While it is important to teach your players how to play against a zone defense, it’s also very important to have a good basketball zone play in your aresenal to help you beat any zone defense. The Inbounds Box Set is a box zone play that is run on the baseline out of bounds. It’s a great combination play that has some lob features, and also a flare screen for the 3 point shot.

Breaking Down the Basketball Zone Play: Inbounds Box Set

The Setup:

– Set up 5 players in a box alignment – 3 on one side of the box and 2 on the other side.

– On the 3 man side, the man in the middle should be a player that you are comfortable throwing the lob pass to, with a guard behind him, and the forward taking the ball out of bounds.

– On the 2 man side, the player in the front is the center, and with the 3 point shooter/guard behind him.

Option 1: Box Against The Zone

– The forward who is out of bounds will receive the ball from the official, the closest man (the player in the middle) will v-cut and step to the corner.

– The two guards exchange positions, and the middle will pass to the first guard, who will then pass to the second guard.

– The center will flash high, and a ball reversal will set up a back screen for the corner man for a lob against the zone.

– You are looking for that player who is coming off the back screen. If you are able to screen the zone defender who covered the corner, you might be able to throw the ball over the top for a layup.

Option 2: Flare Screen for the shooter on top

– Using the same setup, the middle will v-cut and step to the corner.

– The two guards exchange positions, and the middle will pass to the first guard, who will then pass to the second guard.

– Look for the back screen lob and if there is nothing there, the second guard will flare screen to the first guard who has moved to the corner, and he will then throw an over the top pass for the 3 point shot.

 

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