Attacking the 2-3 Zone Defense

I found a good article about what to do against the 2-3 zone defense, which is what all of our opponents run. Conveniently, it involves running a 1-3-1 offense, which we already do.

http://www.coachesclipboard.net/BeatThe212.shtml

The first section ("Over-shift the Zone using a 1-3-1 Set") is the most simple and interesting. It emphasizes moving the ball as quickly as possible to keep the defense off balance. I think this is what we should run (when we're not setting up for a 3 in a play like Ken mentioned in the comments discussion), as it is simple and flexible.

Box Score: Bullets 34 City 42

The box score is now online here:
http://www.hkmbl.com/modules.php?name=2006Schedule&func=gamedetail&gid=31

It shows we pretty much lost every quarter by just two points (and that they screwed my stats again! JK) . If we cut down on a few mistakes, and we're right there with them.

0-1, But showing some potential...

Good effort everyone! We hung tough with a tough team, and fought back despite being down early. A couple foul calls our way or a shot that didn't roll out, and we could have taken it.

However, we made some mistakes, especially on defense. When D1 pushes the offensive player to the side, the guard (D2 in the picture below) on opposite side has to move over to cover the high post. We didn't do that, and the defender on the strong side had to choose between the high post and the shooter on elbow, who killed us with 3's.



I also suggest we start trapping halfcourt from the beginning, as our passive defense on the start was pretty ineffective.

On offense, we stopped going to our high post game, later in the game, and we stalled, with everyone standing on the perimeter. Also, we don't have to go to the strong side the whole time- we can swing back around to the weak side, where Andy can post up. We didn't swing the ball enough. I'm thinking we can scrap the play for now, and run a simple high low post with shooters on both sides. Then we can go to both posts and play inside-out.

Everyone please post comments on what we can improve for next game. I want everyone's opinion.

Game 1, Sunday 3-26 vs CITY

Our first game is tomorrow, from 6-7 pm. Let's meet up at least a half hour before (5:30pm) to warm up.

The game is at 渣華道體育館 in North Point, near the MTR. The address is:3/F., 99 Java Road, North Point, and its off MTR exit A1.

Map: http://www.pbase.com/hkeba/image/17619536/original

Practice and Comments

If it's not raining, we're planning on playing at Southorn Playground in Wan Chai tomorrow from 8-10. Since we were practically running a fast break drill for two hours yesterday, hopefully we can take it easy (try not to get hurt) and work on our half court sets.

Was good to get in a "practice" finally yesterday- we did pretty well in the beginning, particularly in pressuring the other team, and then got tired and left some holes on defense. A couple observations:

1) Since it worked so well in the beginning, we ended up trapping the whole time, rather than staying in a normal defense. Unfortunately we sometimes left big holes at the FT line and corner. If we're trapping the correct way, D4 has to move up every time and cover the FT line. If the ball goes to the corner, one of the inside guys has to run out to contest, while the other defends the basket.

2) We should try the normal defense next time where only D1 presses and D2 and D3 stay at the FT line until the ball moves to the side.

3) On offense, we ran a play a few times in the beginning and never went back to it. We don't have to run it exactly, but its important that one inside player is on the high post, and the other is on the opposite low post- it opened things up for everyone.

4) Guards (O1 or O2) should cut after the first pass every time. If O1 passes to O2, he should cut to the basket and set a pick for O5 on the baseline. If O4 gets the ball in the high post, O2 should cut baseline and score or set the pick.

5) I think its better for us to hold the ball or shoot rather than force a tough pass. Easy passes only, b/c turnovers are killers in this league.

2-2-1 Half Court Press

Here is Ken's suggestion about trapping in the half court.

Also, I'm including a link to a page that diagrams what he's describing: http://www.coachesclipboard.net/221HalfCourtPress.shtml :

"The half court trap is a very useful way to create turnovers for the opposition. I think we have the talent to be a very good trapping team due to our quickness.

Basically, the point (1) plays the opposition's point once the ball is in play from their own end, trying to force the opp point to either side of the court.

We will have our other guard (2) and our small forward (3) wait one-to-two feet behind the half-court line on either side,waiting for the trap. Once their point crosses the half-court line on either side, our related player (either 2 or 3 depending on which side), will step forward and help our point trap the opp in the corner, so he can't go back, or else it's over-and-back.

