Ahmet Dedeoğlu
05-10-2008, 03:07 AM
HOW TO ATTACK THE ZONE DEFENSE
by Bodizar Maljkovic
Bozidar Maljkovic is currently the head coach of Real Madrid. He previously coached
Jugoplastika Split (winning 2 European Cups, 3 Yugoslavian Championships,
and 3 Cups), Barcelona (1 King's Cup), Limoges (1 European Cup, 2 French Championships
and 2 Cups), Panathinaikos, (European Cup, Intercontinetal Cup, and Greek Cup),
and Malaga (Korac Cup). He was selected European Coach of the Year and was twice
selected as the French Coach of the Year.
The zone offense can be applied to attack all types of zone defenses. The best way to
beat a zone defense is with the fastbreak. You can score two, perhaps even three easy
points, but what you also do, which has an even greater effect, is demoralize the opponent.
The second basic way to attack the zone defense is put the offensive players in the
gaps of the zone. This means putting a player in between two defensive players,
assuming a contrary alignment to the alignment of the zone. The third element entails the use
of screens: single, staggered, and double. There is a difference between a screen on a man-
to-man defense and a screen against the zone defense.
If we play against man-to-man, we set a screen and jam the defender, who is
guarding a teammate for whom the screen is being set. In the screen against a zone defense,
however, we simply block the move of the nearest man to the screener, or we
block the one nearest to the area where an offensive player positions himself. We do
this because zone defenders cover a certain area of the court, and are not concer-
ned with defending a particular player. Passing the ball within the free-throw area is
another very important element used to attack the zone because from this position it is
possible to pass easily in all directions, and to all positions of the court. In this area, we
should try to exchange players quickly. To move the defense, it is also very. Important
to quickly change the side of the ball from left to right and vice-versa (as well, as
we said, passing the ball inside will also keep the defense moving).
The next essential element in the attack against the zone is-depending on the coach's
philosophy-overloading the strong side of the offense with three or four players at a time.
Dribble penetration into the three-second lane in between two defenders will split the defense,
and is another key attack element. In this case, the offensive player, who drives in
the lane, must make a quick, two-count stop for better balance and then take a quick shot
before the big man moves over to defend. The other option is to pass the ball to an open
teammate. Drive penetration-and-shoot and drive-penetration-and-pass creates many
problems for the zone defense. Another very crucial element, that most US
college coaches demand to their players, is that the ball be passed inside a minimum of
two times before a shot is taken. By moving the ball inside, the defense instinctively collapses
towards the ball and, therefore, loses its outside aggressiveness. When the offensive
player receives the ball in the right low-post position, he must first see all his four teammates
(for the possible swing pass), but he also has time and space for playing oneon- one. Let's now
review a very important aspect concerning offensive player positioning. If they face the defenders
and start to move or cut in certain directions, it is easier for the defenders to see them and move
to guard them. However, if the offensive players stay inside the lane behind the defenders, the
defenders cannot see what's happening, and they must turn their heads. The offensive player
has the advantage. It is now easier to pop out. With less distance to cover, shooting position is
better and a shot can quickly be taken. Many successful teams put three or four players near the
basket and then have them pop out to receive a pass from the point guard, who penetrates and
dishes off the ball. If the defender does not see where the ball is, the offensive player can easily
make a flash cut in an open area and punish the defender for his mistake.
I would like to underline an important technical and tactical point against the zone defense,
and that concerns faking passes. In Europe, we should use more fakes in our game
and use all kinds of them. In this aspect, American basketball is far ahead of us. They also
are more aware of the fake pass when they are on defense. You can see that when an
American player is in the balanced, low defensive stance, his head is moving constantly,
always active. By contrast, you see European players with their upper body erect, stiff and
firm, and their heads are not moving as much as their American counterparts.
The last element on zone offense is not a technical aspect, but, rather, a psychological
one. You must emphasize the psychological aspect of the game, convincing your players
that a basket made against the zone is the reward, a product of the fine effort of the whole
team as a unit. The shooter must be sure that his shot will go in, while the other four
players think that he will miss the shot and move very aggressively to get the offensive
rebound.
