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An overpowering zone-defense can be a real nightmare...

It can lock down your shooters, prevent dribble penetration, and

cause one turnover after turnover.

As a coach, you need to have proven strategies to fight and defeat

zone defenses...

Today, we're going to give you 4 quick "keys" to beating any zone

defense. These 4 keys will lay down the foundation for beating zone

defenses and make it easier for your players to learn:

1. PATIENCE:

There is no instant crack to beating the zone.  It requires

patience and proper ball movement to get the defense off balance.

2. PASSING:

You must teach your players not to over-dribble.  Dribbling too

much against a zone is just asking for trouble.  You team needs to

make sharp and precise passes (absolutely no soft lob passes).

3. GO TO THE HEART:

No matter what type of zone defense your going up against, the

weakness will lie in getting the ball in the free-throw line area.

This forces the defense to react and will cause them to lose their

assignments.

4. SPACING:

No matter what type of "zone breaker" play you run, proper balance

and floor spacing is essential.  There should never be a situation

where 1 defender is able to defend 2 players at once. With the

right floor spacing, you should get a quality shot every time.

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In my oppinion all basketball defensive plays should incorporate some man to man / zone principals. Below you will find a great basketball defensive play that uses the structure of the 2-3 zone and incorporates the versitility of the man to man basketball defense. Check it out...

Man-to-Man 2-3 ZONE

1 This is a "Man-to-Man" 2-3 zone. Here we have our guards ready to defend the three point line, and the back row of the zone should line up with the first marker above the block. This forces the offense to start further than they want.

Can be effective against an aggressive penetrating team. Players will use our man to man principles when playing zone.

2 As the offense comes down the court the zone has to match-up. The arrows indicate the appropriate matchups for this alignment.

Communication is key when playing zone. The defense must be talking to each other.

3 If 1 passes the ball to 2 the defense would stay with their matchups, but if 1 passes to 3 then BUMPING begins.

x1 would bump x4 down. x4 does not leave until x1 tells him to.

BUMPING will occur only when a back line defender is out guarding a perimeter player.

4 In this situation the offense has a high post (5). x5 will match-up with 5.

x1 and x2 will help x5 by trying to get a hand in any passing lane to 5.

x5 will keep 5 as far away from the basket as possible on any shots taken by the offense.

5 If the offense overloads a side by sending a cutter through, it is verycrucial that the defenders communicate. x2 must yell "cutter" and hemust bump or slow down the cutter. x3 and x5 will also look to slowdown the cutter.

x1 bumps x4 down, and x2 rotates up. x4 will match up with 2 in the corner.

6 If they overload to the opposite side. x2 does not bump. x4 yells "cutter"and slows down 3's progress. x3 will match-up with 3 on the perimeter,x5 will slide over and x4 takes the opposite low post (5).

For diagrams to go with this defensive play click http://www.basketball-drills-and-plays.com/Defensive_Basketball_Plays_1.html