LEVEL 2Team5v5

Flash Into the Zone's Soft Middle

FIG. 08ATTACKING THE ZONE5V5

A 2-3 zone guards spots, not players, and its softest spot is the free-throw line — behind the two guards, in front of the three back defenders. Perimeter passing alone just makes a zone shift side to side comfortably. The fix is for someone to flash to the high post and catch there. From that catch the whole zone has a problem: shooters open behind the ball, cutters diving from the weak side, and a short jumper available. Beat a zone from the inside out, not the outside around.

READ THIS

The zone's two guards shift with a swing pass and a seam opens between them at the free-throw line.

DO THIS

Flash into that seam mid-swing, catch facing the rim, and read the middle defender: shoot if they stay, dump off or kick if they step up.

COACHING LINEAGE

Brad Stevens

Analytical precision: the right shot in the right spot beats a contested hero shot every time.

Phil Jackson

The triangle decision framework applies to any offense — proper spacing turns every defensive choice into a wrong answer.

IN THE SITUATION ROTATION

The opponent sits in a 2-3 zone that has stalled your offense for three straight possessions of perimeter passing. You are a forward on the right side and notice the high post area behind the two guards is completely unoccupied.

Appears as a Situation of the Day · 5v5

Your team sits in a 2-3 zone and you are the bottom-right defender. The ball swings to the right corner, and there is an opponent big lurking at the block behind you. You cannot cover both alone.

Appears as a Situation of the Day · 5v5