Not all teams run a man defense. When an opponent uses a 2-3 zone defense, like I discussed in a previous article, the offense needs some quick hitters to get open shots against the zone for either quick baskets or when there is not a lot of time for the possession like the end of a quarter. An offense should have a continuous offense or two to play against a zone but they should also have a couple of quick hitters against the zone just to change the pace of the game. Following are four plays to attack a 2-3 zone defense and get an open shot.
Play #1
This is a quick and simple play against a 2-3 zone. It starts in a standard 1-2-2 setup. The point(1) passes the ball to the wing(3). This could be to either side but for this diagram, I drew it passing to the left side of the floor. The backside big steps out away from the ball. This step away gives the space needed to set the screen on the skip pass.
The point(1) steps in and then flares away to the backside of the floor. The wing(2) and big(4) set screens on the two backside defenders. Off of the screens, the wing(3) throws a skip pass on the flare screen to the point(1). The better the screens, the more open and time the point(1) will have to get the shot off.
The one adjustment that could be made is having the wing(2) and big(4) set an X-screen. This means the wing(2) comes down and sets the screen on the bottom of the 2-3 zone. The big(4) comes up and sets the flare screen on the elbow defender of the 2-3 zone. The X-screen might be better to give the screeners better angles to the defenders.
Play #2
This play is all about blitzing one of the defenders of the 2-3 zone and getting the shot from the player that is left open. Again the offense starts in a standard 1-2-2 formation. This play can be ran to either side. The point(1) passes the ball to the wing(2). The ballside big(4) steps into the middle defender and posts. The ballside elbow defender should take the ball. The middle is now hooked onto the post up by the big(4). This leaves the ballside block defender.
This play is now running two offensive players into their zone and depending on what the defender does, the offense is going to have one of two shots. The backside big(5) is going to run a curl cut off of the post up by the 4-man. The backside wing(3) is going to run under the zone and follow the big(5) through the bottom of the zone. The wing(3) is going to run all the way out to the ballside corner.
Now the offense will get one of two shots depending on the ballside block defender. If the defender stays with the big(5) on their curl cut then the wing(3) should come open running all the way out to the corner. If the defender sees the wing(3) coming and moves out to the corner, then the big(5) should be open on their curl cut. The big(5), if open, should catch and shot right in front of the post(4) up. The post up occupies the middle defender but is also used as a screen to prevent the middle defender stepping up to the curl cut.
Play #3
The third play is a little more involved and uses the defensive rotation of the 2-3 zone to its advantage. The point(1) passes to the wing(2). Off of this pass, the backside wing(3) cuts to the high post. The ballside big(4) is going to run to the other side of the floor to the wing just left by the wing(3). The big(4) cutting to the wing is what is going to occupy the backside block defender to get the 5-man open.
After the cuts by the 3 and 4, the wing(2) is going to pass back to the point(1). The cutter(3) at the high post is going to screen the middle defender. The big(5) is cutting up into the high post. The point(1) passes to the high post(5) for the foul line shot.
If the 2-3 zone rotations are followed then the backside elbow should step up to the point(1). The middle defender is being screened. The backside block defender hopefully moves out with the 4-man on their cut away from the ball. On a quick reversal this block defender will have that closeout to the 4-man. This play might be one that a little scouting ahead of the game could tip off whether this play will work or not by watching the two block defenders.
If the defender does not step out to the wing then it can still be ran but add in a kick-out pass from the 5-man out to the 4-man for a wide open shot. Especially is the 4-man is a good 3-point shooter, this could lead to some wide open 3-point shots for a good shooter.
Play #4
The start of this last play is a standard 1-2-2 formation. The setup of the play is very simple. The point(1) passes to the wing(2). The other wing(3) drops to the corner. The now ballside big(4) cuts away to the block or short-corner area. The backside big(5) comes up to the elbow. A pass from the wing(2) to the point(1) gets the ball back into the points(1) hands. The point should be your teams best playmaker. As the point(1) catches the ball, the big(5) at the foul line sets a ball screen. This ball screen gives the point(1) the ability to attack the backside of the defense. Now the point(1) has to have the best decision making and playmaking abilities. Because…
There are three scoring options depending on the middle defender and backside block defender.
Option #1
If the block defender steps up to help the ball screen then it is a pass to the wing(3) who relocated to the corner on the setup. This leaves the wing(3) wide open for the corner 3-point shot.
Option #2
If the two bottom defenders stay back then the point(1) should be open off the ball screen for the elbow jumper. This may also give the point(1)enough space to attack the basket if they are capable of it.
Option #3
If the block defender steps out to the corner and the middle defender steps up to stop the ball screen, then it should be a simple pass to the 4-man for an easy layup.
I always my best player in the point position for this play. If the best player is normally on the wing, then I will start the play with a double handoff to the initial pass to the wing. Whatever needs to be done to get the best player at the point position should occur for this play. The reason for this is the best player should come off the ball screen with a chance to attack the two defenders on the bottom of the 2-3 zone defense. I like the chances of my best player attacking those two defenders.
This play is very simple to get into and run. But there are plenty of scoring options coming out of the play when done correctly. The offense should have a good chance to score no matter what the 2-3 zone defense does to defend it.