The early start for the offensive rebound begins when the ball, still in the hands of a shooter,
reaches the level of his chin. During the lifting action, and immediately before the shot is
actually released, the offensive players should be moving if for a possible rebound.
Statistical data and video evidence, together with other "live" observations, clearly show
that 90 percent of teams and players go for a rebound when the ball is actually released
from the shooter's hand and is going towards the basket. However, it is too late at this point
to go for the rebound. I think you would actually be better off running back to play defense
because you will never get to the ball.
FIRSTZONE OFFENSE [Only Registered Users Can See Links] ([Only Registered Users Can See Links]></b>:popup_window('webanims/digr_1_7.svgz','digr_1_7',626,480);)[Only Registered Users Can See Links] ([Only Registered Users Can See Links])
I will now review three types of zone offenses based on the evaluation of our own team's
skills and those of the opposing team. From this analysis, we can see whether we have
the advantage with our big and small players. The offense that I am going to introduce is
that one I started to use many years ago with Jugoplastika Split. I have continued to work
on it ever since, refining it to meet the needs of my teams. If you want to execute it successfully,
you must have very quick players on the perimeter, where the defense is really active
and aggressive. The players really like this offense, because it gives them more freedom
to decide when to play one-on-one and use their dribble penetration. In many technical
books, it is said that the ball should be moved using the pass when playing a zone defense.
This offense is exactly just the opposite: We simply leave the perimeter area empty and we
don't put any high post players in. This forces the defense to start playing man-to-man.
We don't use a player to jam the offense in the free-throw area, but we pass the ball to
one side of the court (the right side, in this example), and quickly make a flash cut into
the three-second lane (diagr. 1).
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
The point guard asks for the ball while he is in the lane and then he pops out on the same
side. 2, the player, who received the entry pass, waits to see whether the first line defender
of the zone comes out towards him, and if there is a chance to pass the ball to the cutter.
If he cannot pass the ball to 1, 2 dribbles hard toward the defender, breaks into the three-
second lane, opens the passing lines and, based on the reaction of the defenders, dishes
the ball to an open teammate. When 2 penetrates in the lane, we have a rule for the centers:
if 2 penetrates diagonally, 4, the center opposite to the drive, cuts inside, while 5, the center
on the same side of the drive, fades out (diagr. 2).
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
If the offense is run from the other side, everything is reversed. 4, who cuts in the lane,
could be covered, but 5, who has faded away, can be open. If nothing happens, 2
can also start the offense on the left side of the court, with a pass from 1 to 3, and then
from 3 to 4 (diagr. 3).
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
At the same time, we set a back screen on the weakside with 5, who screens X2. 4 swings
the ball to 2, and 2 to 1. If X3, the defender on the back line of the zone, comes high to help,
1 passes to 3, who can shoot. When this happens, all the offensive players go hard for the
Offensive rebound (diagr. 4)
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
This means we run the action on the opposite side from where we started the offense.
We can also make a "decoy" play: 1 passes the ball to 2, and cuts in the corner on
the ball side. However, this is not where we want to shoot (diagr. 5). [Only Registered Users Can See Links] ([Only Registered Users Can See Links]></b>:popup_window('webanims/digr__8_9.svgz','digr__8_9',626,480);)[Only Registered Users Can See Links] ([Only Registered Users Can See Links])
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
We want, in fact, to have 4 make a back screen on the weakside for 3, our best shooter, who is
closely guarded by X1. On the pass from 1 to 2, 3 spots up, going in the opposite direction
of the ball. He receives a back screen from 4, and 2 passes the ball to 3.
When 2 passes the ball to 3, X4 comes out to guard 3. In this moment, we have created
a miss-match, with a small player against the big tall player outside, away
from the basket: 3 can also pass the ball to 4 (diagr. 6).
