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Get
the ball to the baseline, as it is vital to flatten out the
zone on the baseline. You need not always get a shot from
the side of the floor where you enter the offense the first
time. Patience and ball reversal versus a zone usually provide
a higher percentage shot.
-
Always
look to make passes into the high post or low post areas.
This penetrates the zone and provides opportunities for ball
reversal through the post area. Passes to the high post area
put tremendous pressure on the wing men of the zone.
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Dribble
drive the seams (gaps) in a zone. An important coaching point
here is to teach players to dribble penetrate as a passer.
Do NOT allow them to jump up and leave their feet while making
passes. It should be noted that the use of the dribble in
Motion Offense versus the zone is emphasized to a greater
extent than it is versus man-man defense.
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Always
keep a player behind the zone away from the ball. This allows
two possibilities: 1.) the quick over-the-zone pass for an
open shot or ball reversal, and 2.) the possibility of breaking
a man to the ball from behind the zone. Keeping a player behind
the zone makes the defenders constantly turn their heads to
locate players. Sometimes, zone defenders lose sight of the
man and make a defensive mistake.
-
Players
should always go to open spots on the floor and square up
to the basket if they receive the pass.
-
Pass
to any open teammate. This sounds silly, but movement of the
ball is critical versus zones along with player movement and
dribble penatration.
