A 2-3 Zone can slow down an offense and slow the tempo of a game down. A good offense needs to have a few quick hitters that can get good quick shots against a 2-3 Zone Defense. Simple actions are sometimes the best actions to use against a 2-3 Zone. It does not have to be a fancy play to work.
I really like using ball screens against a 2-3 Zone Defense. The rotational help in a 2-3 Zone Defense can be slow against a ball screen because of the zone responsibilities each defender has. A ball screen can force a defender to move out of their zones.
Screens against a 2-3 Zone Defense can give the offense favorable matchups by forcing a certain defender to guard an offense’s better player. This play forces the middle defender to have to step up and defend the ball. This is not something that a middle defender is normally good at doing. Depending on how the middle defender reacts, the offense should be able to get a good shot.
This play also gives the point guard a chance to attack the middle of the zone on the drive. The point guard can attack the zone with speed that puts the defense on their heels. A bad decision by the defense should open up good scoring options.
The quick hitter starts with a simple 1-2-2 formation with the ball in the point guard’s hands at the top. The bottom two offensive players will be occupying the two block defenders. The two wings are going to run a cross screen against the top two defenders.
When a 2-3 Zone Defense plays flat without having one of the elbow defenders step up to guard the ball this cross screen works really well. The cross screens puts the elbow defenders on the outside opening up the middle for the point guard to attack.
The two wings come in with the cross screens giving the point guard the middle driving lane. This creates a scenario where the point guard gets to attack the middle defender on the dribble. The cross screening gives the offense a great attacking matchup against the defense by forcing the middle defender to guard the ball.
If the middle defender stays back towards the basket, then the point guard will have the foul line jumper wide open every single time. If the middle defender steps up to stop the ball, then the point guard can make a quick move right or left attacking the hip of the middle defender to get to the basket.
The point guard has the foul line jumper open or has a chance to get a layup or draw a foul by attacking right or left. A lot of times a 2-3 Zone Defense is used to hide or protect the middle defender. Either the middle defender is a bad on the ball defender or they are in foul trouble. Either way the offense can exploit the matchup with the middle defender having to guard the point guard.
The last option is if either block defender steps up towards the ball, then the point guard has an easy pass to the offensive players on the block. This pass will give the players on the block an easy layup or can draw fouls against the middle defender with a slow rotation to the block.
As long as the two elbow defenders stay flat, this play will work. A point guard can get downhill attacking the middle of the defense possession after possession.
Once the offense scores a few times, the defense will have to adjust which can open up other areas of the 2-3 Zone. The offense can force the defense to change. Every defensive adjustment weakens the zone because now the defense are doing things different then what they practice.
This is also a great end of quarter play because of how quick the shot is going to come. The lack of time with the end of quarter will not affect the play. This play only needs about 4-5 seconds to get a shot. The speed of the play works well when there is not much time left on the clock.
This is a great play to add to your playbook or at least keep in mind when drawing up those last second plays in the huddle. It is quick and simple. This gives the offense a chance to attack quickly and get a shot before the defense really has time to react to what is happening.