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
To execute this play properly, you need to have good inside and outside players. If the
perimeter defenders X1, X2, and X3 are faster than my offensive players, I do not run this
offense. Another extremely important point of emphasis on the zone offense-but for any
offense, for that matter-is to always receive the ball with the hands and body in a position
where you are ready to shoot: the hands are not brought down; you are looking at the
basket, prepared to launch a shot.
SECOND ZONE OFFENSE [Only Registered Users Can See Links] ([Only Registered Users Can See Links]></b>:popup_window('webanims/digr__10_15.svgz','digr__10_15',626,480);)[Only Registered Users Can See Links] ([Only Registered Users Can See Links])
This zone offense is based on having good big players in different positions: a big small
forward, a skilled power forward, and an excellent center. We generally use this play
when we think we are stronger under the basket than the opposing team. Here's how
we run this zone offense (diagr. 7)
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
1 dribbles to the lateral wing, where we don't have a big player on the low post, and this is a
signal for 4 to run quickly in the low post position, attack the defender of the last line of
the zone, turn and seal him off. At the same time, 3, who was near the corner of the freethrow
area, jumps out to the three-point line to receive and shoot, while 5 flashes to the
high-post area, outside of the lane. The ball goes from 1 to 3, and from 3 to 5. At the same
time, the two small perimeter players, 2 and 1, run down to the baseline (diagr. 8).
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
In this way we can play three-on-three: 5 can pass to 2 or 1 in the corner, or pass directly
to 4, who ducks in the lane, or makes an high cut, and then a cut to the basket. 5
can also pass to 2 in the corner, and then cut to the basket and receive the ball from
2, a "give-and-go" (diagr. 9).
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
The guards, 1 and 2, can punish the defenders if they cheat on defense: if the small defensive
players come high to help, 1 or 2 can have an open shot. On every reversal pass from one side
to the other side of the half court, from 1 to 2 or vice- versa (diagr. 10),
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
we automatically make a double screen on the other side. As soon as the ball is in the hands of
an offensive player in the corner after a reversal pass, the low post on the side of the ball comes
out of the lane, and goes to the perimeter. In the meantime, the guard on the ball side
spots up on the weak side of the court. 1 passes the ball to 4 and cuts on the baseline.
4 passes to 3, and 3 to 1 (diagr. 11).
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
This is how we utilize double screens and staggered screens against the zone defense.
If this offensive action doesn't work, the ball should be reversed as quickly as possible
from one side to the other of the half court. 1 passes to 3, 3 to 4 and from 4 to 2, who has
cut to the opposite corner. We then play pick-and-roll, a two-on-two (diagr. 12).
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Here, we simply force the defense to switch from zone to a man-to-man defense.
THIRD ZONE OFFENSE
The third zone offense is based on playing both an inside and outside game. Our primary
objective is to overload one side of the zone defense, intentionally leaving our best
player on the weak side, opposite to the overload. The offensive set is a one-four
spread high we have two sides where we can start the play, the right and the left side. 1 passes
to the right, in this case to 2, 5 goes down in the low post area and aggressively seals his defender.
At the same time, 3 drops down to the baseline, cutting on the baseline. 5, with his hands up
and his elbows locked, asks for the ball. If he does not receive the ball, he puts his arms down
low, the pre-agreed signal that he does not want the ball anymore. 5 sets the screen
for 3, who goes out of the lane, and receives the ball from 2. After the screen, 5 rolls quickly to the
corner and receives the ball-but only if he is alone. Otherwise, 1 can pass also to 4 and, in this case,
1 goes straight down in the deep corner (diagr. 13).[Only Registered Users Can See Links] ([Only Registered Users Can See Links]></b>:popup_window('webanims/diagr__16_19.svgz','diagr__16_19',626,480);)[Only Registered Users Can See Links] ([Only Registered Users Can See Links])
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Kaynak FİBA olduğundan İngilizcedir.Hedefi olan Basketbolcu ve Antrenörlerin İngilizceyi en kısa zamanda öğrenmelerini tavsiye ederim.
by Bodizar Maljkovic
Bozidar Maljkovic is currently the head coach of Real Madrid. He previously coached
Jugoplastika Split (winning 2 European Cups, 3 Yugoslavian Championships,
and 3 Cups), Barcelona (1 King's Cup), Limoges (1 European Cup, 2 French Championships
and 2 Cups), Panathinaikos, (European Cup, Intercontinetal Cup, and Greek Cup),
and Malaga (Korac Cup). He was selected European Coach of the Year and was twice
selected as the French Coach of the Year.
