Players Blue 1 and Red 1 have a ball each and they are starting from the right hand corners either end of the court. Green players 1 & 2 stand on the elbow of the free throw line.
Red player 1 and Blue player 1 start dribbling when they get level with the 3 point line they must do a long pass to the green players before running to receive the ball back. They then play 1 v 1, with the rules being only 3 dribbles and 1 shot.
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.