Basketball Plays

Consider using this action as an entry into what you use to attack a 1-3-1 zone.

Submitted by Coach John Kimble
CoachJohnKimble.com

Retired high school and college coach

Follow him on Twitter @CoachJohnKimble

This Play is taken from the DVD “The Ultimate Library of Zone Offenses—Vol. 1: The LINES SET and the CORNERS Continuity Offense” and the book “The Basketball Coaches Complete Guide to Zone Offenses” published by COACHES CHOICE

Diagrams created with FastDraw

“BIG” (Thumbs Down) ENTRY (To the Right)

01 could dribble to either side with that side’s post player (04) posting up and the weakside’ post player (05) ‘diving’ to the rim. The ballside ‘corner’ (02) spots up in the deep corner & the weakside perimeter player (03) steps up to the high ‘elbow area.’

01 ‘freeze dribbles’ at X2’s outside shoulder, pulling X1 with him. To defend the “BIG” entry, X4 must decide on helping out on 04’s ‘duck-in’ cut or to cover 02 in the ‘deep corner.’ X5 must decide on whether to cover 04 down low or 05 diving to the rim. X3 must decide on cutting with 05 on his dive or stepping with 03 to the 3 pt. line. 01 reads either X3 or X4 & passes to the open teammate. All 4 other offensive players are possible options for the pass, depending on how the defense plays.

Another option if the ball goes to O2 in the corner, he can look to O4 on the second cut.

“BIG” (Thumbs Down) ENTRY (To the Left)

This third diagram illustrates the same “BIG” play, but with 01 instead dribbling to the left side (or the high stack side) of the court. “BIG” dictates the new weakside ‘Big’ (04) is the player that makes the ‘lob cut’ to the rim, while the ‘SMALL’ player (02) is the player that now steps out to the high elbow area behind the arc for a possible 3 pt. shot. On the ballside, 05 ducks in while 03 flare-cuts to the ballside deep corner. 01 must read the defense & pass the ball accordingly. X2 must diagonally drop down to cover 04. 04 should have great ‘position’ advantages as well as height & strength advantages as a ‘Big’ over more than likely a perimeter defender in X2. If X2 somehow prevents 04 from getting the ball, 01 still could pass the ball to 02 out on top for a 3 pt. shot. 01 reads either X3 or X4 & passes to the open teammate. All 4 other offensive players are possible options for the pass, depending on how the defense plays.

Another option if the ball goes to O3 in the corner, he can look to O5 on the second cut.

 

About the Author

Coach Kimble was the Head Basketball Coaching position at Deland-Weldon (IL) High School for five years (91-43) that included 2 Regional Championships, 2 Regional Runner-Ups and 1 Sectional Tournament Runner-up. He then moved to Dunlap (IL) High School (90-45) with 2 Regional Runners-up, 1 Regional, 1 Sectional and 1 Super-Sectional Championship and a final 2nd Place Finish in the Illinois Class A State Tournament. He was an Assistant Basketball Coach at Central Florida Community College in Ocala, FL for 1 year before becoming Offensive Coordinator and then Associate Head Coach for 3 additional years He then was the Head Basketball Coach at Crestview (FL) High School for 10 years, averaging over 16 wins per season.

He has had articles published in the following publications such as: The Basketball Bulletin of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, the Scholastic Coach and Athletic Journal, Winning Hoops, Basketball Sense, and American Basketball Quarterly. He has also written and has had five books published along with over 25 different DVDs by Coaches Choice and Fever River Sports Production.

These 5 Zone Attack Principles are taken from Coach Brian Rea’s Ultimate Motion Offense eBook. I hope there are some ideas that you can use to help clarify or teach your

THE 5 D’S OF ZONE OFFENSE

1) DICTATE 2) DETOUR 3) DIAGONAL 4) DRIBBLE 5) DON’T STAND

Three Zone Defenses we work to prepare for are the 2-3, 1-2-2 and 1-3-1. We change very little between our
Man Offense and our Zone Offense, and by doing this we maximize our practice time offensively while
minimizing what our players have to remember…So instead of “Paralysis by Analysis”, we try to build
“Incredible Prep through Infinite Reps”! Here are the adjustments / keys that we work on to turn our Man
Offense into a Deadly and unscoutable Zone Attack:

1) Dictate

We always want to “Dictate” where the defense has to defend us…not the other way around. If we can get the rotations that we want by the movement we use, we can “Dictate” where the defense will go and in turn get the shots we want and have practiced and planned for.

2) Detour

On our “1” cuts (Basket Cuts), we now look to take a “Detour” from our path to the basket and find a gap to sit in for a 2-Count. We want to play behind the backs of the defense, sit low, show hands, and attack from the inside. Once our 2-Count “Detour” is over, we look to get back on path of our “1” cut and fill open spaces. (on the perimeter)

3) Diagonal

We are always looking “Diagonal” against any zone defense. Once the ball is caught, our eyes should go directly to the rim to see “detours” and search for open “Diagonals”. By using this method, we move the defense more and create confusion that leads to breakdowns during the possession.