Once the trap is on, the otherside's trapper (either 2 or 3) will move to the half-court circle and cover the pass in the middle. Our power forward (4) and our center (5) will move up to the 3 point line to cover the pass there. We will try to force the 'trapped' person to either dribble out (which is very unlikely), or make a pass through us (or above our 4 and 5), which is also not easy to achieve, since we have quick legs for big guys.

If we can successfully imply this trapping system, I think we will have a good set-play at the end of games, should we find ourselves behind."

Also, I found animated versions of the two sets I described before:
Offense 1-3-1 : http://www.jes-basketball.com/animated/poffense1-3-1continuityzoneman.html

Defense 1-2-2 : http://www.jes-basketball.com/animated/pdefensezone1-2-2halfcourtzone.html

Offense 1-3-1

We haven't practiced yet, so there's only time for one offensive set. In a 1-3-1, one of the 2 big guys (O4 and O5) will always be in the high post on the strong side, and the other will always be in the low post on the weak side.



Here is the breakdown of each person's role.

O4 (Andy, Ken, Vincent) is the key to the play. From the high post, you do two things- either you receive the ball from O1 (or O2) or you set a pick for him. If you receive the ball, either attack or pass to the open man down low or to the wing.

O1 (initially Thomas, RickyY, or whoever's playing point) decides which side to run the play and can get the ball to O4 or run a pick and roll with him. If he is covered, you can pass to O2 and cut to the basket immediately. You can then get the return pass from O2 and score. If you don't get the pass, set a back-pick for O5 under the basket and then run to the opposite wing. Here is the diagram:



O5 cuts baseline across the basket off a pick from O1 and looks for a pass from O2.

O2Can shoot or drive if open, or pass to O4 in the high post or to O1 or O5 near the basket.

O3 moves to the top and becomes O1 once O1 makes his cut.

Here's a link describing the play:
http://www.coachesclipboard.net/Motion1.shtml

* Images are from basketball-plays-and-tips.com

Defense: 1-2-2 Zone

As I mentioned before, we're thinking about trying a zone with 3 guys up front to cover the shooters rather than the normal 2-3 that everyone else uses. Here's the setup:

D4 and D5 will be our bigger guys (Andy, Ken, Vincent, maybe Thomas and Michael sometimes), who will cover penetration and block shots.

D1 (RickyY, RickyW, Charles) will stay at the top and pressure the point guard

D2 and D3 (Thomas, Michael, RickyW, Charles, Theo, Vincent) stay on the elbows until the ball goes to the wing, and then they come up to play man-to man. There are two areas of concern for the defense: The corners and the high post (around the ft line).

If the ball goes into the corner, the guards (D1&D2) slide over, and D2 has to go to the foul line and covers the weakside in case the ball swings back around, or someone cuts:



If the other team tries to get position in the high post, D2 and D3 have to try to deny him the ball and get ready to come out if the ball gets swung to the wing:

The guards have to be aware to rotate the entire defense, and the Forwards/Centers have to cover any breakdowns inside. We can also trap O1 and O2 if they have the ball on the side.

* Images are from basketball-plays-and-tips.com

Practice

Okay, our first game is a week away so we should get together and play at least once as a team. We're planning on playing twice this week as practice:

On Wednesday 3/22 from 9-11pm HKEBA indoors in Sheung Wan for pickup games (40 HKD).

On Friday 3/24, outdoor court, at Wanchai or Balmar.

First game

Our first game is on March 26th, at North Point 渣華道體育館.

We're lucky enough to be playing three time league champions City. Some of us have played them before. They move the ball and are deadly with midrange jumpers, so we're thinking about playing a 3-2 zone on defense instead of the normal 2-3 (more on that later).

Summer 2008 Roster

15 C Ken "Arch" Ng (Captain)
21 G Charles
7 F Andy
2 F Ming Chuang
24 G L. Lee
99 G Ricky "Achilles" Yuen
9 C T.S. 3Jang Ho
14 F Mark Lai
22 G Rocky Tsoi
8 F Ryan Tong
1 G Harris Shim
3 G Norman Li
00 F Snoopy

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