Offense against a 1-3-1 zone
1-3-1 zone offense step by step
- 1
O1 and O2 start on either side of X1 so one defender can't guard both. O3 and O4 are in the corners and O5 starts in the left short corner. O1 passes to O2.
- 2
O2 passes to O4 in the corner. X4 has to run out from under the basket, and O5 runs the baseline to the right short corner.
- 3
X4 is on O4, so O4 passes to O5 in the short corner. O1 flashes into the middle, where X5 just left.
- 4
X5 comes down to stop O5. O1 keeps cutting to the rim behind X5.
- 5
O5 passes to O1 for a layup. If X2 rotates over to stop it, O3 is open in the left corner.
When to use this 1-3-1 zone offense
Use it when the other team plays a 1-3-1 zone. A 1-3-1 traps well on the wings and takes away the high post, which can rattle young ball handlers. Its weak spots are the corners and the baseline, because one defender, the baseline runner, has to cover both corners.
The offense starts with two guards up top. The 1-3-1 has one defender at the point, so two guards on either side of them make that defender choose. That's called splitting the point.
1-3-1 zone offense roles by position
O1 and O2 (guards)
Stand on either side of the point defender, just outside the 3-point line. Pass quickly from guard to guard so the point defender has to keep sliding. After passing to the other side, look to flash into the middle.
O3 and O4 (corners)
Stay deep in the corners. Every pass to a corner makes the baseline runner sprint out. Catch ready to shoot or pass to the short corner.
O5 (baseline runner)
Run the baseline from short corner to short corner, always going to the side of the ball. You are open behind the zone when the baseline defender goes out to the corner.
How to beat a 1-3-1 zone
Get the ball to the corners. The baseline defender can't cover both corners and the rim, and a corner catch starts the whole zone scrambling.
Stay out of the trap areas. A 1-3-1 likes to trap where the point defender and a wing meet, near the sideline around half court and on the wing. Make your pass before you get there, and don't dribble toward the sideline.
Use the baseline and the middle. When the zone shifts toward the ball, the short corner and the gap behind the middle defender open up. Skip passes to the opposite corner work well once players can throw them.
See also: 1-3-1 zone defense
1-3-1 zone offense drill: corner and baseline
- Set five defenders in a 1-3-1 and five on offense in the two-guard alignment.
- Walk through guard to guard, guard to corner, and the baseline run until O5 always ends up on the ball side.
- Play live with one rule: the ball has to go to a corner before anyone shoots.
- Add a point for any basket that comes from the short corner or a cutter into the middle.
Coaching point Watch O5's timing. The baseline run should start when the pass leaves the guard's hands, so O5 arrives in the short corner right as the corner player catches.
Common 1-3-1 zone offense mistakes
- Starting with one guard at the top, which lets the point defender guard the ball by himself.
- Dribbling toward the sideline and into a trap.
- Corner players drifting up toward the wing, which makes the baseline defender's job easy.
- Nobody running the baseline, so the short corner stays empty.
- Throwing lazy lobs over the wings, which the zone can pick off.
1-3-1 zone offense vs. 2-3 zone offense
Against a 2-3 zone, you start with one guard up top and attack the high post and short corner. Against a 1-3-1, the middle defender already covers the high post, so you start with two guards to split the point and put players in both corners.
1-3-1 zone offense FAQ
How do you beat a 1-3-1 zone defense?
Start with two guards up top to split the point, keep players in both corners, and run a player along the baseline to the ball side. Pass the ball to the corners and look for the short corner and the middle behind the zone.
What are the weaknesses of a 1-3-1 zone?
The corners and the baseline. One defender covers the whole baseline, so a pass to the corner often leaves the short corner or the rim open.
What offense should you run against a 1-3-1 zone?
An offense with a two-guard front works well. Two guards, a player in each corner, and a baseline runner make the zone cover spots it isn't built to cover.
How do you beat a 1-3-1 trap?
Pass before the trap gets there. Keep the ball in the middle of the floor, stay away from the sideline, and have a teammate flash to the middle as an outlet.