Player 1 starts with the ball in the middle of the court and plays the ball to player 2 who cuts in to the first cone.
Player 2 must then pass to player 3 who has also made a run inside to the other cone further up the court.
Player 1 in the meantime should loop on the outside behind player 2 to receive the ball back from player 3 and take a shot.
Player 2 and 3 should follow up for any rebounds.
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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