no matter where that offensive player moves too. In a 2-3 matchup zone the defender stays in a zone and waits for an offensive player to move to them. This keeps the man-to-man defensive principals in place but adds the element of switching to keep certain defenders in pre-determined spots.
Once a team knows how to run a proper man-to-man defense, it does not take make more learning to run an effective 2-3 matchup zone. This makes the matchup zone a nice secondary defense to add after man-to-man defense. It keeps a lot of the same man defense elements so the players are not having to learn a completely new system.
2) Can Be Used Against More Teams
The 2-3 Matchup Zone can be used in every game and against every team. Some teams that I have coached against use the 2-3 matchup zone 100% of the time. It is their only defense. Some teams like to use it as a change from man-to-man defense. The 2-3 matchup zone can be used as a primary or secondary defense.
The Box-1 or Diamond-1 defense does not have the ability to be used in every game or against every team. A team with multiple scorers or teams with balanced scoring will have a major advantage over a box-1 because scorers are going to be left open within the rules of the defense. A defense is going to struggle when leaving players who can score are free to move on offense without having a constant defensive presence on them.
Practice time can be limited for most teams so maximizing practice can be very important. A box-1 defense may only be used for a handful of times during a season. And a box-1 may not be a good defense to use for an entire season depending on each opponent’s strengths and weaknesses.
A matchup 2-3 zone can be used against every team no matter the types of players on the team. This means the practice time spent on a 2-3 matchup zone will be beneficial because it can always be used. Whereas practice time for a box-1 defense may be wasted because no opponents on the schedule are a good team to use the box-1 defense against.
3) Focus is on All Offensive Players
A 2-3 Matchup Zone has man principals within a zone scheme. The defense adjusts and changes depending on what the offense is doing. The defense does not key on any one player. It allows the offense to move freely but maintains a 2-3 zone look by moving with the offense and passing players back and forth. This creates problems because when done correctly the defense is able to maintain close guarding position with each offensive player.
A box-1 or diamond-1 defense has 1 defender playing man-to-man while the other 4 are playing in a zone. This creates a scenario where the defense is putting all of its focus in stopping 1 offensive player while leaving the other 4 relatively free. The defense will move with the offensive players but their focus will still be with the one offensive player they are guarding man-to-man. This means the offense should be able to get open looks from their other 4 players while the defense is focused on 1 player.
A box-1 puts all the focus on stopping 1 player. However, the lack of focus on the other 4 players can help them get open looks and score. When the box-1 works well then it should stop the key offensive player. When a box-1 does not work it usually means the 4 other players are able to score because they have more time and space to get quality shots.
The 2-3 Matchup Zone could give the main offensive player more time and space to score but should restrict the other 4 players from getting enough time and space to score.
Advantages of a Box-1 or Diamond-1 Zone Over 2-3 Matchup Zone
1) Better Able to Stop or Contain Opponent’s Best Player
The Box-1 or Diamond-1 defense puts all of its defensive focus on stopping or containing one offensive player. The entire defense is centered around playing one offensive player man-to-man while having a 4-player zone to help when that player has the ball. The other 4 offensive players are free to move within the half court. The 4 zone players are going to try and mirror the offensive players while maintaining a focus on the main offensive player.
The 2-3 Matchup Zone keeps the defensive players in basically the same spots for every possession. This means the offense can set up so the best offensive player will get matched up against a weaker defender. This potential favorable offensive matchup can lead to the offense gaining an advantage that can help them score. By moving the best offensive player in a spot where a weaker defender is guarding them, the best offensive player should have an easier time scoring.
2) Does not have Players Constantly Switching Who They are Guarding
The biggest difference in the zone aspects of the box-1 or diamond-1 to the 2-3 matchup zone is the need for the defenders to keep man-to-man principals when not guarding the ball in their area. The 2-3 matchup zone should have the defenders moving with the offensive players in a mirror like fashion. This creates the issue of passing or switching the offensive players as they move in the half-court.
The box-1 has 4 defenders staying in their zone and only really moving as the ball moves and not when the players are moving. The 4 zone players need to keep their structure to help and double the 1 offensive player being guarded man. This helps to simplify the defensive movement. But it also gives the offense more ability to move and have open space.
3) Easier to Keep Zone Structure
The 2-3 Matchup can break down if the defenders are not able to pass offensive players back and forth. This creates issues if the switching breaks down by having a double team on one offensive player and another player without any defender guarding them. A breakdown will normally give the offense a wide-open shot.
The box-1 or diamond-1 is not switching offensive players so the offense could still get wide-open shots but the main focus is stopping the main offensive player. This means each zone defender is going to stay in their spots unless they are guarding the ball when it is in their area. The box-1 keeps the structure no matter how the offense is moving and rotating.
Which is Better? A 2-3 Matchup Zone or Box-1/Diamond-1 Zone
The box-1 or Diamond-1 defense can be a potential wildcard defense to confuse an opponent who has 1 really good offensive player. Most teams do not play a box-1 defense therefore most teams are not used to play against a box-1 defense. This unfamiliarity can cause an offense to be unsure of how to attack the defense and might be just enough to limit offensive scoring enough to give the defense a chance to win the game.
In all other aspects of defense, with the exception of an opponent having 1 good offensive player, a 2-3 matchup zone is the better defense. The 2-3 matchup can be used against all teams. It can be a primary defense or a secondary defense. It has man principals within the concept of a zone defense.
It is a hybrid defense between a man defense and a zone defense. This combination can be hard for teams to attack and score. Because the 2-3 matchup uses both man and zone concepts, a man-to-man offense might not work and a true zone offense might not work either. This can leave the offense without a true offense to use and run against a 2-3 matchup zone.
The 2-3 matchup zone is the better defense for the simple ability to use the defense against any opponent. However, the good things the box-1 or diamond-1 defense does with confusing an opponent, a matchup 2-3 zone does the same things but just a little bit better. A box-1 and 2-3 matchup zones are very similar with a box-1 being only available against certain opponents whereas the 2-3 matchup can be used against every opponent. This availability gives the 2-3 matchups zone gives it a significant advantage over the box-1 defense.
