The defender (red player 1) rolls the ball out for the attacker to pick up and then play a 1 v 1 against them.
The rules of the practice are that the attacker is only allowed three attacking dribbles before the point is dead.
Attacker must develop their first step.
Players should use a fake to catch the defensive player off balance and drive into space to score.
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.