Zone Play - Ball Screen Versus 1-3-1 Zone Defense

We use a very close variant of this play against 1-3-1's in particular. They key to the play is player #3. The diagram shows them going short corner, but instead we have them break hard to the basket, following in 5's wake (this is an old Dick Bennett set from Wisconsin). 3 ends up getting layups about half the time if we do things correctly.

Like

We all know that it's not wise for a coach not to be flexible when setting up a defense. To confuse the offense, 1-3-1 could be just an initial foray but when 2m trapping gets to work that's how the real defense begins from a 1-3-1 set. x2 and x3 can provide the link - that is, from a 1-3-1 half-court d. A 1-3-1 d that follows the ball is more effective with the on-ball d player hounding the ball--handler and a quick help d trap.

Like

Thanks, Teon! I hope all is well.

And great points. I couldn't have said that better.

Like

I Coach juniors basketball and i do think if this is going to work i think you should set up your offense between the gaps.. that way it will break the defense earlier before it sets up. But i also think that players knowing more about the help line would also really help in this defense especially when an offense beats his defense for a layup or jump shot.

Like

Good play Joe! I can see it working really well with a PG that can handle the ball pretty good. Thing is in a 1-3-1 a teams best defender is usually at the top. Eliminating them out of the play creates mismatches. So which ever side the slower foot wing defender's on is the side you attack. O2 & 03 are interchangeable. Now if x5 steps up to stop the ball well that's usually a post player. If you PG can't beat a post of the dribble then you have more problems to worry about. :) This is a great play for late have adjustments.

No disguising plays I have used all kinds of techniques ie: names numbers hand signals. The system that I have found the best success in is using indicators like a catcher in baseball. Usually it is second indicator, so if I'm calling 34 it is play 4, 20 we're running our base offense, and so on. Works great when you're playing against a clever/nosy coach :)

Like

Richard -

I have seen coaches use different colored cards .... myself, I used hand signals

M2m was an open hand
Our match up was a fist

We used a 1-2-2 press... most of the time it was a safe control type but always looking for a half court trap. That was two hands with a 7 and umpire safe call

Isolation play was pointint to my eye
A play called Michigan was 3 fingers down
Wisconsin was 3 fingers up
We ran an Open Post offense / both hands 2 fingers up
Regular motion was me swinging 2 fingers in a circle
Lob play was 52 ... two hands - 1 with 5 fingers an 1 with 2
We had a play called Pin ball, that was easy.... 2 hands/fingers pushing the buttons - simulated

I think you get the idea.

Like

Joe,

You mention " If you hide your play calls well, you won't have to worry about it." I would like to see some discussion about how coaches go about calling their plays during games. I'd like to hear what everyone has tried and what they have found works best. Thanks for all you do. I enjoy your information.

Like

I think the key to running a play successfuly is execution....... and having several options. The D might take away 1 or 2 but if you are running things correctly, you should be able to get a good look.

Like

If the defense is notified 5 seconds prior to the play being run and has scouted the play, they will definitely defend it well.

But that goes for any play. If you hide your play calls well, you won't have to worry about it.

The quick action of the play will force the defense to make a split-second decision that will often leave somebody to be WIDE open.

And if you add a variation to it for a different movement, it will leave the defense confused all game long.

Like

The play was designed to work against 2-3 zone and it works extremely well against that type of zone. So if it's a play already in your playbook, we're just showing that you can also use it against a 1-3-1. Surprisingly the same play intended for 2-3 zone works fairly well against a 1-3-1 (if you make very minor adjustments). You usually get 1on1 post ups on the low block out of it (pass comes from corner). If your 5 man can score in the post, it works well!

Sometimes you can reuse plays and disguise existing plays to save yourself time. We like using variations of a "base play" because it shortens the learning time for your players, saves you time, and allows you to get more done.

Hopefully this play variation gives you some ideas that you can run with.

Like

The dif is that most zone teams don't work on p/r defense as much and wont cover it well. Also a lot of teams that play the 1-3-1 trap out of it. The top defender shifts at least to the elbow if not further on the wing pass. This opens the lane up even further for dribble penetration off of the screen and leave the d vulnerable to the diaganol drop pass to the post or corner.

Like

I agree, it appears pointless to me. Nowadays, screening out of a zipper-like offense will get you nowhere against a good zone defense and this play appears even less dynamic.
The key appears to be the movement along the baseline, but in my opinion it makes for bad spacing and allows to defenders to cover three offensive players.

Like

I use a lot of pick & roll/pop against zone defenses, but i do not see the advantage of this ball screen. x1 can cover o2 and x2 takes the ballhandler o1 and no one will be open. not even a mismatch will be created. or didn't I get the point?

Like