How To Beat a 2-3 Zone in Basketball

In this video I show you exactly how to beat a 2-3 zone in basketball. I’ll show you specific plays, film breakdowns, and whiteboard drawings with the best ways to attack a 2-3 defense without settling for long 3’s.
When I first started coaching 10 years ago, I looked up how to beat a 2-3 defense and I couldn’t find anything to help me out. Over the years I’ve created my own strategies and figured out the best ways to attack a 2-3 through studying the game and learning from the best coaches in the country.
I decided to share my strategies to help other coaches who are in the same position. It can be very frustrating, so I’ve put this video together to help you beat those annoying zones.
In order for us to beat a 2-3 zone defense in basketball. We first have to understand what a zone defense is used for?
A zone is put in place to do a few things. First, it keeps your offense outside on the perimeter, forces you to take deep shots, and drive into multiple defenders. A 2-3 zone also keeps the bigs from rebounding. If you a smaller line up in the game, you may go 2-3 zone to make sure there's always 2 or 3 players inside to help rebound, and 3 and most important, a 2-3 zone takes away the ability to go 1 on 1 and makes your offense work as a team.
If an offense has 1 or 2 star players, and the others don't do much, a zone may be the perfect solution to make those stars move the ball around and if they don't, they'll be going into 2 or 3 defenders and taking bad shots.
So, now that we know that the purpose of the zone is keep us the offense outside and on the perimeter, and as an offense, if we don't play extremely smart with a high basketball IQ, then a 2-3 could easily dismantle a high powered offense.
No, the answer to a zone is not to just jack 3's. That's probably why they play zone against you in the first place. At younger ages, you'll see that teams play zone because younger kids can't shoot consistently from deep.
The first key is to beating a 2-3 zone is excellent ball movement along with excellent player movement.
Great ball movement is always needed to beat a 2-3 zone defense. The ball must move quickly from player to player in order to get the defense to move.
Remember, each defender has an assigned area, and our job is to move the ball and our players quick enough to get those defenders out of their assigned areas.
[BALL MOVEMENT AND PLAYER MOVEMENT]
When beating a zone, ball movement is the number one key.
Do not waste any dribbles. Many players love to catch and dribble twice before passing, and this just allows the defense to adjust into position. The faster the ball moves, the more difficult it is on a 2-3 zone.
The key to quick ball movement is to get the defense to move. The more we get the defense to move out of there assigned area, the more openings we'll have to take advantage of.
[ATTACKING THE GAPS]
Basketball is a game of angles, and those angles are extremely important when beating a 2-3 zone defense. If you wait patiently for those gaps to open up and use the appropriate angles, you'll have easy scores all day long.
[HIGH POST]
When beating a 2-3 zone, you must have a player flash into the high post. If you're all standing on the perimeter, you're in trouble!
Once you get a flash to the high post, you can now become a threat to pass,
high low pass opposite pass, or square up to the basket and become a threat to score.
[BASELINE RUNNER]
the baseline runner is essential to beating a 2-3, this player is extremely important because he is the only player on the court that can see everyone, but not everyone can see him or her. You're watching and reading the defense from the defenses perspective which gives you the ultimate advantage.
Utilizing a player that's a great passer in this position can create easy layups or wide open shots.
You must be able to fake a pass and make a pass. Unfortunately most players are working on their euro step and therefore, they never learn how to make a great pass. This is a key to beating a zone.
In this video, I've covered how to move the ball quickly against a zone while not wasting any dribbles. We covered how to move the ball to the high post and get some high low action. Along with the flash to the high post, you can also step out and set that back screen on the top defenders. Don't forget to use your baseline runner in order to utilize the corners and short corner area.
Thank you for watching HOOPSIQ with Coach Novak.
#BEATZONE #HOOPSIQ

[@GC-ky4ym]

Very well spoken, it's amazing how many people who really enjoy the game do not know any of these core principles.

[@HoopsIQ]

G C thank you!

