Zone Basketball Plays
OFFENSES vs ZONE
Half-Court
Offense vs 1-3-1 Zone, 2-3 Set, Lob for 4 
Offense vs 1-3-1 Zone, Corners
Offense vs 1-3-1 Zone, Motion Offense
Offense vs 1-3-1 Zone, Post Up for 4
Offense vs 1-3-1 Zone, Post Up for 5
Offense vs 1-3-1 Zone, Skip Pass
Offense vs 2-3 Zone, 1-2-2 Set, Lob for 2
Offense vs 2-3 Zone, 1-2-2 Set, Lob for 3
Offense vs 2-3 Zone, 1-2-2 Set, Screen for 3
Offense vs 2-3 Zone, 1-2-2 Set, Screen for 4
Offense vs 2-3 Zone, 1-3-1 Set, High-Low
Offense vs 2-3 Zone, 1-3-1 Set, Screen for 4
Offense vs 2-3 Zone, 4 Low, Overload
Offense vs 2-3 Zone, 4 Out, Shot for 2
Offense vs 2-3 Zone, 4 Out, Shot for 3
Offense vs 2-3 Zone, 4 Out, Screen for 4
Offense vs 2-3 Zone, 5 Out, Shot for 1
Offense vs 2-3 Zone, Ball Screen
Offense vs 2-3 Zone, Corner Shot
Offense vs 2-3 Zone, Dive for 5
Offense vs 2-3 Zone, Double Ball Screen
Offense vs 2-3 Zone, Double Screen for 1
Offense vs 2-3 Zone, Line, Ball Screen for 2
Offense vs 2-3 Zone, Post Entry
Offense vs 2-3 Zone, Shot for 2
Offense vs 3-2 Zone, 1-3-1 Set
Offense vs 3-2 Zone, 1-3-1 Set (option 2)
Offense vs 3-2 Zone, 1-4 Set (option 1)
Offense vs 3-2 Zone, 1-4 Set (option 2)
Offense vs 3-2 Zone, 5 Out, Shot for 1
Offense vs 3-2 Zone, Motion Offense
Offense vs 3-2 Zone, Overload (option 2)
Offense vs 3-2 Zone, Overload (option 3)
Offense vs 3-2 Zone, Post Up for 5
Offense vs 3-2 Zone, Shot for 1
Offense vs 3-2 Zone, Shot for 2 (option 1)
Offense vs 3-2 Zone, Shot for 2 (option 2)
Offense vs Any Zone, 1-2-2 Set Motion Offense
Offense vs Any Zone, 4 Out Motion Offense
Offense vs Any Zone, 5 Out Motion Offense (option 1)
Baseline
vs 2-3 Zone - 4 Across, Ball Screen
vs 2-3 Zone - 4 Across, Corners
vs 2-3 Zone - 4 Low, Shot for 3
vs 2-3 Zone - Box, Around the Horn
vs 2-3 Zone - Box, Around the Horn Fake
vs 2-3 Zone - Box, Ball Screen for 1
vs 2-3 Zone - Box, Shot for Inbounder
vs 2-3 Zone - Line, Dive for 4
vs 2-3 Zone - Staggered, Shot for 2
vs 2-3 Zone - Staggered, Shot for Inbounder
vs 2-3 Zone - Y Formation, Corners
vs 2-3 Zone - Y Formation, Dive for 3
vs 2-3 Zone - Y Formation, Dive for 5
vs Box & 1 Defense
When the focus is your guard who can shoot.
Without seeing your players and their skillsets, it is difficult to recommend plays that will work for your team against a box and one. I've tried to narrow it down so you can make decisions based on the skills your players possess.
Using your best guard as a screener first...
In general, against a box and one I love using the person that’s being denied (your best guard) as a screener. Nobody is there to help or switch. If a good screen is set it’s as good as setting a screen on two people. Unfortunately, that leaves you with your less skilled players to make plays but hopefully they will have lots of space to do some damage and force your opponent to get out of that defense.
1-2-2 Set - Shot for 3 - your best guard is the ‘3’.
Using double screens (the screeners’ defenders may cheat and leave the screener open)…
4 Out - Shot for 1 (option 1) - your best guard is the ‘1’.
Horns - Shot for 3 (option 2) - your best guard is the ‘3’.
Thinking a bit outside the box, put your best guard in the high post for these plays (the ‘4’ location)…
This 5 out motion offense is great against man defense, zone defense and box and one or face guarding – especially if you’re going positionless. I’d stick with progression 1 and 2 only...
If your best guard is a good driver...
When the focus is your post player.
I usually recommend using a man to man offense against a box and one, but your situation is unique since they are focused on your post player.
As I mentioned above, against a box and one I love using the person that’s being denied (your post player) as a screener. Nobody is there to help or switch. If a good screen is set it’s as good as setting a screen on two people. Unfortunately, that leaves you with your less skilled players to make plays but hopefully they will have lots of space to do some damage and force your opponent to get out of that defense.
Continuous offenses…
Offense vs Any Zone, 5 Out Motion Offense (option 2)
5 out motion offenses that will spread out the box and force the defense to adjust or switch to something else. I’d stick with progression 1 only:
Offense vs Any Zone, 5 Out Motion Offense (option 1)
Traditional high-low offenses may work as well. When the ball goes to the middle make sure you add cutters going to the basket. Most defenders turn and look at the ball when it goes to the middle and are susceptible to back door cuts…
Offense vs Any Zone, 1-2-2 Set Motion Offense
Overload one side of the box and have your post player away from the overload…
The flex motion offense may work as well…
A couple quick hitters with your post player setting a ball screen. I like these options because there is nobody to guard the ball handler if a good screen is set…
1-4 Set - Double Ball Screen (option 2)
This play is showing a 2-3 zone defense but the play itself will be good for a box and one as well:
ZONE DEFENSES
** For simplicity we show all our plays in the traditional sense:
- 1 = point guard
- 2 = shooting guard
- 3 = small forward
- 4 = power forward
- 5 = center
However, we absolutely do not recommend staying in that box. If you see a play that we have illustrated for a shooting guard but you’d rather put your great shooting center in that role then that’s what you should do. Adaptability will be key to your success as a coach.
