NY Knicks Show How to Attack the 2-3 Matchup Zone

After going through highlights, I found this gem showing you exactly how to beat a 2-3 zone or matchup zone. The video shows you all the key principles of beating a zone, ball-fakes, dribble penetrate the gaps, ball-reversal and slip underneath. Watch the video and then you can read my thoughts below.



First, you'll see the wing attack the middle defenders with the dribble then reverse the ball. Then you'll see Nate Robinson use the pump fake beautifully to take the defender closing on him out of the play, again he attacks the gap with the dribble. He reverses the ball again to the other wing. Now that the zone has shifted a couple of times, O4 (Chandler I believe) slips underneath the zone and the wing finds him open down low. Much like this diagram here,

It's really just a great clip. I really like attacking the zone underneath because the zone keys on the ball and it's easy for a forward or center to slip underneath. We also teach all our bigs to slip underneath for the offensive rebounds because in the zone there is no block out responsibility and it is much easier to clean up the glass.

I love the shot-fake and dribble penetration. It's amazing to see that zone shift around and by the time the ball gets to the wing the second time around, it's moved around so much they've lost 2 players underneath.

For more great ideas on attacking zone defenses, you must take a look at Coach Mike Krzyzewski's Zone Offense DVD. Coach K does a great job showing you how the fundamentals in how his Duke team attacks a 2-3 or 1-2-2. As usual, I have plenty of notes on zone offense so check out the X's and O's Basketball Forum to request them.