Players are numbered from one to five with player number one starting with the ball to the right of the key.
player number one will then pass the ball to player number two, following the direction of their pass and joining the left hand side of the court behind player number four.
Player number two will then pass to number three, also following their pass and the movement continues...
Once the players have reached the other side of the court the player with the ball should make make a layup and attempt 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.
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