The zone offense can be applied to attack all types of zone defenses. The best way to
beat a zone defense is with the fastbreak. You can score two, perhaps even three easy
points, but what you also do, which has an even greater effect, is demoralize the opponent.
The second basic way to attack the zone defense is put the offensive players in the
gaps of the zone. This means putting a player in between two defensive players,
assuming a contrary alignment to the alignment of the zone. The third element entails the use
of screens: single, staggered, and double. There is a difference between a screen on a man-
to-man defense and a screen against the zone defense.
If we play against man-to-man, we set a screen and jam the defender, who is
guarding a teammate for whom the screen is being set. In the screen against a zone defense,
however, we simply block the move of the nearest man to the screener, or we
block the one nearest to the area where an offensive player positions himself. We do
this because zone defenders cover a certain area of the court, and are not concer-
ned with defending a particular player. Passing the ball within the free-throw area is
another very important element used to attack the zone because from this position it is
possible to pass easily in all directions, and to all positions of the court. In this area, we
should try to exchange players quickly. To move the defense, it is also very. Important
to quickly change the side of the ball from left to right and vice-versa (as well, as
we said, passing the ball inside will also keep the defense moving).
The next essential element in the attack against the zone is-depending on the coach's
philosophy-overloading the strong side of the offense with three or four players at a time.
Dribble penetration into the three-second lane in between two defenders will split the defense,
and is another key attack element. In this case, the offensive player, who drives in
the lane, must make a quick, two-count stop for better balance and then take a quick shot
before the big man moves over to defend. The other option is to pass the ball to an open
teammate. Drive penetration-and-shoot and drive-penetration-and-pass creates many
problems for the zone defense. Another very crucial element, that most US
college coaches demand to their players, is that the ball be passed inside a minimum of
two times before a shot is taken. By moving the ball inside, the defense instinctively collapses
towards the ball and, therefore, loses its outside aggressiveness. When the offensive
player receives the ball in the right low-post position, he must first see all his four teammates
(for the possible swing pass), but he also has time and space for playing oneon- one. Let's now
review a very important aspect concerning offensive player positioning. If they face the defenders
and start to move or cut in certain directions, it is easier for the defenders to see them and move
to guard them. However, if the offensive players stay inside the lane behind the defenders, the
defenders cannot see what's happening, and they must turn their heads. The offensive player
has the advantage. It is now easier to pop out. With less distance to cover, shooting position is
better and a shot can quickly be taken. Many successful teams put three or four players near the
basket and then have them pop out to receive a pass from the point guard, who penetrates and
dishes off the ball. If the defender does not see where the ball is, the offensive player can easily
make a flash cut in an open area and punish the defender for his mistake.
I would like to underline an important technical and tactical point against the zone defense,
and that concerns faking passes. In Europe, we should use more fakes in our game
and use all kinds of them. In this aspect, American basketball is far ahead of us. They also
are more aware of the fake pass when they are on defense. You can see that when an
American player is in the balanced, low defensive stance, his head is moving constantly,
always active. By contrast, you see European players with their upper body erect, stiff and
firm, and their heads are not moving as much as their American counterparts.
The last element on zone offense is not a technical aspect, but, rather, a psychological
one. You must emphasize the psychological aspect of the game, convincing your players
that a basket made against the zone is the reward, a product of the fine effort of the whole
team as a unit. The shooter must be sure that his shot will go in, while the other four
players think that he will miss the shot and move very aggressively to get the offensive
rebound.
