Teams that are overmatched or struggle to guard Man to Man will resort to some type of a zone defense. A 2-3 Zone Defense is a favorite for these teams. A defensive team with a tall back line will also choose to use a 2-3 Zone Defense to take advantage of their height. As an opponent playing against a 2-3 Zone Defense, it can be hard to score at times if outside shots are not being made. Plays can be utilized to get easier baskets on the inside of a 2-3 Zone.
The rotations of a 2-3 Zone Defense are known to everybody. Opposing coaches and teams can exploit those rotations with ball movement, screens, and cuts. When the offense puts the ball in certain spots they know how the defense will move and rotate. By setting screens and cutting, an offense can easily get a player open on the inside for a shot.
This play attacks the corner defender with the ball and the center defender with a screen. A couple of cuts to occupy other defenders and there is nobody left to guard the open player. Timing is key for the play to work. But with a few practice reps the timing of the ball with the cuts will be synced so the offense can get an open shot before the defense can react.
The ATO starts out in a 1-2-2 formation. The point(1) is at the top with the ball. The guard(2) and forward(3) are on the wings. And the big(4) and center(5) are on the blocks. The point(1) throws the ball to either wing. In the diagram, this is a pass to the forward(3). After the pass, the point(1) runs a smash cut to the ballside corner.
The 2-3 Zone Defense will rotate like this. The left elbow will guard the ball. The right elbow will be at the high post. The left block will move out towards the point(1) now in the corner. The middle defender will slide to the big(4). And the right block will stay in position with the center(5).
The ball is passed into the corner back the point(1). As the ball is passed, two things are happening. The guard(2) is cutting into the high post and the big(4) is screening for the center(5). These two actions use the defensive rotations to gain an advantage. And here is how.
To defend this the defense will rotate as I stated before. But now the left elbow and left block are both out at the 3-point line guarding the point(1) and forward(3). The right elbow has high post responsibility and will be occupied by the cutting guard(2). That leaves the center defender and the right block defender. They are now matched up with the big(4) and center(5).
The screen by the big(4) for the center(5) will free up the center(5). The center and right block defenders are coached to not overlap each other. So, as the center(5) comes across the lane, the two defenders will switch who they are matchup up against. But with the screen by the big(4), the center defender will not be able to get around the screen leaving the center(5) open.
The center(5) comes across the lane using the screen by the big(4) to receive the pass and score. The 2-3 Zone Defense just do not have enough bodies to cover the simple cuts and screens this ATO is using. The point(1) and forward(3) are in positions for a kick out if the defense would collapse on the center(5). This gives the offense a chance to score on the inside of the 2-3 Zone.
