Sizzling Set Plays to Shred Zone Defenses

with Todd Simon,
Bowling Green Head Men's Basketball Coach;
Southern Utah University Head Men's Coach from 2016 to 2023;
2021 Big Sky Coach of the Year;
2021 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year;
2021 Big Sky Regular Season Champions;
UNLV interim Head Coach in 2016;
UNLV Associate Head Coach from 2013 to 2016;
Findlay Prep Head Coach from 2012 to 2013;
Findlay Prep Associate Head Coach from 2006 to 2012;
finished the 2013 season at 35-1;
2013 Bluestar Media National co-#1 High School National Champion;
3x National High School Tournament Champions

If you want to be truly great on the offensive end, your team must possess the ability to score effectively against anything an opponent may throw at you over the course of a season. Zone defenses are a tried-and-true strategy that have been able to flummox many coaches. 

In this excellent instructional coaching video, Bowling Green’s Todd Simon demonstrates a wide array of zone quick hitters, while providing key concepts to help build your zone offense.

Coach Simon has adopted an up-tempo and modern style of play that emphasizes pressuring the rim and offers up 11 set plays that his team uses to stay on the attack versus zone defenses.

Utilizing on-the-court demonstrations with players, one highly valuable aspect of Coach Simon’s basketball coaching presentation stems from how each concept he showcases can be used against a variety of zone defenses with only minimal tweaks. 

Zone Distortion & Overload Plays 

Coach Simon begins by covering a variety of plays that are designed to distort zones with player movement into overloads. The set ‘Across,’ for example, is a great way to create a high-low entry in front of the rim with a quick dive that can also work against 1-3-1 and 3-2 zone defenses. 

In a demonstration of the sets ‘Tag’ and ‘Tri,’ Coach Simon uses cutters to outnumber one side of the zone, while opening up post players in the paint. 

In a play called ‘Pinball,’ Coach Simon showcases another example of a set that can work against multiple zone defenses that overloads the opponent’s zone and forces them into matchups.Simon also provides a baseline inbound play that is designed to stretch out defenders so a cutter can quickly dive into a soft spot near the basket.

Ball-Screen Plays To Attack Zone Defenses

Coach Simon explains how to hit the zone with ball screens to create numerical advantages in a variety of situations. He begins with a set called ‘Horns,’ which features options to pop or roll against 2-3 and 3-2 zone defenses.

In a play called ‘Triple,’ Simon shares an innovative way to create some initial confusion for the defense by utilizing your initial offensive alignment, and then unexpectedly using a high ball-screen that allows your point guard to turn the corner into the lane. 

‘Moses’ is another action that Coach Simon demonstrates that helps you to create paint touches while allowing your post players to seal baseline defenders. When the defense starts to adapt by jamming up the initial action, Simon shows off a great counter that can be used to free up an open-look for a 3-point shot opportunity. 

Coach Simon’s teams make a living off their ‘14 Side’ and ‘14 Middle’ set-play options, which could be highly effective zone offense by themselves. Not only do you get demonstrations of how to run both plays, but you’ll also receive wrinkles that you can add into each of them that seamlessly flow into a continuity offense.

If all these different plays are not enough to force your opponent out of a zone defense, then Coach Simon offers up an inside look at his ‘Spin Continuity Offense’ – which can slice up the zone with great player and ball movement. 

The Spin Continuity Offense can also be modified based on your personnel. Simon also shows how to stretch the defense out even further with a small ball lineup.

Coach Simon also shares the biggest lessons he has learned throughout his coaching career. You will gain valuable insight into team building with concepts for strengthening relationships, skill development, winning special situations and teaching today’s modern generation of players.

Don’t settle for attempting to shoot your way out of a zone defense. This must-own video presentation offers Coach Simon’s best set plays – which are designed to distort the zone and create matchups that help you score at the basket in a variety of ways!

This video is packed with so many great zone concepts and Simon presents them in a way that allows you to pick and choose what to put in your offense right away!

76 minutes. 2023.