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Zone defense in basketball
Zone defense corresponds to the number of players on the front of the zone working its way to the back of the zone. For example, a 2-3 zone is a zone defense in which two defenders are covering areas in the top of the zone (near the top of the key) while three defenders are covering areas near the baseline.
Other types of zone defense include:
* Match-up zone, a hybrid of man-to-man defense and zone defense where players apply man-to-man defense to whichever opposing player enters their area. Coach John Chaney, formerly of Temple University, is this defense's most famous proponent.
* Box-and-one in which four defenders are in a 2-2 zone and one defender guards a specific player on the offense. A variant of this is the triangle-and-two, in which three defenders are in a 2-1 zone and two defenders guard two specific offensive players.
* 1-3-1 Half Court Trap where a quicker, but long-limbed forward guards the ball handler , attempting to disrupt quick passes as the guards have to pass around the wingspan of the larger forward. The center stands around the free throw line, with a guard protecting the low post. The other two players stand on either side of the Center, with all 3 players keeping their arms stretched out. From many aspects it works more like a man-to-man defense, as your players wear down quicker and it is tough to shoot from the perimeter over a tall forward. This zone requires a unique player to be the ball defender.
When a team plays a zone, the defenders must keep their hands up and in passing lanes and quickly adjust their positions as the ball and the offensive players move around. Teams that successfully play zone defenses are very vocal and effectively communicate where they, the ball, and their opponents are or will be.
Teams playing a zone occasionally try to trap the ball handler, an aggressive strategy designed to double-team the player with the ball. While this tactic may cause a turnover, it leaves one or more players on the offense undefended.
Zone defenses were prohibited in the National Basketball Association prior to the 2001-2002 season. The NBA currently permits the use of zones; however, teams generally do not use them as a primary defensive strategy, and no zone defense may feature an unguarded defender inside the free-throw lane (a violation of that results in a Defensive Three-Second Violation, which is a technical foul). Zone defenses are more common in international, college, and youth competition.