[@niggawithswagga7964]

@@HoopsIQ Hello there coach, why have you not uploaded any videos after this one? I would love to watch many more.

[@thewarriorearle]

So the weakness to the 2-3 zone is that if attacked correctly, it forces the defense to help which results in a man being open.

[@onlyfacts3178]

Basically 2-3 zone only works against DUMB players who dont have any basketball IQ..

[@bobniray]

Celtics need to watch this

[@kashiefhenry830]

Lol. Im watching this to understand how lakers can exploit that if they make it to the finals against miami.

[@HoopsIQ]

Lol

[@kendallboultsjr]

Miami can actually beat a zone shooting 3’s if they wanted to because they have enough shooters to pull it off😂🤷🏾‍♂️ EDIT: Their shooters are GOOD ENOUGH shooters to pull it off😂🤷🏾‍♂️

[@douss8150]

@@kendallboultsjr but now it's 2-0 eh! lol😂

[@kendallboultsjr]

Sang Yeah you’re right. My last comment didn’t age well AT ALL😂😂🤦🏽‍♂️😂

[@robshin8078]

This was a nice breakdown on how to attack the 2-3 zone. Well done!

[@byrons4]

This is a great video! I like how you've combined your clear explanations with the whiteboard and then actual vids. I appreciate the reminder that it's not just ball movement that matters, but those subtle player movements too. A simple dribble wide towards the corner flattens the bottom three and may draw that top defender a step too low, opening up short corner, mid/post, or a skip pass. It's only 1-2 simple dribbles but can easily render a zone ineffective!

[@MomoJr21]

Very well spoken, that was a amazing breakdown how to beat 2-3 zone defense

[@truelightpoolsllc4441]

Excellent video!!! I really appreciate how you use actual college footage from games to show what they were not doing correctly, where they should have moved to attack the zone, then what they actually did that caused a turnover or forced shot, etc. I had all of my players (12-13 years old) watch this video and I changed from doing a 1-3-1 against the 2-3 to this 3-2, teaching my 2 tall post players to do the X movement you describe. We went over it practice today spending over an hour on the concepts in the video, adding different layers of things to do, and the X worked especially well with multiple times the high post dumping it down low after receiving the ball and facing the basket! That's real basketball they are learning and we have a game tomorrow night we will run this offense and ball movement in. Thanks again, I'm excited to see it work tomorrow night and beyond!

[@cbtrece76]

Thank you for this video. Great work. We'll be using this for our practices and playoffs coming soon. Thank you for your explanations and time!

[@stevenlee9064]

best video on 2-3 zones i have seen so far. Thank you.

[@JoeVago]

Excellent analysis. Keep up the great work.

[@harrynovak6296]

Very impressive video. It helped my coaching strategies. Please give us more. Thank you.

[@brianbadillo1303]

Good stuff. I like teaching the READ and REACT that Rick Torbett coaches. Pass cut fill. Great video!

[@humbertoestrellamasivaq.2508]

Good strategy!!! Fine solutions. That's fundamental.

[@jamarhlee]

Loved it. Great examples explaining what you are talking about from real life video footage. It brings a great level of understanding.

[@HoopsIQ]

jamarhlee I appreciate it

[@chrismeek4069]

Nice work Dave! Really enjoyed the video

[@choiboii2106]

awesome explanation. thanks!

[@oldmanballer5088]

Excellent video from a retired ball coach! Love it

[@jigmetstenzin3174]

AMAZING LESSON , KEEP MAKING SUCH VIDEOS. I AM VERY EXCITED TO WATCH MORE FROM YOU. MAKE MORE ON FUNDAMENTALS OFFENCE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[@HoopsIQ]

Thank you, I’ll get to work on it!

[@erickrolo]

Great teaching, thanks for the valuable lesson

[@allenwcuffiajr9658]

Much agreed with everyone else....great way to articulate the process of breaking down offense vs. 2-3 defense. Was looking for simple ways to teach this to elementary school kids; think I found it. Thank you

[@HoopsIQ]

Great, thank you!

