During the course of a basketball game there are many things that often separate a more experienced coach from someone just beginning his coaching career. Perhaps one of the more discrete (at least to the everyday fan) characteristics is one's ability or inability to make in-game adjustments.

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How to Make In-Game Adjustments Against the 2-3 Zone-hoopskills.com
How to Make In-Game Adjustments
Against the 2-3 Zone
By Dave Stricklin
http://www.hoopskills.com
During the course of a
game there are many
things that often
separate a more
experienced coach from
someone just beginning
his coaching career.
Perhaps one of the more
discrete (at least to the
everyday fan)
characteristics is one's
ability or inability to
make in-game adjustments.
When I first began my coaching career I was often lost and besieged with
everything that takes place during the course of a game. I would often be so
overwhelmed that I would tend to make important adjustments too late or worse
sometimes not at all.
However as I coached more and more games I began to recognize things a lot
faster. But I soon realized that recognizing what is taking place is only half the
battle. The real trick is learning how to adjust your offense based on what the
opposing team's defense is doing.

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How to Make In-Game Adjustments Against the 2-3 Zone-hoopskills.com
Today I am going to share with you three things you should look for when facing a
2-3 zone as well as how to adjust your offense based on these three things.
What Type Of Zone Are They Playing?
The first and easiest thing to recognize is the overall "attitude" of the zone. Is the
zone is trying to pressure (often trapping) your players; is it extending and playing
the passing lanes or are all five players sagging in trying to clog up the paint?
If the zone is pressuring:
Most likely when zones are pressuring they are trying to either A) trap the ball
handler or B) force the ball handler to put his/her head down as he dribbles the
basketball.
Solution: If the zone is trying to trap, keep the ball out of the short corner and off
the baseline. This is a prime trapping spot because the sideline/baseline can act as
another defender in the trap. Also it might be a good idea to practice driving with
your head up against pressure (you could add a kick out to the opposite wing to
emphasize to the ball handler keeping their eyes up) in the practices immediately
leading up to the game.
If the zone is extending:
When a zone is extended it can create uncertainly in the minds of the offensive
players. Is that player really open? Can I safely pass the ball to that player? Should
I not pass and instead just shoot the ball myself?
Solution: If the zone is extended there are two things your offense can do to
exploit the defense. 1) Pass the ball to the high post! When the ball is entered to

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How to Make In-Game Adjustments Against the 2-3 Zone-hoopskills.com
the high post it will force the defense to collapse around the ball. If the defense
does not collapse then your player should have an open 12-15 foot jump shot. 2)
Attack the gaps. Instruct your guards to penetrate the gaps between the
defenders. This will again force the defense to collapse which should result in a
wide open drive and kick situation.
If the zone is sagging:
If the defense is sagging generally they are doing so because your interior game is
much deadlier then your perimeter game.
Solution: This is the perfect time to run set plays or "quick hitters." When it comes
to defenders, It is human instinct to not want to give up a wide open three point
shot. Hopefully by reversing the basketball to an open shooter (after a ball
reversal or two) it will trick the defense into extending more than they are used
too. When this happens either penetrate the gaps or jam the ball inside to get a
high percentage shot.
Who covers the high post?
Realistically one of two players will be responsible for covering the high post.
First, one of the top guards could be designated to defend this area. Second, the
middle defender in the zone could be assigned this responsibility.
If the guard covers it:
Then they will not be in good position to A) prevent quick ball reversals and B)
dribble penetration.

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How to Make In-Game Adjustments Against the 2-3 Zone-hoopskills.com
Solution: Instruct your perimeter players to reverse the ball quickly and penetrate
the gaps.
If the post covers it:
Then typically the bottom forwards are instructed to collapse to the blocks and
protect the paint.
Solution: If the bottom forwards do collapse to the blocks then the corners will be
wide open. Have your shooters slide down. If they do not collapse and stay on the
perimeter then a hi-low will be wide open.
Do They Bump Off Dribble-Ups From The Corner?
A lot of offenses, both man to man and zone, try and overload one side of the
floor (having three or four players on one half of the court) in order to put the
defense at a disadvantage.
A tactic that has been used for years is to have a player on the wing, at the high
post, on the block and in the corner all on the same side. When the ball hander
dribbles up from the corner (the bottom forward will undoubtedly be matched
up) this should open up multiple scoring opportunities.
If the bottom forward stays on the ball handler:
Then have the offensive player on the block step to the short corner and receive a
pass (this will drag the middle man in the zone out of the paint). As the middle
man comes out to the short corner the high post will dive to the strong side block.
If the top guard bumps the bottom forward:

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How to Make In-Game Adjustments Against the 2-3 Zone-hoopskills.com
Then the remaining top defender is forced cover both the high post and your
other shooter. Either way you will get an open look at the basket.
The 2-3 zone defense is the most widely used zone defense in the game and so
once you are able to comfortably and quickly make proper in game adjustments
you should be able to give numerous opposing coaches and players defensive fits!