White player 1 starts with the ball and proceeds to pass the ball to the next player and so on. On reaching player 4 the players 3 and 4 go and try and score. Blue Players 1 & 2 can start once the 1st pass has gone, they then have to run to protect the basket and stop the players from scoring.
White players 3 & 4 then become defenders and blue 3 & 4 join the queue of attackers on the other side of the court
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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