[@santiagocardonagalvis322]

Great video coach , i really needed that !!!

[@HoopsIQ]

Awesome, thanks!

[@chidiobi6529]

Excellent content 👌🏾

[@DaveKaushagenDavesYourGuy]

Great analysis and presentation! Thank you!

[@HoopsIQ]

Thank you!

[@nidotalen255]

So beautifully explained....love it..gonna try this one✌

[@HoopsIQ]

Thanks for the support!

[@PanamaYouthBasketball]

Thanks a lot for such amazing feedback Coach ... we starting with a prep school group tomorrow this will definetly be part of the process ... open spaces and screens against the zone D ... love it!

[@HoopsIQ]

Where are you located?

[@nooriyaafghan8387]

This is one of the most best illustrated video... It made a sense.. Thanks alot..

[@HoopsIQ]

Thank you so much! 🙏

[@judanNjudan]

Thank you Coach. Valuable basketball science.🏀

[@HoopsIQ]

Yessir!

[@jemostinson]

Spot on Coach! 💯💯

[@HoopsIQ]

I appreciate it!

[@NelSon-gv9nl]

Awesome video!!!!

[@hezii2960]

This taught me a lot

[@non343]

Thanks coach. I'll implement it.

[@HoopsIQ]

Nice!

[@HoopsIQ]

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[@garycoffey4096]

Very good Breakdown

[@benjenkincpa]

Excellent video. Thanks.

[@HoopsIQ]

Glad you liked it!

[@dannyfoo]

Thank you for this video and explanation. Very helpful for someone like me trying to pick up the game better.

[@HoopsIQ]

Thanks for watching

[@MrAndrejing]

Superb Analysis of the game of basketball. Nice one Coach.

[@HoopsIQ]

Thanks AJ

[@jeffmcknight6540]

Good job breaking this down! Really like the 131 and X approaches to getting into the middle. Most guards DO stay up too high, and they pass around without looking inside orto the corners. This makes it too easy for the zone D to rest and wait for the drive or 3 pointer.

[@HoopsIQ]

Glad it was helpful!

[@marvinstheman88]

To be simple, get that cutter into high post. If the ball gets in there, the defense is in trouble. You can hit high-lows, easy kick-outs, or they have to concede a one on one inside. Also, when you make a pass, especially inside, relocate. Especially for guards, it's easy for the defense to help the inside if they know you're staying in one spot. If you relocate, they either have to move with you or most often, they turn their head to look inside and lose sight of you. Most teams use two bigs, alternating between the short corner and the high post. It helps keep your offense dynamic instead of static.

[@grindhard4312]

Exactly how we played it in highschool!!

[@Kevinschart]

i always thought this stuff was just common knowledge.

[@apuyepius7588]

I would definitively recommend this video to every hooper... great video

[@HoopsIQ]

I appreciate that!

[@jmmachiuraraka5580]

Wow I just love about zone defense and how to beat this. Thanks ! Coach Greeting from philippines🙂

[@HoopsIQ]

Wow! Thank you

[@thesingularity1010]

Excellent summary.

[@HoopsIQ]

Thank yiu

[@johansahlberg8039]

The end ties it together beautifully - "players that are highly aware" - we got stymied yesterday by a 2-3 zone because we stopped reading the defence and just continued driving into 2-3 solid defenders. Tonights practice will be all about moving with and without the ball and finding the gaps and angles. Thanks a lot, its inspiring!

[@HoopsIQ]

Oh dang!! I hope it’s a great practice tonight!

[@johansahlberg8039]

@@HoopsIQ just back, excellent focus tonight, moving and passing distinctly and with lots of creativity. Thanks again! #swedenbasketball

[@emmitta.dorsey8122]

I like the entire segment thank you.

[@HoopsIQ]

I appreciate it

[@curry-hk9zm]

Could you do a video on how to beat a 3-2 zone defense?

