Red player 1 (defender) rolls the ball out to blue player one. As soon as the ball is rolled the defender can go and close the attacker down. The attacker can then pick the ball up and go 1 v 1 against the defender and try and score.
Once the practice is over the players go to the back of their lines and the next two players go.
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.
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