Elbows

They are in a 1-3-1 zone. Coach calls "Elbows". 1 has the ball up top. 4 and 5 are at the elbows, one on each side of the middle defender.

• 1Take two dribbles to the left to pull the point defender over.Move them off the middle first. Then the pass to the elbow is open.
• 2Stay deep in the left corner.The runner can't guard the rim and your corner. Make them choose.
• 3Stay deep in the right corner.You keep the right wing defender out wide, away from the elbows.
• 4Hold the left elbow with your hands up.You and 5 stand on both sides of the middle defender. They can only guard one of you.
• 5Hold the right elbow.Stay there until 4 catches. Then the rim is yours.

Next: Into the elbow

1 has pulled the point defender to the left side. The middle defender leans toward 4 at the left elbow.

• 1Pass to 4 at the left elbow, then step back to the top.The ball in the middle makes the whole zone turn and look. Then you are the safety.
• 2Stay deep in the left corner with your hands ready.If the wing defender pinches in on 4, you are open.
• 3Stay deep in the right corner.If a defender drops onto 5, you are the open one.
• 4Catch at the elbow, turn and face the basket.Face up so you can see 5 at the rim and both corners.
• 5Dive to the rim behind the middle defender as 4 catches.They stepped up to 4. Only the runner is left behind them.

Then the defence shows one of 3 looks: Read: the runner stays on the ball side (50%), Read: the runner takes 5 (25%), Read: the far wing defender drops on 5 (25%).

4 has the ball at the left elbow. The middle defender is up on them and the runner is on the left side of the lane. Nobody is with 5 at the rim.

• 1Stay at the top as the safety.Always one back.
• 2Stay deep in the left corner.You keep the runner on your side, away from 5.
• 3Stay deep in the right corner.You keep the right wing defender out wide, off 5.
• 4Pass to 5 at the rim.The middle defender came up to you and the runner is on the far side of the rim. 5 is alone.
• 5Show your hands at the rim, catch and finish.Nobody is behind the middle defender. Catch it high and score.

Layup for 5 behind the middle defender.

4 has the ball at the left elbow. The runner slides over to 5 at the rim, and the left wing defender pinches in on 4. Nobody is with 2 in the left corner.

• 1Stay at the top, then get back.The shot is going up. Someone has to stop the fast break.
• 2Show your hands in the left corner, catch and shoot.The runner went to 5 and the wing defender went to 4. Nobody can get to you.
• 3Hold the right corner, then crash on the shot.Corner shots miss long, to your side. Go get it.
• 4Pass to 2 in the left corner.The runner took 5 and the wing defender came to you. 2 is open.
• 5Keep the runner on your back, then rebound.You hold them at the rim, so they can't run out to 2.

Corner three for 2. The runner could not guard the rim and the corner.

4 has the ball at the left elbow. The runner stays on the left side, and the right wing defender drops into the lane to take 5. Nobody is with 3 in the right corner.

• 1Stay at the top, then get back.The shot is going up. Someone has to stop the fast break.
• 2Hold the left corner, then crash on the shot.You kept the runner on your side. That is why 3 is open.
• 3Show your hands in the right corner, catch and shoot.The wing defender left you to take 5. Shoot it before they get back.
• 4Skip it to 3 in the right corner.The right wing defender dropped onto 5. 3 is all alone.
• 5Keep the defender on your back, then rebound.You pulled them off 3. Hold them in the lane.

Corner three for 3 off the skip pass.