5. Middle Touches

The most popular way to beat a zone is to get the ball into the middle. I like to put someone in the middle that can do some damage, put some fear in the defense – a good shooter, my best player, or my point guard.

Going the traditional route of having a post player in the middle is good in that you’ll have a big target. But if they aren’t comfortable 15-20 from the rim, dribbling, reading the defense, making quick decisions then your offense suffers.

Now, I’m not saying never put a post player in the middle. If they can make quick decisions, understand mini advantages and hit mid range shots like these two clips then they are a great option for the middle.

The biggest thing to understand and teach your players is that once the ball enters the middle of any zone, the tendency of most defenders is to turn their head and look at the ball. That’s when you have your best chance to create mini advantages. Quick decisions are a must, whether it’s passes, cuts, shots, drives. I’d rather have a quick decision that didn’t work than have the ball to freeze in the middle giving the defense time to react.

Watch the video above to get examples of how you can attack a zone defense from the middle with a shooter, point guard or your best player.

Here are a couple of traditional plays that have a hi-low set where you can use a playmaker, shooter or point guard in the middle spots to be even more dangerous.

Half Court vs Any Zone – High-Low

Half Court vs 2-3 Zone – High-Low