Zoom Action Basketball - The Basics Of This Unstoppable Offense
Zoom action basketball . . .if you've been following hoops in recent years, you've likely heard this term.
It's an offensive action that's become popular at all levels. If you turn on a college or pro game, you will see it being run consistently. Why? Because it's really hard to guard.
The great thing is, it's also an ideal action for teams at younger levels. In fact, many high school and middle school teams are having tremendous success using The Zoom Offense.
Let's take a deep dive into what makes this action so effective!
What Is the Zoom Action Basketball Offense?
The zoom action is a lot like a down or flare screen action in that it involves 3 players.
The player in the middle of the action (1) is the screener. They set a screen to free the player in the corner (3) to come off the zoom. It's important they get a good screening angle so that their back is aligned with the player making the handoff (5).
Player 3 uses the down screen and then runs right at the player with the ball (5). 5 dribbles right at the back of the screener and makes the handoff to 3. 5 rolls after making the handoff.
Player 1 lifts behind the action in order to make their defender choose between helping on the roll and taking away the catch and shoot 3 on the lift.
Why Is The Zoom So Hard To Guard?
The zoom is a great example of creating good spacing out of momentary bad spacing. There is a moment when 3 offensive players come together (1, 3 & 5). This is called a convergence.
This brings 3 defenders together as well, which opens up more space everywhere else on the court. This means that the player who takes the handoff has a ton of space to attack.
What Are The Reads Off The Zoom Action?
If you choose to install and use the zoom action, what are the reads for your players? The great news for coaches is the reads are very linear and intuitive, making them easy to teach.
The scoring reads for the player taking the handoff are:
- Attack the basket off the dribble handoff for a layup or mid-range shot if the defender trails the handoff.
- Shoot the 3 off the handoff if the defender goes under the screen.
If the player who takes the handoff can't score, the reads are:
- Hit the player who gave the handoff on the roll.
- If the screener's defender helps on the roll, hit the screener lifting to the wing for a 3 or post entry.
The Versatility Of The Zoom
A strength of the zoom action is that it can be run in many different ways.
Many teams make the zoom part of their motion offense. Just as teams look for down screens or flare screens, they can also look for zoom opportunities.
Here are a couple options:
- Middle zoom - running the zoom so that the handoff occurs at the top of the key.
- Staggered zoom - this brings a 4th player into the action by setting a stagger screen for the player who will take the handoff. That creates even bigger gaps after the handoff.
3 Ways The Zoom Counters Defense Adjustments
As with any effective action, defenses will make an effort to stop it. That's really hard to do with the zoom, as there are so many counters.
Here are 3 primary counters:
- Backdoor cut for the player who would take the handoff - often, the defender of the player taking the handoff anticipates this action and cheats towards the down screen.
The offensive player can punish that overplay with a back cut for a layup.
- Screener takes the dribble handoff - some defenses will try to deny the player who received the down screen from taking the handoff.
- In that scenario, the screener can peel back and take the handoff, creating a 2 person action with the player who gives the handoff.
- Screener cuts backdoor - as teams anticipate the traditional zoom action, the player guarding the screener can get lazy. When the screener sees this, they should immediately cut to the basket, looking for a pass for a layup.
Zoom Offense Basketball Plays
If you want to go all in on the zoom, it can be your offense. If you'd rather use it when you need it to get a great shot, that's another option.
There are numerous sets that creatively use zoom action.
Here are some ways college teams have used the zoom in recent years. You'll find more in the Zoom Offense Basketball Implementation Guide.
Penn State Horns Zoom Set
Diagram 1: This horns set begins with point guard (1) at the top of the key, the two guards (2 and 3) in each corner, and two bigs (4 and 5) on the elbows to form the horns alignment.
Diagram 2: 1 enters to the 5 who is opposite of the guard (3) who is receiving the zoom action. (This set can be run as an option to whichever side the ball is entered to.)
Once the ball is entered, player 4 turns and goes to set a down screen for 3 in the corner.
Diagram 3: Once 3 begins to set his man up to come off the screen, 2 clears to the other corner, and 1 replaces to the ball-side corner. (1 can also cut off of 5 for a fake dribble handoff.)
3 cuts off the screen towards the top of the key where the handoff of the zoom will take place.
Diagram 4: Once 1 clears, the 5 dribbles at 3 for a dribble handoff. 3 attacks off the handoff while 5 rim runs to the front of the rim. 1 spaces in the corner for a catch-and-shoot opportunity.
Northern Iowa Back Screen Zoom Set
Diagram 1: This set alignment has the point guard (1) at the top of the key, 2 players (2 & 4) on the left side, a big (5) on the right block, and another player (3) in the right corner.
Diagram 2: The set starts with a dribble handoff between 1 and 3 on the right wing. As this is happening, 4 and 2 are interchanging.
Diagram 3: After handing the ball off, 1 exits to the ball-side corner while 3 dribbles towards the top of the key. 3 then swings the ball over to player 2 on the left wing.
Diagram 4: Once 3 swings the ball to 2, then player 5, who is on the elbow, sets a back screen for 3.
Diagram 5: After the back screen, 3 continues the cut to the left corner where 4 sets an off-ball screen near the block. 5 steps to the 3-point line and receives a pass from 2, who follows the pass over the top of the 5 for a fake handoff.
Diagram 6: Once 2 clears over the top for the fake dribble handoff, 5 follows player 2 with the dribble. Player 2 sets a screen for 1, who comes off the screen for a dribble handoff from 5, completing the zoom action.
UNI Transition Zoom Action
Diagram 1: UNI runs zoom actions out of transition. This can be used as a set secondary break or as a read within transition offense. The zoom action begins in an alignment with the point guard (1) dribbling up the left side of the floor. The big who can handle the basketball best (5) is at the top of the key. The other big (4) on the ball side wing, and a guard in each corner (2 & 3).
Diagram 2: The action starts with 1 entering to 5 at the top of the key and immediately following the pass and cutting over the top for a fake handoff. Once over the screen, 1 goes to set a down screen for 3 in the corner.
Diagram 3: Once 1 cuts over the top, 5 follows 1 with the dribble towards player 3. After the screener is set, 3 comes off of 1's screen into a dribble handoff with the 5 for the zoom action.
Diagram 4: After the ball is handed off to 3, then 5 rolls to the rim while 3 attacks the paint. Player 1 fills up for a kickback opportunity. The backside action is a flare screen which happens once 3 begins to attack towards the middle.
You can also run the zoom in baseline out of bounds situations. Here’s an example from Kansas
BONUS: Kansas Zoom BLOB
Diagram 1: Kansas runs a zoom action out of a box alignment BLOB set. The two guards (2 & 3) are on the elbows, the two bigs (4 & 5) on the blocks, and the player receiving the handoff in the zoom action (1) inbound the ball.
Diagram 2: When the ball is handed in play, both 2 and 3 cut to the corners. 5 holds off his defender and receives an entry pass from 1.
Diagram 3: Once the ball is entered, 4 sets a screen for 1 near or just under the block. The 5 dribbles at the screen while 1 cuts around 4 and receives the dribble handoff for the zoom action.
Diagram 4: After the screen, 4 clears to the opposite block and 2 slides up to the wing. 5 exits the lane and 1 is attacking the front of the rim.
You can run your sidelines out of bounds plays directly into zoom action as well!
What do you think? Let us know by leaving your comments, suggestions, and questions...
|
|||
Facebook (145k Followers)
YouTube (152k Subscribers)
Twitter (33k Followers)
Q&A Forum
Podcasts