Installing the matchup zone. (Basketball).

Part 2

THE MATCHUP ZONE we introduced last month is the most perplexing half-court defense in the game and I can't say enough good things about it. It requires only one season and offseason to learn. Not a bad investment!

I start with a defensive overload drill that best simulates the physical and mental demands of the matchup: jumping to the ball, helping and recovering, and fronting both the cutters and the post. We finish this segment of practice by running 5-on-6 or 5-on-7 and challenge the defense to closeout on every catch, pressure every shot, and deny all offensive rebounds.

If you have less than 12 players in practice, you can always run 4-on-6 or 4-on-5. What's important is to challenge the defensive players to read, recognize, and communicate (particularly by calling "ball" on every catch).

A difficult but achievable goal would be two or three "stops" (a pressured shot that is missed with no offensive rebound) before the defensive group can go on offense. The repetition of this drill will help your team develop a feel for knowing where to go on both ball and the opponents movement.

What alignment should you use? Let's consider this through the process of elimination. As the possession begins, the matchup must cover the ball in the middle of the floor.

If you start in a 2-3 alignment, your players will have to slide into a 1-2 alignment, at least out on top. The advantage of disguising this from the opposition by starting in a 2-3 is outweighed by the potential confusion you create for your own team. If you don't get to these spots quickly enough, one of the two wings will be open for a quick 3.

Where do the other two play? Putting two players, probably your 4 and 5, on the baseline and playing a 1-2-2 will make you vulnerable to open 3's or baseline penetration from the corner, particularly with your 5 or center having to run the baseline to cover a perimeter player.

As for the 3-2, isn't this essentially the same as a 1-2-2? I say yes. What's left? A 1-3-1 alignment, with your center in the middle and your 4 or second post player on the baseline, covering from corner to corner.

Will this alignment cover the point? Yes. Both wings? Yes. The corner? Yes. The high post or low post? Yes. If your 4 is not quick enough to run the baseline, your 3 can always take this spot and your 4 can cover the weakside wing.

As in football, most teams tend to be right-handed and to attack the right side more than the left. And so the right wing in the matchup will draw more weakside rebounds.

Reads are fairly simple. The point always plays the ball coming across halfcourt, while the wings play the first pass to the right and left. The 4 and 5 cover the other two players. 5 looks to play the high post or, if no one is there, sink to the low post. 4 covers either corner or, if no one is there, the other low post. By default, if no one is in either corner then the fifth player will usually be on the low post.

Ultimately, too many rules can slow down the brain and then the body. The central concepts to success with the matchup zone are "read and react", "cover up" and "talk through it". Have confidence in your players and their ability. With enough successful repetition in practice you can ensure the correct responses in the game.

The offensive response to the matchup will fall into two categories: they will know what you are doing or they won't. If they don't get it, they will run a zone offense, which will be easy to stop, or a man offense, where they will screen away and cut, befuddled by the fact that you are essentially switching on every screen.

If you are preparing to beat the best, as you should, you will assume that the opponents have scouted the matchup, prepared for it, and may be in a position to have success against it.

The key technique in the matchup involves the exchange of responsibility - handing off your man to the next defender in the zone. The first defender communicates the "bump" or switch to the defender whose area the cutter is about to enter.

A passive cut (slow and not looking for the ball) may only require a quick verbal exchange to confirm the switch. On a quicker, more aggressive cut, the defender must call the switch and follow the cutter to an intermediate point between himself and the next defender.

Offensive attempts to screen and exchange can be attacked in a similar fashion. Check Diag. 1, bumping the cutter (or switching). Point guard I passes to 2 and cuts to the basket and then to the left baseline, so that X-l has to switch with X-5, then X4 has to switch with X-5 to protect against the pass from 2.

Even the superheroes have a weakness. The matchup zone does have a few potential soft spots. To stop the best offensive teams, your matchup zone must be able to defend not only quick cuts but cuts all the way through the matchup zone (Diag. 2).

Double cuts will also challenge the zone (see Diag. 3). The player with the ball (1) passes to the next perimeter player (2) and basket-cuts, a basic give-and-go.

The next perimeter player (3) moves to fill the open position, following the first cutter. While the matchup is bumping the first cutter, the second cutter has the opportunity to cut to an open area unguarded long enough to get a quick, open shot.

An offensive player may also fake the screen away and "roll back" by getting position between the weak-side defender and the ball and flashing to an open area (Diag. 4).

To neutralize this the defender must "jump to the inside" and establish inside position between the cutter and the ball as soon as the switch is made (Diag. 5).

Finally, on the drive and kick from the point, your first help down the middle should come from the high post (X-5), not the wing. The point will be stopped and both shooters will be covered (Diag. 6).

Ultimately, the best way to beat a matchup zone is simple; not easy but simple: Make plays! This defense depends on matchups, which are simply 1-on-1 situations on and off the ball. The offense will still have the opportunity to penetrate, shoot jumpers and 3's. Even with perfect mental execution, there will be breakdowns due to physical errors or superior athletic ability on the offensive side.

The matchup zone also demands denial to the post (we always play a full front and attempt to deny every post feed). If the offense gets the ball to the block, they can score often on high-percentage shots. In addition, because of the defensive alignment, the offensive team can anticipate where the defenders will begin the possession and create mismatches by positioning post against perimeter or perimeter versus post.

But these matchups are usually temporary, lasting only until the next pass or set of cuts, assuming the opposing team even gets this far in their game plan. We have always emphasized versatility, working to instill confidence in our player that "any switch is good" and attacking potential mismatches (e.g., our center on their point) with confidence.

In the end, the opposing team and coach will have to first recognize, second adjust, and third prepare and execute the adjustment. Assuming a 50% chance of each of these three events occurring successfully (a plausible premise at the high school level), less than 15% of all opposing teams will actually be able to beat your matchup zone.

It may take you all the way to the playoffs!

As coaches, according to Doug Collins, our job is to do everything possible to help put our team in a position to win. If your team does not currently use the matchup zone, consider committing just one year to the mastery of a defense that is hard to prepare for, difficult to attack, and tough to beat. This could be the new wrinkle to keep you on top, make you better or give you a winning edge.

What's the worst that could happen? You will be practicing basic defensive concepts when nothing else is working. As coaches, we regularly challenge our players to work hard, improve, and learn new skills in the offseason. Why not lead by example and challenge yourself by getting out of your comfort zone and taking on something new?