[@brianboler189]

I'm currently a junior in highschool trying to improve my basketball IQ to help improve my game and hopefully get some scouts for me to continue playing, and I wanted to say thank u cause I never knew there were so many ways to break a 2-3 zone until I saw this video so thank you for that

[@jaloopaz]

I’m a freshman and our seasons cancelled and I can’t improve my physical game because of quarantine but I can improve my iq. I’ve struggled breaking a 2-3 and this video helped a lot for me as well.

[@Robotto135]

Upload more videos please this helped me so much

[@kennethyip4659]

awesome video !

[@HoopsIQ]

Thanks!

[@tjedwards4254]

Excellent quality

[@HoopsIQ]

Thanks TJ

[@stephenvance4867]

I really wish I had found this video about a week ago. We just lost because of a 2-3 zone and this would have been super helpful.

[@byrons4]

Haha, I'm in the same boat! But at least we'll hopefully use these principles in our rematch next week.

[@niellysontiongzon9292]

Same lmao

[@polop7361]

@@byrons4 you win?

[@user-et4ng6vz6y]

Awesome explanation 😤

[@HoopsIQ]

Thanks!

[@turnpike_sime9897]

Watched this thursday had a game today. Had 26…. Appreciate you 💪🏾

[@HoopsIQ]

Nice work!

[@kerimsemsiyeci148]

Thank you coach igor

[@HoopsIQ]

Thank you

[@tyetye9138]

Yes sir coach Morgan I watched

[@sneadw123]

great video!

[@HoopsIQ]

Thanks!

[@danielharris5343]

great vid

[@brianmaphar9685]

Great video. Been playing basketball for 25 years and coaching for 15. We learned all this, so long ago. We basically use X most, to get the high post open. Like a can opener. Personally I dont like the height of the 3 defenders. Way too much space behind them for easy backdoor cuts. Again, great vid and explaination.

[@HoopsIQ]

Thanks Brian, where do you coach?

[@brianmaphar9685]

@@HoopsIQ i coached youth in The Netherlands, from 1994-2009. Different ages, mostly U12-U16. Liked it a lot. Now, living in Canada, i try to help coach our HS team

[@emmanuelvgeorge9883]

Great video sir Can u please post one video on how to run 2 3 defense effectively against this videos setplays

[@christianvondungen12]

I just found this video. Fantastically explained. I will definitely implement this in my team practice. Greetings from Germany

[@HoopsIQ]

Thank you!

[@HoopsIQ]

🙏

[@tomascastillo7118]

thanks coach

[@HoopsIQ]

Your welcome!

[@BrandonYoungMusic]

dang putting ville on blast like that. crazy good video though!!

[@HoopsIQ]

I appreciate it!! Thx

[@YourTechHomeboy]

Great instruction

[@HoopsIQ]

Thx

[@craigvanaken5228]

Very well done video! Principals will work from youth to College. Personally my fav way to beat a zone is utilizing that short corner. If your guards can see the open spots around the perimeter its hard to stop.

[@Kevinschart]

i learned all this stuff in middle school. i never understood why college teams struggle with these basic fundamentals

[@MeLoNHeAd00]

Baseline cutter is my favorite way to do it !

[@HoopsIQ]

Excellent

[@jermainemagee6035]

Great video

[@HoopsIQ]

Thank you

[@edwardjericbarrientos9124]

my coach before used to have the biggest guy who can shoot a jump shot make a hard cut on the freethrow line. he can either shoot if the defense didnt commit to him or drop pass to the cutter from the baseline if he absorbed the defense. that high post is i think the best way to beat this zone defense

[@rakhunuhepptaylor2135]

Reminds me of the Triangle Offense.

[@dominiquemacdon8902]

Great videos...

[@HoopsIQ]

Thank you

[@aaronjohnson6622]

Against this Syracuse zone I suggest keeping the ball up top while having two offensive players baseline near the basket. One of them sets a back pick on the defender closest to the basket and the other offensive player on baseline will have an alleyoop.

[@HoopsIQ]

Sounds like a good plan!

