Principles to attack any zone defense

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Principles to attack any zone defense:

The 2-3 zone defense is zone defense which we faced on Sunday and will
see most often. It is designed to stop drives to the basketball. The
2-1-2 zone, which we see sometimes, is the same as the 2-3, except
that the middle low defender is positioned a little higher in the
paint. Good outside shooting will rip this zone apart. If everyone
works hard on shooting in the off season, next year we will be a
pretty good outside shooting team.

In the mean time, we must learn to execute our offense well, be
patient, make the zone shift, and work the ball inside. Basically we
can beat the zone by quick passing and movement, and avoid unnecessary
dribbling. If we use our 4 out with a runner or our 3 out with a
runner and a high post, and keep passing the ball quickly, we will get
someone open for a good shot.

- Beat the defense up the floor. Run the ball down the floor and get a
lay up BEFORE the other team gets their defense set.

- Be patient on offense, but take the first open, good percentage
shot. Keep good spacing. The closer together you get, the more
effective the zone. Spread them out. Make them cover a lot of ground.

- Move the ball intelligently. Don't drive in to a wall of defenders.
Avoid unnecessary dribbling as it allows the defense time to adjust or
reset. Drive in to the GAPS. Drive and kick out open man or drive and
dump to runner.

- Use ball reversal and pass fakes. Remember FAKE a pass to MAKE a
pass. Move the ball. Don't catch and dribble. Play No Dribble. Pass,
pass, pass, to move the defense. Pass, pass, pause, pass, pass, pause
also works.

- When you recieve a pass, peak at the rim first. Then look inside at
the post and at the runner. Then you skip pass, pass and cut, or
dribble at to send some one in to a gap or reverse dribble to call for
a pick set on one of the top defenders or crab dribble for a hand off
and roll to basket for a give and go. Use reverse dribbles, bounce
offs, dribble at, dribble handoffs, too. Don't get stuck on only pass
and cut.

- After four or so passes get ball to the short corner runner. After
every reversal the player in the short corner will open. If wide open,
the short corner player can take one step to the basket for a lay up
or take a jump shot. Runners must stay behind the defender's head at
the back of the zone and hustle to stay ball side. (Runner rules: Run
the baseline and always be in ball-side short corner when ball is on
the wing. When the ball is at the high post, duck under the zone into
the paint for the pass down low.)

- Find the post player in the high post. They can turn and shoot,
drive to the basket around the post defender, pass out to an open
wing, or dump down to the runner. (High post rules: Move with the
ball. Always have your numbers point toward the ball. Ball at top, be
at the free throw line. Ball on the wing, be just below the ball-side
elbow. Ball in the corner, cut down to the low block. Look to score,
or pass inside or opposite wing.)

- Cutters go where they ain't!  Cutters hook in to the gaps and look
for ball. HOOK and LOOK. Show your numbers to the ball.

- Screen the zone. Ball handler can use a reverse dribble to call for
the pick and drive in to the gaps.  Cutters can set screens for ball
handlers instead of filling out. Cutters can also screen for the post
player or screen for the person on either side of the ball handler.

- If you have an open look on a catch, shoot the ball. Take open shots
even if they are outside shots.

- Drive and let them foul you and send you to the line.

- Get in and grab all offensive rebounds and put the ball right back
up. Attack the glass from the weak side. Thats where the rebounds are.