Want
to score more points against zone
defense?
Here are 3 really simple yet effective strategies that every coach
should consider.
These
strategies work against all types of zone defenses and will help you
score more points...
Strategy
#1 - Put Your Best Ballhandler in the Middle (Even if They're 4 Foot
Nothing)
I
picked up this strategy from Danny
Miles who
is #4 with most wins in college history (900) and the head coach of
Oregon Tech.
It's
very common for teams to put their big man at the free throw line in
the middle of the zone offense. Instead, he urges you to put your
best ball-handler and creator there. It's doesn't matter if they're
5'2".
Big
players usually aren't as good at catching and handling
a ball in
traffic. But if you put one of your best ball handlers in the high
post area, they will be able to drive around the bigger defensive
players. They can score, dish, and cause lots of problems for the
defense. This especially causes match up problems for
the defense because
they always put the biggest clumsier players in the middle of the
zone defense. They will not be able stop your quick guards.
Coaches
should take a real good look at just putting one of their taller kids
in the middle - because usually those kids don't pass or shoot it
very well and you don't attack as well with that kind of kid.
Strategy
#2 - Attack from Behind the Zone
One
of the best ways to attack from behind the zone it to always have
at least one player in the short corner area.
You'll
find that on almost every ball reversal the player in the short
corner will be open. Then the wing can pass down to the open
player in the short corner.
Once
the ball is there, this is a very tough place to guard because at
the moment none of the defenders are looking at the short corner
player (because he or she is "behind" the zone).
|
|
|
Once
the ball is caught in the short corner you have several excellent
options to get high percentage shots...
If
wide open, the short corner player can take one step to the
basket for a lay up.
The
short corner player can shot fake and take it to the hole.
|
|
|
The
player in the middle can dive to the basket and receive the pass
from short corner (this seems to be open for a lay
up almost
50% of the time).
|
|
|
If
they double down, the short corner can kick it out for a wide
open three pointer.
|
|
|
The
key is to force the defense to guard what is front of them (with ball
reversals, cutting, and screening actions) and then attack from
behind the zone. It works extremely well!
Strategy
#3 - Put Em Where They Ain't
I
can thank Coach Ken Sartini for reminding me about this strategy and
catchy phrase...
I
heard a college coach say this about attacking zones... "it's
not rocket science... put em where they aint!"
Keep
things simple, put your kids in the gaps of the zone.
This
is a common strategy but I feel it's worth mentioning in this context
because it's a good reminder to keep things simple. Attacking a zone
doesn't have to be complicated.
Not
to mention, wording things so players understand can certainly help.
Sometimes when you say "find the gap" players don't really
understand what you mean (even when they tell you that they do
understand).
Try
wording things differently. Simply tell your players to find spots
where's there no defense (go where they ain't at).
Do
you currently employ all three of these strategies?
I'll
bet not. Use these simple suggestions and you'll get better. These
strategies work against all types of zone defenses.
source:
»» READMORE...