The down screen will happen away from the ball.
The player receiving the screen will step over the screen and then take 2 long backward steps away from the screen towards the corner of the court.
The screener will turn and cut back towards the ball.
This cut will happen if the defender tries to get around the screen and stop the cut towards the ball.
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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