[@torontomatrix3284]

Love what you are doing and it's very insightful can you speak about attacking the extended zone defenses where they trap you at half or just passed half

[@HoopsIQ]

Thank you. Do you mean, how to attack against a 3-2 half court trap?

[@torontomatrix3284]

HoopsIQ 2-3 extended 3-2 extended half court trap. 1-3-1 half court trap or 1-3-1 zone and etc

[@omarzazanolari6121]

Hi Coach Novak! That's a great video! Can you do a video to explain how zone defense works? Thank you for your amazing job!

[@HoopsIQ]

Thanks, I appreciate it

[@hieunguyen4124]

This exactly what i teach my boys Love it !!

[@HoopsIQ]

Great! Thank you!

[@r.forrestblount9222]

Enjoyed the video. Defensively in the 2-1-2 my high school has added some defensive slides to attempt to cover some of these offensive techniques. When the ball is in the wing we've dropped the weak side top defender into the high lane under the foul line to take away the flasher to the high post. We've put the middle defender over the the strong block rather than in the mid lane to allow him to close on the corner shooter when the ball side baseline defender gets pulled high. We rotate weak side defenders toward the strong block to cover what the middle defender closing out to the corner leaves open behind him. Wing ball defenders push ball handler toward baseline corner on dribble penetration. Corner ball defenders push ball handler toward a strong side dropped wing defender on dribble penetration. We sit on top of off ball screens. Defending on ball screens is a little complicated to explain here. All defenders close on ball flight to bent-arm touch on the perimeter ball handler. With our slides no defender is ever more than 12 to 15 feet away away from his close out responsibility, unless the receiver is 2 or 3 steps behind the 3 point line. When shooter is there, we emphasize that the slide is just one step farther from bent-arm on ball defensive position than usual. We attempt to take away everything with our slides and defensive anticipation. We have generally been able to hold 70 to 80 pt per game teams to 35 points on a good defensive night to 50 points on a poor defensive night. We have to do this as our offensive abilities are compromised. People don't like playing us.

[@rakhunuhepptaylor2135]

Thanks for this. That would make an excellent video as well.

[@mikebilly4599]

When are you going to come out with more videos? Your How to beat a 2-3 Zone is EXCELLENT!

[@HoopsIQ]

New video coming out today!

[@britfilipinoeditor]

It's all about experience or talent to have the big A!

[@zDuKeMaNz]

I love using 5-out and having the wings drive hard. I coach youth though and it’s much more simple for them to understand and to operate

[@HoopsIQ]

That’s interesting

[@Smoke1Kas]

I'ma gamer and my crew play pro am etc I find these videos very helpful for us to create and execute and thankful for these.

[@HoopsIQ]

That's awesome! I didn't know it could help with 2k

[@Smoke1Kas]

@@HoopsIQ oh most definitely, we try to run defensive plays etc

[@unstoppablemd7102]

Please upload more stuff, it's really very much helpful

[@HoopsIQ]

I added a new workout in the Training Program for you. I’ll get some new videos on here ASAP. They take time to produce

[@unstoppablemd7102]

@@HoopsIQ ok thanks

[@unstoppablemd7102]

I wanted to speak to you personally, if it could happen than I would be greatfull to me

[@HoopsIQ]

unstoppable MD you can email me at [e-mail] and I’ll get right back to you!

[@cecilcaceres2752]

hi coach am new to coaching. am learning through your video. from the philippines. coach cecil caceres

[@HoopsIQ]

Excellent, thank you! You'll love coaching!

[@williamhollowell3270]

Good stuff

[@HoopsIQ]

Thank you

[@marvinsmasive]

Love it!

[@akray1153]

Stephen Curry has murdered and destroyed a 2-3 forever with his off the ball movement tendency and crazy shooting ability,you just can't keep him outta the game. He's changed basketball forever

[@Football_proz]

Thanks

[@HoopsIQ]

Yessir!

[@robertbates1485]

brilliant

[@HoopsIQ]

Thank you

[@jayallen11]

Great video! Are you going to be making more videos in the future?

[@HoopsIQ]

New video coming out today!

