Players will set up as shown in the animation. With the basketball starting in the corner line.
The ball will be passed from the corner to the line at the top.
Once passed that player will run towards the free-throw line and receive the ball back.
When that pass has been made, the player from the top line will run around the cone and towards the basket where they will receive the ball for a shot.
Players will switch lines.
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.