Shocker - Zone Offense

 Shocker

Offense against a 2-3 or 1-3-1 zone

The diagrams above illustrate a play I call "Shocker."  This is a quick-hitting play that is effective against a 2-3 or 1-3-1 zone defense that will result in an open three-pointer on the wing or a post man slipping for a lay-up.  

1. The play is set up with the point guard handling the ball in the middle of the court midway between the three-point line and half court line, and two double stacks at the blocks: the 2 stacks with the 4, and the 3 stacks with the 5, for example.  
2. Both sets of stackers jog up to the free throw line, the 2 and 3 staying right behind the 4 and 5, then once they hit the elbow, jet out (free-throw line extended) to the wing.  It is very important for the guards to break out this way in order to "get open" to sell the defender.  
3. The guard will then throw a high pass to the forward/center at or just above the elbow.  As this happens, the guard on the side the ball enters will then "banana-cut" under the basket to the corner (or wing), while the opposite side guard and big man set a screen on the high and low men in the zone, respectively.  As soon as the guard reaches his position, the ball should be skipped from the elbow to the opposite side corner.  Timing is everything.  
4. In this zone, the center man in the zone will be forced to guard the ball at the elbow, leaving the paint to the low man being screened by the offensive guard.  If the low man fights around the screen to cover the corner, the guard setting the screen will slip and open up to the basket.  The forward/center catching the initial pass must be able to read the defense appropriately.  As long as this offensive player can make both the skip pass or a slip pass, this play should work every time.  

Needless to say, this play can't be used every time, but if used two to three times a game, you should get two to three good shots from it.