Defensive-minded basketball coaches employ a variety of strategies to stifle opposing offenses. One strategy is a zone defense. Zone defenses are designed to take away an opponent's strength, whether it's outside shooting or a strong inside game. However, the middle of a zone is vulnerable to penetration. Offenses can beat a zone defense by exploiting the middle of the zone with a pass or dribble drive or by using quick ball reversals to get open shots.
Step 1
Set up your zone offense with three players on the perimeter and a post player on each of the blocks in the low post. This will allow you to identify what type of zone the defense is running and help you determine where to send your offensive players after the initial entry pass.
Step 2
Enter the ball to the right or left wing, depending on which way the defense is shifted. If the defense is overplaying the right side of the floor, enter the ball on the left side, but if the defense is overplaying the left side of the floor, enter the ball on the right.
Step 3
Flash your opposite post player to the ball-side elbow. For example, if the ball is entered on the left wing, have your right side low post player flash to the left elbow. One defensive player will have to cover the elbow leaving the back side of the offense open.
Step 4
Look at ball-side post players. If the low post is open, get him the ball and dive to the basket with your high post player for an easy dump pass and layup. If the low post is covered, but the high post is open, get him the ball and have him attack the basket. If the bottom defenders in the zone step up to stop penetration, have your high post player look for a drop-off pass to his low post teammate or a quick reversal pass to the back side for a open shot.
Step 5
Reverse the ball to the opposite side of the floor. If both post players are covered, quickly reverse the ball to the back side by using a skip pass that goes directly from one wing to the other. Remind your back side perimeter players to catch the ball ready to shoot or drive to the basket, as the zone defense is most vulnerable on the ball reversal. If the defense is overplaying the back side, you can reverse the ball by making a return pass to the point guard and have him make a shorter reversal pass or he can dribble to the wing and hand the ball off.
Step 6
Move the ball quickly side-to-side. On each reversal, quickly scan your post players for openings. If nothing is open, swing the ball to the opposite side of the floor. Keep forcing the defense to shift by using quick passes and ball fakes. Be ready to capitalize when the defense is late on a rotation and leaves you open for a shot or drive to the basket.
Step 7
Crash the offensive glass. Zone defenses are vulnerable to offensive rebounds because players are instructed to defend an area, not a man. When a shot goes up, have everyone except your point guard go for the rebound. Your point guard has to stay back as a last line of defense in case of a fast break by the opponent.
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