The early start for the offensive rebound begins when the ball, still in the hands of a shooter,
reaches the level of his chin. During the lifting action, and immediately before the shot is
actually released, the offensive players should be moving if for a possible rebound.
Statistical data and video evidence, together with other "live" observations, clearly show
that 90 percent of teams and players go for a rebound when the ball is actually released
from the shooter's hand and is going towards the basket. However, it is too late at this point
to go for the rebound. I think you would actually be better off running back to play defense
because you will never get to the ball.
FIRSTZONE OFFENSE [Only Registered Users Can See Links] ([Only Registered Users Can See Links]></b>:popup_window('webanims/digr_1_7.svgz','digr_1_7',626,480);)[Only Registered Users Can See Links] ([Only Registered Users Can See Links])
I will now review three types of zone offenses based on the evaluation of our own team's
skills and those of the opposing team. From this analysis, we can see whether we have
the advantage with our big and small players. The offense that I am going to introduce is
that one I started to use many years ago with Jugoplastika Split. I have continued to work
on it ever since, refining it to meet the needs of my teams. If you want to execute it successfully,
you must have very quick players on the perimeter, where the defense is really active
and aggressive. The players really like this offense, because it gives them more freedom
to decide when to play one-on-one and use their dribble penetration. In many technical
books, it is said that the ball should be moved using the pass when playing a zone defense.
This offense is exactly just the opposite: We simply leave the perimeter area empty and we
don't put any high post players in. This forces the defense to start playing man-to-man.
We don't use a player to jam the offense in the free-throw area, but we pass the ball to
one side of the court (the right side, in this example), and quickly make a flash cut into
the three-second lane (diagr. 1).
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
The point guard asks for the ball while he is in the lane and then he pops out on the same
side. 2, the player, who received the entry pass, waits to see whether the first line defender
of the zone comes out towards him, and if there is a chance to pass the ball to the cutter.
If he cannot pass the ball to 1, 2 dribbles hard toward the defender, breaks into the three-
second lane, opens the passing lines and, based on the reaction of the defenders, dishes
the ball to an open teammate. When 2 penetrates in the lane, we have a rule for the centers:
if 2 penetrates diagonally, 4, the center opposite to the drive, cuts inside, while 5, the center
on the same side of the drive, fades out (diagr. 2).
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
If the offense is run from the other side, everything is reversed. 4, who cuts in the lane,
could be covered, but 5, who has faded away, can be open. If nothing happens, 2
can also start the offense on the left side of the court, with a pass from 1 to 3, and then
from 3 to 4 (diagr. 3).
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
At the same time, we set a back screen on the weakside with 5, who screens X2. 4 swings
the ball to 2, and 2 to 1. If X3, the defender on the back line of the zone, comes high to help,
1 passes to 3, who can shoot. When this happens, all the offensive players go hard for the
Offensive rebound (diagr. 4)
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
This means we run the action on the opposite side from where we started the offense.
We can also make a "decoy" play: 1 passes the ball to 2, and cuts in the corner on
the ball side. However, this is not where we want to shoot (diagr. 5). [Only Registered Users Can See Links] ([Only Registered Users Can See Links]></b>:popup_window('webanims/digr__8_9.svgz','digr__8_9',626,480);)[Only Registered Users Can See Links] ([Only Registered Users Can See Links])
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
We want, in fact, to have 4 make a back screen on the weakside for 3, our best shooter, who is
closely guarded by X1. On the pass from 1 to 2, 3 spots up, going in the opposite direction
of the ball. He receives a back screen from 4, and 2 passes the ball to 3.
When 2 passes the ball to 3, X4 comes out to guard 3. In this moment, we have created
a miss-match, with a small player against the big tall player outside, away
from the basket: 3 can also pass the ball to 4 (diagr. 6).
