Zone Quick Hits

2-3 Zone Attack Concepts

By Coach Brian Williams on January 2, 2018

Army Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach Zak Boisvert has put together some short clips with some concepts for attacking a 2-3 zone defense.

Coach Boisvert has posted several videos of some of the better schemes he has seen. His You Tube channel is: Zak Boisvert You Tube Channel

He also is also very active on Twitter: @ZakBoisvert

He has an outstanding resource site for coaches. You can access it here: PickandPop.net

The videos are You Tube videos, so please make sure that you are on a network that allows You Tube access.

Some school networks may block You Tube access.

Click the play arrow to watch the videos.

Please make sure that your sound is on as Coach Boisvert has narration to go along with the video clips.

Knife Drive to Attack a 2-3 Zone

Side Ball Screens to Attack a 2-3 Zone

6 Zone Offense Actions

By Coach Brian Williams on August 19, 2017

These 6 actions for attacking a zone defense are presented by Aaron Garrett, Head Coach at Amber-Pocasset (Oklahoma) High School.

There is sound with the video, so please make sure that your sound is on.

The video is hosted on You Tube, so you will need to be on a network that allows you to access that site.

The videos are from the Championship Productions You Tube Channel..

You don’t have to run the plays in their entirety.

You can take parts of them and incorporate into what you do. In my opinion, all ideas you get from others should be modified to your needs.

You might have to put in some work to get something out of this and watch the video several times to be able to imagine how the zone will shift to cover these movements.

Click the play arrow to play the video with his thoughts.

If you are interested in learning more about the Championship Productions Basketball Coaching Video (available in both DVD and Instant Video Format) that this drill came from, you can click the following link: The Break Point Offense: The All-Encompassing Offensive System

Basketball Plays: Slip vs. 2-3 Zone

By Coach Brian Williams on October 9, 2016

These two actions to run against a 2-3 zone defense are some notes from Chris Mack, Head Men’s Coach, Xavier University

You can see the archives of their basketball coaching newsletter at this link: Xavier Newsletter

Xavier runs these sets out of their secondary break, but you could use them as quick hitters or after timeout sets as well.

Diagrams created with FastDraw

Screen Backside

1 dribbles toward 2.

5 and 4 screen in the forward and the top of the zone.

2 cuts off the stagger.

1 passes to 2.

2 dribbles toward 3.

5 and 4 X Screen

5 screens in the defender at the top of the zone.

4 screens in the forward.

2 can skip pass over the top of the zone to 1.

Or, 2 can pass to 5 slipping the screen.

Break Hand Off Pairs

Out of Xavier’s Break Alignment

1 passes to 2.

1 sprints behind 2 to receive a hand off.

3 and 4 interchange on the opposite side.

5 screens in the bottom of the zone for 4.

3 screens in the opposite guard for 2.

1 sees both 4 and 2 cutting.

3 and 5 can slip.

Princeton Offense Chin vs. 2-3 Zone

By Coach Brian Williams on June 19, 2016

Coach Vonn Read has submitted several plays from his book The Basketball Encyclopedia of Plays to the Coaching Toolbox.

Vonn is the Associate Head Coach for the National Finalist women’s team at Syracuse.

He has also served as an assistant coach in the WNBA with the Phoenix Mercury, Orlando Miracle, and San Antonio Silver Stars.

He was an advanced scout for the Orlando Magic as well as The Charlotte Sting.

This is a Princeton Offense set against a 2-3 Zone.

Diagrams created with FastDraw

The “Best Zone Sets from the NCAA” is paired with Coach the NCAA Man to Man Sets Playbook as this week’s featured eBook Bundle. You can find out more here: Best NCAA Man to Man & Zone Sets Bundle

The 1 player will DHO to the 4 player to start the set.

The 4 player will pass it to the 2-player.

The 5 player will set the Chin screen for the 4 player cutting to the block.

After setting the screen, the 5 player will flash into the high post.

The 3 player will look to hit the 5 player for the jump shot or high low action.

