Coaches’ Corner: Going For Three vs MM or Zone Defense

Probably every coach has a go to play to get a three vs man to man defense. Maybe 70% of coaches have a go to play to get a three vs zone defenses. The tough thing is at the end of game when you need a three and you don’t know if they will be mm or zone. You have to have something that will work vs. mm or zone

Coach Anderson

We ran this late to get a three. We called it “Double.” You could the players in the spots you want to put your shooters. #2 is passing to #4. 

#5 will run a ball screen for #4. #4 could get a three or they are looking for #3 coming off the double screen. 

Coach Massey

#1 is going to dribble at #2. #2 will make a shallow cut to replace at the point. We want #2 to be our best shooter. We will have #1 pass back out to #2. It is unlikely but this simple action may be good enough vs. zone. 

#2 will immediately reverse to #3. Again, it might be vs zone that this reversal gives #3 an open shot. #1 and #4 are going to screen in versus the zone as #2 fades off the screens. 

Vs. it is MM then we make the following adjustment. We put #5 at the foul line. On the skip pass to #2, we are going to have #3 go off a screen from #5. And #5 will pop the screen.