Zone offense (DDM principles)

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VA - Reel 2 Real Feat.The Mad Stuntman - I Like To Move It

Coach,

I often see young coaches who try to copy a system of play such as Coach Calipari's Dribble Drive against zone without fully understanding the most important factors in executing an offensive attack.  While I'm not extremely knowledgable about his particular attack I will say that any zone attack must have the following things; 1) court balance, 2) good ball movement (even if it is a dribble drive attack), 3) involve all 5 players in the attack in some fashion where they are all threats to score, 4) have players who can execute the most basic fundamental of most zone attacks (draw a second defender to open up a teammate), 5) players moving to open spots when the zone defense can be collapsed whether by pass, screen or dribble, 6) you have an offensive presence on the glass on each missed shot, 7) Involve the interior post players as a threat near the basket to take some pressure off the perimeter, and 8) defensive balance protecting your own basket against a slip out and easy score.  Just as important is the ability to knock down open shots.  No matter how much you dribble drive and dish, if the open man can't make the shot, it won't matter what you run.  I see too many coaches and team today practice their zone offenses without practice enough shooting.  The first goal of basketball is to make the shot, never lose sight of that in your practices.

If I were to run a dribble drive attack I would work on stretching the defense to open up penetration lanes by pulling my players about 15-18' feet apart to create the best spacing possible.  When a player drives to draw there should be some player filling in behind for a shot in case the defense collapses.  Other wing players should fade or fill open spots on the court away from the help defenders on penetration and where it's nearly impossible for another zone defender to close out and challenge the shot.  I would include, at least at times, some type of back screening action on a fade player to keep defenders and their court responsiblities honest.  When you have to be focused on penetration at you and a back screen away from you, something is going to give.

I would also give my players a two dribble rule on penetration.  If they couldn't draw a second defender and dish, or split a zone to bring up a big man defender (thereby leaving somebody under open) then I would teach pass, or kick the ball to a teammate.  In any man-to-man offense anyone taking more than two dribbles to get to the basket is wasting dribbles and inherently missing an open teammate.  So why allow a zone attacker more than 2 dribbles for the same reason.  Plus two or less dribbles gives defenders less time to react and recover positions.  Three dribbles almost always results in a turnover, charge, or loss of passing lanes.

Finally, I am not a particularly big fan of the drive and dish offenses.  I believe they have evolved in popularity because coaches at higher levels believe they are less complicated and allow their players who are superior athletes to attack and overpower lesser defenders.  However I also see teams with less than superior athleticism attemtping to be drive and dish teams and to me that doesn't make sense.  In addition, when a zone defense can "inhibit" penetration, there is little constructively left to execute against a zone.  I believe there are many good zone offensive attacks that have more than ample opportunities to allow drive and dish concepts within a more diverse zone attack structure.  Other coaches might not agree, but I'm a little old school about zone attack.  Whatever you run against a zone it should consistently generate 3 on 2 attack triangles through passing, screening or ball penetration because THAT is the goal of any good zone attack.