Players on the left start with a ball each. Going one player at a time they dribble out into the centre of the court where they meet the defender.
The defender should prevent them from moving across the court.
Before they get within arm's reach of the defender the attacking player should drive into the key where they have a shot.
After each turn players join the back of the opposite line and the attacking player retrieves the ball and passes it to the defender who has now joined the back of the attacking line.
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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