If X1 sinks down to stop the pass to the 5 player, the 2 player should be open for the 3-point shot at the top of the key.

Coach Read has also put together The Basketball Encyclopedia of plays. You can check them out here: The Basketball Encyclopedia of Plays or read more about the books:

Any coach looking for the latest and innovative plays from the Professional, College, or High School levels can stop looking. With a compilation of over 7,700 different plays, you will never need to purchase another basketball playbook again. These playbooks can be used as a great reference tool for years to come. This 2 Volume Book includes plays from 19 different play categories, and they are the most extensive playbooks on the market.

The Basketball Encyclopedia of Plays (Platinum Series) contains over 7,700 Plays (Both Volumes combined) from the NBA, WNBA, USBL, and College levels from someone who has worked as an Advanced Scout or Coach on each level!!! This book has been intensely compiled over the last 21 years, with plays taken from a lot of NBA Coaches (past and present), WNBA coaches, and College coaches (Men’s and Women’s) from around the country.

Any coach that is serious about improving their knowledge of the game from an X and O standpoint will benefit tremendously from these books. These Books can be used to discover New Quick hitters, add a New Package to your playbook, or develop an entire Offensive System. There are a lot of new ideas and concepts in these books to study, and the Basketball Encyclopedia of Plays can be a great resource for coaches on all levels!!! This book is definitely for those X and O junkies who are always looking to improve as a Coach.

“THE GAME IS ALWAYS CHANGING? ARE YOU?” Vonn Read

Here is the link: The Basketball Encyclopedia of Plays

NCAA Zone Quick Hitters

By Coach Brian Williams on April 13, 2016

A couple of ideas to look at for your zone attack for next season.

I believe that it is a good idea to start thinking about the types of sets that you are looking at running next season.

That way you can fit the types of shots that your players are taking in the spring and summer into those schemes.

These plays are from Wes Kosel’s Playbook “Best Zone Sets from the 2015-16 NCAA Season.”

It is paired with Coach Kosel’s 2016 NCAA Man to Man Sets Playbook as this week’s featured eBook Bundle. You can find out more here: Best NCAA Man to Man & Zone Sets Bundle

Diagrams created with FastDraw

VCU Zone Drag Runner

1 passes to 2 on the wing.

1 runs to the right corner.

4 steps to the elbow and 5 drags out of the zone.

2 passes to 5 who passes to 3.

3 dribbles left pushing 5 over and 2 to run the baseline.

3 passes to 1 filling to the wing.

If the bottom zone defender has to closeout on the wing, the corner shot is open for 2.

Kansas Zone Hook

2 cuts across the floor off of a double-screen from 4 and 5.

Once 2 clears the screen (bringing the bottom zone defender out to the corner), 5 screens the middle zone defender as 4 flashes up the lane line for the ball.

1 passes to 4 for a shot.

These plays are from Wes Kosel’s Playbook “Best Zone Sets from the 2015-16 NCAA Season.” It is paired with Coach Kosel’s 2016 NCAA Man to Man Sets Playbook as this week’s featured eBook Bundle. You can find out more here: Best NCAA Man to Man & Zone Sets Bundle

2 Zone Quick Hitters

By Coach Brian Williams on February 17, 2016

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

Gonzaga Guard Through

Diagrams created with FastDraw

1 passes to 2.

2 passes to 3.

2 cuts below 5 to the left corner for an overload.

1 cuts to the left slot.

3 passes to 1.

1 dribbles to the right side.

2 cuts off 5.

4 sets a down screen for 2 and then slips to the middle.

2 cuts to the right wing.

Memphis Quick

3 comes up to set a ball screen on the top right zone defender.

1 comes off the ball screen and draws the second top defender.

5 slides down the three point line for a three point shot. (This does not have to be a traditional “5 man” You can put any of your personnel in any of the spots that fit you best.)

2 cuts to the left corner. If the left side defensive forward in the zone picks up 5. 2 should be open. If the middle defender takes 2, 4 will be open momentarily.