A 2nd option could have 02 look for same choices to pass (05, 03, 01 or 04.) When 02 reverses ball to 04, 05 again ‘chases ball’ by ducking in & to new BS Block. If 04 does not make inside pass to 05, he should swing it to 01. 04 & 02 then set stagger-screens for 03 to scrape off of for a ‘3’ at top of key, allowing 05 to isolate X5 down low. No shots place players in ‘3-Out/2-In’ spot-ups to instantly continue attacking.
A 3rd possible option could have 02 look for same choices to pass (05, 03, 01 or 04.) When 02 reverses ball to 04, 05 steps up to back-screen for 02 inverts his game & makes shuffle-cut off of & across lane to new BS Block. When 04 passes to 01, 02 & 04 then set stagger-screens for 03 break to top of key for a ‘3.’ This gives 02 chance to isolate & pick on X2 down low. No shots again place players in ‘3-Out/2-In’ spot-ups to maintain offensive attack.
This play has two options in which both will be discussed. 01 must attack defense initially on weakside. After ‘dribble-scraping’ off of 04’s ball-screen, 01’s options are: to look to ‘drive & finish,’ to ‘drive & dump’ to 05, to ‘penetrate & pitch’ to 03, to hit 03 on backdoor-cut or to hand-off to 03 who could then cut back towards ball. Notice that 05 & 02 drift up & away from basket to create space for 01 or 03 when attack basket. This instance has 03 break back from his backdoor-cut to receive the ‘weave handoff’ from 01 near the FT Line extended.
After 01 hands off to 03, 03 dribbles towards middle of floor. 05 breaks up to top of key to set a double ball-screen with 04 for 03. 01 & 02 both should drift to their deep corners. 03 should then ‘dribble-scrape’ off of the double ball-screen. Once 03 turns the corner, this is point where there are multiple options that could be executed. Coaching staff could dictate which option is used by making this action into two separate plays that have identical beginnings.
This particular option has 04 set his ball-screen & then down-screen for 01 in new WS Deep Corner. At same time, 05 should roll to basket after his half of ball-screen has been set. 03 could look for pull-up jumper, inside pass to 05 on his roll, a pass to 02 for his shot or drive or 02 could have better passing angle to pass to 05 and finally, 03 could reverse ball to 01 at new WS High Elbow area. If no shots are produced, option is over & players are in ‘4-Out/1-In’ spot-ups for a Motion Offense or the Flex Continuity to then smoothly begin.
The “Liz” & the “Rip” plays out of the “FLAT” Set will flow into a different set of “3-Out of 2-In Spot-Ups” for a different zone continuity offense. When 01 first veers off to the right in the “Rip” play (or the left side in the ‘Liz’ play), 04 makes a strong ‘duck-in cut’ into the lane, while 05 steps from behind the zone towards the basket for a ‘lob pass’ (directly in front of the & over to ‘mirror’ 01’s new location, but on the new weakside.
This overload attack puts tremendous pressure on X5, as he cannot defend both 04 low & 05 in the higher part of the lane, on passes from 01. This diagram illustrates the “Rip” play with 01 making a ‘freeze dribble’ towards the outside shoulder of X2 as 02 ‘gets his feet & hands ready’ to receive 01’s pass for a ‘3’ in his ‘deep corner.‘ 03 rotates up & over to again ‘mirror’ 01. If no shots are taken, the spot-ups are filled so this continuity offense can smoothly begin.
This diagram illustrates the “Rip” play with 01 making a ‘freeze dribble’ towards the outside shoulder of X2, as 02 ‘gets his feet & hands ready’ to receive 01’s ‘down pass.’ 02 can quickly ‘catch & shoot,’ or 02 can then look to make an ‘inside pass’ to either 04 or 05 who have now relocated at the new ballside low-post and high-post areas respectively.
03 Is still another offensive threat with a possible ‘skip pass’ from 02, thus stretching the zone horizontally. If the offense cannot attack the zone with an overload that could attack the opposition on the interior as well as the perimeter, 02 could also ‘up-pass’ the ball back to 01. All five players are in the proper spot-ups, so that the designated zone continuity offense can fluidly start instantly.
This diagram illustrates the “TRIPLE-POST” Zone Continuity Offense smoothly beginning at the conclusion of the “Rip” play. 02 makes an ‘up-pass’ back to 01. 01 looks inside to both 05 & 04, before then making a ‘gap dribble’ between X2 & X1. During that dribble, 01 looks again to make interior passes to either 02, 04 or 05 making their respective ‘gap-cuts.’ When 01 draws both X1 & X2 together, 03 should have an open ‘3 pt.’ shot.
When 03 receives the pass from 01, 03 could create, take an open ‘3 pt.’ shot or look for his passing options both on the perimeter (to 05 now in the ‘deep corner’) or ‘inside passes’ (to either 04 or to 02.) After making the ‘down pass’ to 05. 03 can cut through to the new weakside, with 01 filling the new ballside ‘high elbow’ area outside of the arc. The “TRIPLE-POST” Zone Continuity Offense can then continue for an indefinite period of time, with all spot-ups again (& always) filled.
John Kimble is a respected basketball coach, author, and educator with extensive coaching experience.
©2025 Copyright All right reserved .