[@grindhard4312]

Zone actually is the easiest defense to beat! Ball fakes and bounce passes! We ran a play in highschool called "short corner" where we just worked the high and low post. We flashed the high post which was always our 1st score option. Quent make a couple of those turn around 15footers the defense usually would start to over commit. After that it was whatever we wanted to do. They over commit the high post, Quent or Gee would back door for the dunk! It was easy. If they shrink inward trying to stop the "high-low" pass then Silk or I was open for the 3ball. It's similar to what your calling "X" here! R.I.P. Gee!! 36-4 '97 STATE CHAMPS

[@noblesbasketball]

Thank you

[@HoopsIQ]

My pleasure. What else would you like to see in the next video?

[@noblesbasketball]

@@HoopsIQ How to overcome full court press

[@HoopsIQ]

NOBLES.BASKETBALL Here’s my latest video on how to break a full court press: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2SYoJWLm86XgaM

[@rakhunuhepptaylor2135]

Can you do 1) on how to beat Texas Tech's defense 2) on how to run the Texas Tech's defense 3)on how to defend the triangle offense on it's variable entries 4) on how to run the triangle offense with it's variable entries 5) how to run the Triangle offense to generate three pointers consistently.

[@HoopsIQ]

I love the suggestions. Thank you!

[@rakhunuhepptaylor2135]

@@HoopsIQ You are welcome. Looking forward to seeing those videos.

[@tyleranderson1168]

Could you share some drills you run to practice the strategies. Thanks

[@HoopsIQ]

Yeah, great idea. I’ll get on it

[@michael95621]

I knew ball and player movement was how you beat a zone. I didn't know that high screens on/off ball could be effective at creating space. I always figured screens were pretty useless against a zone as there's no switching going on.

[@HoopsIQ]

Yeah, screens can be very effective if done in the correct areas

[@HoopsIQ]

Which technique are you going to use on your team?

[@brianmassey5019]

Can you break down to beat 3-2 and 1-2-2 zone

[@elbutch7486]

Brian massey , when the ball moves from the top to a wing, all zones become a 2-3. Draw it up and see. So all these techniques can be used effectively against all zones.

[@HoopsIQ]

El Butch yep, these are some principles that can be used against most zone defenses

[@wanilimbe]

@Christen Foster 5 out doesn’t work with a bad team

[@that_dude_tk7327]

Hey question why did u private ur video of devin booker moves?

[@markheneghan8340]

Fake a pass to make a pass very seldom used against zone defense. Great way to break zone

[@grindhard4312]

Exactly!! We ran a play in highschool similar to what he's calling "X" here! Ours was called "short corner"!!

[@32Kmac]

Can you do a video on beating the 1-3-1 zone?

[@HoopsIQ]

Yep, will work on that asap

[@DrJamesBarnum]

I was hoping to see more videos from you, wassup?

[@HoopsIQ]

Yo! I'm workin on it!

[@brianmassey5019]

Can you break down how to beat 1-2-2 and 3-2 zone

[@curry-hk9zm]

Yes please @HoopsIQ

[@FauzanRamadhan]

Break down 1 on 1 defense and 1-2-2 defense please

[@HoopsIQ]

New video for 1-2-2 coming out today!

[@BlackMamba-tf5hy]

Nice

[@HoopsIQ]

Thank you

[@BlackMamba-tf5hy]

@@HoopsIQ welcome

[@lincolnmorris9373]

On my team we run double and on my other team we just play

[@HoopsIQ]

What is double?

[@btriche20]

Zone is best When you have 2 6’8-6’9 long armed athletes 1 6’11 smart shot blocker 2 6’3-6’5” active guards who can defend 1 on 1 and can get deflections Also, adjustments to the offense and their attack.. Goal is to have 35-42gf percentage from oppenent

[@HoopsIQ]

Yeah, good points

[@jump25ontoast]

10:30 set play

[@kimlong2179]

Can I translate this video? It is an honor.

[@FauzanRamadhan]

Please make more videoss