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
To execute this play properly, you need to have good inside and outside players. If the
perimeter defenders X1, X2, and X3 are faster than my offensive players, I do not run this
offense. Another extremely important point of emphasis on the zone offense-but for any
offense, for that matter-is to always receive the ball with the hands and body in a position
where you are ready to shoot: the hands are not brought down; you are looking at the
basket, prepared to launch a shot.
SECOND ZONE OFFENSE [Only Registered Users Can See Links] ([Only Registered Users Can See Links]></b>:popup_window('webanims/digr__10_15.svgz','digr__10_15',626,480);)[Only Registered Users Can See Links] ([Only Registered Users Can See Links])
This zone offense is based on having good big players in different positions: a big small
forward, a skilled power forward, and an excellent center. We generally use this play
when we think we are stronger under the basket than the opposing team. Here's how
we run this zone offense (diagr. 7)
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
1 dribbles to the lateral wing, where we don't have a big player on the low post, and this is a
signal for 4 to run quickly in the low post position, attack the defender of the last line of
the zone, turn and seal him off. At the same time, 3, who was near the corner of the freethrow
area, jumps out to the three-point line to receive and shoot, while 5 flashes to the
high-post area, outside of the lane. The ball goes from 1 to 3, and from 3 to 5. At the same
time, the two small perimeter players, 2 and 1, run down to the baseline (diagr. 8).
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
In this way we can play three-on-three: 5 can pass to 2 or 1 in the corner, or pass directly
to 4, who ducks in the lane, or makes an high cut, and then a cut to the basket. 5
can also pass to 2 in the corner, and then cut to the basket and receive the ball from
2, a "give-and-go" (diagr. 9).
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
The guards, 1 and 2, can punish the defenders if they cheat on defense: if the small defensive
players come high to help, 1 or 2 can have an open shot. On every reversal pass from one side
to the other side of the half court, from 1 to 2 or vice- versa (diagr. 10),
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
we automatically make a double screen on the other side. As soon as the ball is in the hands of
an offensive player in the corner after a reversal pass, the low post on the side of the ball comes
out of the lane, and goes to the perimeter. In the meantime, the guard on the ball side
spots up on the weak side of the court. 1 passes the ball to 4 and cuts on the baseline.
4 passes to 3, and 3 to 1 (diagr. 11).
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
This is how we utilize double screens and staggered screens against the zone defense.
If this offensive action doesn't work, the ball should be reversed as quickly as possible
from one side to the other of the half court. 1 passes to 3, 3 to 4 and from 4 to 2, who has
cut to the opposite corner. We then play pick-and-roll, a two-on-two (diagr. 12).
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Here, we simply force the defense to switch from zone to a man-to-man defense.
THIRD ZONE OFFENSE
The third zone offense is based on playing both an inside and outside game. Our primary
objective is to overload one side of the zone defense, intentionally leaving our best
player on the weak side, opposite to the overload. The offensive set is a one-four
spread high we have two sides where we can start the play, the right and the left side. 1 passes
to the right, in this case to 2, 5 goes down in the low post area and aggressively seals his defender.
At the same time, 3 drops down to the baseline, cutting on the baseline. 5, with his hands up
and his elbows locked, asks for the ball. If he does not receive the ball, he puts his arms down
low, the pre-agreed signal that he does not want the ball anymore. 5 sets the screen
for 3, who goes out of the lane, and receives the ball from 2. After the screen, 5 rolls quickly to the
corner and receives the ball-but only if he is alone. Otherwise, 1 can pass also to 4 and, in this case,
1 goes straight down in the deep corner (diagr. 13).[Only Registered Users Can See Links] ([Only Registered Users Can See Links]></b>:popup_window('webanims/diagr__16_19.svgz','diagr__16_19',626,480);)[Only Registered Users Can See Links] ([Only Registered Users Can See Links])
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Kaynak FİBA olduğundan İngilizcedir.Hedefi olan Basketbolcu ve Antrenörlerin İngilizceyi en kısa zamanda öğrenmelerini tavsiye ederim.