3 lines with the basketball starting in the middle.
The ball is passed to a side, then back to the middle and then over to the other side.
The ball is always passed back to the middle.
Once the half court has been reached the players on the side will turn back the other way and run towards the basket.
The player in the middle with the ball will dribble down the middle and make a pass to one of the players for a lay-up.
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.