Blue player 1 starts with the ball in their hand on the baseline on the left hand side of the key. They then roll the ball towards red player 1 and can pick it up once its gone past the free throw line.
Red player 1 must run as soon as the ball is thrown to behind the backboard before having a 1 v 1. Roles are reversed once the game is over.
The ball screen produces almost half of all professional offensive possessions, yet most teams still teach it as a memorised play. The modern approach trains the read - giving players a framework to decide based on what the defence does, not what the coach called.
The closeout is the most repeated defensive action in modern basketball. With fouls per game climbing in the 2025-26 season, coaches must teach defenders to contest the three without surrendering the drive or putting shooters on the line.
The 2-3 zone defence remains one of the most effective defensive systems in basketball when coached and executed properly. This guide covers the fundamentals of running a 2-3 zone, including player roles, rotations, and when to deploy it for maximum impact.