Players will set out as shown in the animation.
The top line will have a basketball. The first player in the line will pass to the person on the right wing.
After making the pass the player will run and set a screen for the player on the left wing.
The player will curl around off the screen for a short shot. The player who shoots will get the rebound and pass the ball back out to the line at the top. That player will then run out to the right win and become the next passer.
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.