When Rick Pitino was at Louisville, he played a lot of zone.

I remember watching an interview with him and he was asked about his new defensive philosophy. He had always been known as a coach who liked to press and play aggressive man to man defense.

Something from his answer stuck with me. He said a major reason that he was playing zone was because it made his game prep easier.

When coaching man, there are countless actions and offenses opponents can run. Against zone, there are a few actions you see over and over again.

I think there’s some truth to that. There are only so many zone offenses.

If you rely solely on your zone offense, you might end up taking the shots your opponent wants you to take.

And that’s why it’s important that you have some plays you can go to that will get you a great shot against a zone.

Check out our YouTube video “5 Plays To Punish A 2-3 Zone” and the diagrams below to make sure you’ve got a bucket in your back pocket when you need one most!

5 Plays To Punish A 2-3 Zone

Play #1 - Chin

Source - Aaron Jennings Princeton Offense System

Chin is a staple of the Princeton offense. That said, it’s also effective against zones! There are two primary scoring options. The first is passing to the 5 after they set the backscreen. The second is dribbling up from the wing, which lifts the bottom defender. This opens up the corner for the guard filling out.

• 1 passes to 2. As that pass happens, 5 comes up to the elbow.
• 2 immediately reverses the ball to 4.
• 5 backscreens for 1. After the backscreen, 5 cuts to the ball side high post.

• 4 looks to 5 in the high post (or 1 at the rim)
• If x5 comes up, 5 looks to hit 1 behind the defense.
• If x5 stays low, 5 should shoot.

• If 5 is not open, 4 dribbles up.
• 4’s dribble cues 1 to fill the ballside corner and 5 to dive.
• 4 looks behind them to 1 in the corner. 1 can shoot if x4 has lifted. Or 1 can look to 5 at the rim.

• If nothing is open, 4 continues dribbling to the ballside slot.
• 2 bumps over
• 1 fills the wing.

• The offense is back in the original formation and can repeat the action on the other side.

Play 2 - Runner/Runner Pin

Source - Uptempo Basketball System With Keith Haske

Most zone offenses teach players to get in gaps. This is a sound principle, as it makes 2 players guard one. However, matching up with the zone can work. It makes screening actions more effective and allows the offense to create matchups that give them an advantage. Runner and runner pin do exactly that.

Runner

• The play starts in a 2 guard front. 
• The best shooter starts in the opposite corner (3).
• 3 runs the baseline, receiving a screen from the ballside forward (5). 1 passes to 3.

• If x4 can’t get through 5’s screen, 3 should shoot.
• After screening, 5 goes and seals x5 for a post entry.
• 4 flashes to an open area in the high post.

• If no options are open, 3 reverses the ball to 1. 1 immediately passes to 2.
• 4 returns to their original side.
• 3 runs the baseline again, receiving a screen from 4.

• If 3 is a good shooter, x3 may try to fit over the screen to take away the shot.
• If that happens, 2 can fake a pass to 3.
• 4 should step into the gap created by this for a pass at the rim.

Runner Pin

Runner Pin is a great counter to Runner.

• The play begins the same way.
• 3 begins to run through. However, 3 stops and reverses direction.
• 4 screens in 3.

• 1 throws a skip pass to 3.
• 4 seals x5 at the rim.
• 5 flashes to an open area in the high post.

• 3 can shoot if open.
• If 3 can’t shoot, they should look at 4 sealing or 5 flashing.

Play 3 - Iowa

Source - The Relentless Pressure System With Mike Hilmer

Most coaches think of ball screens as a tool to use against man to man defense. They are also effective against zones. They allow you to create overloads and numerical advantages create stress for a2-3 zone. Iowa creates a 2v1 advantage against the wing defender. 

• The offense starts in a 1-2-2 set.
• 1 passes to 2 on the wing.

• 5 comes across and sets a middle ball screen for 2.
• 1 relocates to the opposite wing.
• 3 relocates to the corner.

• 2 comes off the ball screen and attacks the paint.
• If x1 stops 2’s drive, 2 looks to 1.
• 1 can shoot if open. If x3 comes up, 1 looks to 3.
• 4 stays opposite for rebounding position
• 5 rolls

Play 4 - Walker

Source - The Relentless Pressure System With Mike Hilmer

Walker is a great complimentary play to Iowa. If you have a 5 who can make shots, it’s a must add! Instead of creating the 2v1 in the direction of the screen, Walker creates the same advantage behind the screen.

• The offense starts in a 1-2-2 set.
• 1 passes to 2 on the wing. 
• 1 cuts through to the ball side corner

• 5 comes up and sets a ball screen for 2.
• 4 moves behind the defense to the opposite block 

• 2 uses 5’s screen and attacks the free throw line.
• After screening, 5 pops out to the wing.

• 2 looks to throw the ball back to 1. This creates a 2v1 with 5 & 1 v x4.
• If x4 stays low, 5 should shoot.
• If x4 comes up to guard 5, 5 should pass to 1 who will be open in the corner.

Play 5 - Flare/Slip

Source - The Hybrid Attack Offense With Ryan Schultz

Off the ball screens can be effective against zones too. The flare/slip action puts 1 zone defender in the position of having to decide which action to guard.

• The offense starts in a 1-2-2 setup.
• 1 dribbles at 2 for a dribble hand off.

• After receiving the handoff, 2 dribbles towards the slot.
• 3 fills the opposite slot. 2 passes to 3.
• 1 runs off a stagger screen from 4 & 5.

• After screening for 1, 4 comes back and sets a screen on the outside of x2. This creates space for 2’s flare.
• After setting the flare, 4 slips into an open area in the middle.
• 3 dribbles middle and reads what’s open.

• If x5 steps up to take 4, 4 should look to 5 behind the defense.

A Universal Zone Offense To Solve Every Defense

If you’re like a lot of coaches, you have one zone offense for even front zones. You have another for odd front zones. You have something else for half court traps.

While there are good reasons for that, it puts a lot on your players’ plates. Instead of reacting and playing, they often end up hesitating and thinking.

What if you could have 1 zone offense that taught concepts adaptable to any zone? You can! With Don Kelbick’s Continuity Zone Offense And Concepts To Beat Any Zone Defenseyou’ll have a solution for every zone you so!

It’s the perfect complement to the plays above to ensure you have a well-rounded attack that will carve up zone defenses!

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