4) Dribble

Within our Man Offense, we prefer to keep dribbles to a minimum…but, within our Zone Offense we want to attack gaps
with the dribble and draw two defenders. If we can draw two defenders, we put the defense at a disadvantage and use
“Diagonals” and the extra pass to get easy shots.

5) Don’t Stand

That’s it…”Don’t Stand”…We don’t want a stagnant offense that is easy and predictable to guard. We want to make the defense work, chase, rotate and defend in a way that they have not practiced nor are prepared for. We try to use this theory…”When in doubt and you find yourself standing…FLASH”!

Diagrams created with FastDraw

These five diagrams are basic sample movements of the five principles

Find gaps to “Dictate” and counter defensive positioning, use “Detour” cuts to sit in the heart of the defense, Look
for open “Diagonals”, Attack gaps with the “Dribble” to draw multiple defenders, and “Don’t Stand”!

It doesn’t matter what formation / alignment you are in when it comes to our Zone Motion.

The key is that players are drilled to recognize the defensive formation and counter it!

The important part of Zone Offense is not what you do to start, but how you get to the finish…and easy / open shot.

By teaching the 5 D’s and drilling them along with the Man Offensive actions, we create confident and intelligent players who continue to search for quality scoring opportunities regardless of the defensive strategy.

That is the beauty of this system…There are limitless possibilities, very few mistakes that can be made, transferrable skills from Man to Zone, numbered cuts and specific terminology, and a freedom to make plays within the scope and guidelines of the offense.

It’s not an Offense… IT IS OFFENSE!

These 5 Zone Attack Principles are taken from Coach Brian Rea’s Ultimate Motion Offense eBook. I hope there are some ideas that you can use to help clarify or teach your  zone attack.

3 Options for a quick hitter from the Michigan State Playbook that you can run after a timeout or save to run late in a tight game. If you run this type of “Iverson Cut” clear out already, then hopefully this will give you something to add if the defense takes that away.

MSU Zipper Option 1

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4 and 5 set a cross screen for 2.

2 comes over the top to the left wing.

3 cuts backdoor to the right wing.

1 dribbles to the left wing and then passes 4 after 2 cuts by him.

5 cuts to the basket. 4 passes to 5.

MSU Zipper Option 2

4 and 5 set a cross screen for 2.

2 comes over the screens to the left wing.

3 backdoor cuts to the right corner.

1 dribbles to the left wing.

After 2 passes 4 over the top of the screens, 1 passes to 4.

2 backdoor cuts to the basket.

4 passes to 2 on the back cut.

5 dives to the right low block for the offside rebound.

3 slides up to the right wing.

MSU Zipper Option 3

4 and 5 sets a cross screen for 2.

2 comes off 4’s cross screen and curls to the basket.

1 dribbles to the right wing and passes to 2.

This week’s X and O post is a man to man quick hit from North Carolina State Graduate Men’s Graduate Assistant Ben Asher in the FastModel Sports Basketball Plays and Drills Library

The site has thousands of drills and plays that have been submitted by basketball coaches from around the world.

You can also find out more about FastModel Play Diagramming software by clicking this link: FastDraw

H Stack

3 can pop out on either side and use 4 or 5 to get open.

2 will go opposite of side 3 pops to.

Option 1: 3 will dribble hard toward the baseline.

On his dribble, 4 and 5 set a stagger for 2.

3 can finish at the rim or pivot back to find 2 off the stagger.

Option 2: 4 and 5 can set a shocker screen where 4 slips and 5’s screen is used.

5 will roll and 4 will come back up to replace.

Frame 4: As 3 comes off the ball screen from 5, 1 sets a pindown screen on 2 in the corner.

3 can :

A. turn the corner hard to drive it.
B. Hit 5 on the roll.
C. Hit 2 off the pindown. or
D. Throwback to 4 on the roll and replace action.

These two zone quick hitters are from Scott Peterman’s Ultimate Zone Offense eBook.

It is bundled with his Ultimate Matchup Zone Defense eBooks as the featured bundle for this week.

Click this link to find out more about the bundle. Zone Offense Playbook & Matchup Zone Defense Playbook

Calipari 3-2 Zone Attack #1

Diagrams created with FastDraw

5 sets a ball screen for 1.

1 dribbles to the right wing.

5 pops to the top of the key.

3 sets a cross screen for 4 and steps back to the middle of the lane.

4 comes across the lane.

1 can pass to 3 on the step back.

Or, 1 can skip pass to 2.

If 3 gets the ball, he can pass to 4 or out to 2 if the defense collapses.

Calipari 3-2 Zone Attack #2

5 sets a ball screen on the top zone defender and then rolls to the middle.

1 comes hard over the ball screen.

2 slides up the right wing.

3 slides up to the left wing.

4 cuts to the right corner.

1 passes to 2.

2 passes to 4.

5 cuts to the right low block.

3 cuts to the left low block

4 passes to 5 on the cut to the basket.

These two zone quick hitters are from Scott Peterman’s Ultimate Zone Offense eBook.

It is bundled with his Ultimate Matchup Zone Defense eBooks as the featured bundle for this week.

Click this link to find out more about the bundle. Zone Offense Playbook & Matchup Zone Defense Playbook