Wedge Zone Offense Squeezing Inside Any Defense Overview: The wedge concept is something my father, Marlin Carrier who was a high school coach, used a long time ago. I don t know where he got it from, so I m sorry I can t give further credit. I ve added my own touches to it as well, hopefully for the better! This offense is designed to pick apart zone defenses, especially odd front defenses (especially 1-3-1) and trapping defenses. The main focus is to get the ball into the high post and work it further inside from there. The best look with this defense is to go from the high post immediately to the backside block which many times is open. If the zone does a good job of collapsing to that spot, and preventing the high-low on the ballside block, the backside corner or guard is often open for a three. Most players will have to play all four perimeter positions and I would say your 5 player must be a good passer. I ve used this offense, in a much more condensed version, in the past, and put my backup PG at the 5 spot to get the ball inside well. The basic set up is an odd guard front (1 and 2), a high post (5), a strong side corner player (4), and a weakside post (3). I like my perimeter s at the NBA three, but tweak it how you want. The weakside post must, at ALL times, be looking to box out the backside defender. He should fight for front position with the defender and try to pretty much box him out so we can get passes to him. You CAN run it where the backside post (3) starts as a backside corner, but I like this better as a starting point, the choice is yours though, it s your team! Basic Set Up
Guard to Guard Pass Basic Rotation When the ball is passed from guard to guard (1 to 2), the following takes place. The middle man (5) sprints to the ballside elbow looking for a quick entry. We WANT THE BALL IN THE HIGH POST AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. Have your high post try boxing out the zone defender for the high post to get the ball if he can. The guard who made the pass (1) dives to the backside low block looking for a quick entry lob for a layup. The player that was the strongside corner (4) now fills the guard spot. The player that was the backside post (3) fills the ballside corner now. The first diagram shows the first pass, the second diagram shows the return pass. Corner Entry: When the ball is swung to the corner (if getting killed by traps, keep the ball high), the guard who passed the ball in (4) cuts to the low block looking for the ball. If he does not get it, he bodies the zone defender guarding the block and starts to push him across the lane, hands up, with his chest. As he gets 2-3 steps into the lane the high post (5) sprints to the block and looks to sneak in front of the cutter (4) for a shot. The cutter (4) must maintain the 3 count in his head and get out of the lane quickly he fills the backside post spot. The backside guard (3) fills the ballside guard s spot. The backside post (2) fills the backside guard s spot. On the pass out, high post (5) immediately fills back high, hopefully drawing the zone defender out of position. As he is going, the corner (1) sprints to the block and looks for the ball. If he does not get it, he now attempts to push the bottom zone defender a little and the backside block man (4) comes across ducking in front at the block trying to get the ball. He fills the ballside corner and we are back.
High Post Entry: When the ball is finally entered to the high post (5), the high post (5) immediately looks to the backside post who hopefully boxed out his man for a dump in. The ballside corner (3) sprints to the ballside block. in case they overplay the backside. He also boxes out (posts up hard) and looks for a high low, he should try to come from under the zone defender and pin him from beneath for the lob if the defender is REALLY LOW, then he can come on the high side kind of a cat and mouse game. The backside guard (2) drops to the backside corner and looks for a three. Many times they will overplay the 4 and 3 with help and leave a baseline shooter open. The ballside guard (1) clears out to the backside guard and looks for the outlet pass if nothing is happening. If there is an emergency, the guard (1) can come back and get it. Once the ball is passed out (the high post MUST be patient), the ballside post player (3) sprints up and takes the guard spot opposite the ball. The high post (5) follows his pass HARD looking for a return pass and repeat. The ballside post (4) sprints across the lane to the backside block to reset the spacing, this is a great time to box out the zone defender on the backside. If they get really good at stopping the basket dive by the ballside corner (3) the other option is to put a shooter there and leave him there to spot up for threes. Simple adjustment, he stills fills the guard spot and everything, but he stays out there and takes threes on the sagging defense. Drive Entry: I also believe that any good zone offense has some drive and kick action built into it. Good zones do a nice job of collapsing on the drive, so we can take advantage of that by driving the zone, having them cave in, then hitting a shooter for a nice spot up three pointer. This series is a little bit complicated, so if your players cannot grasp it, simply come up with a simple drive and kick look, as I personally believe all good zone offenses need something. Diagram A - The series starts with the guard driving to the middle of the floor. The high post (5) sees this and drops hard to the low post. The backside guard (2) drops to the backside corner for a three look. The backside post (1) and ballside corner (4) stay there. What we have created is a 4 low look against the zone. This is hard to guard, especially for a 1-3-1 or 1-2-2.
Many times players will step up to help the drive and leave the 5 open or the backside post (1) open, especially if sealing the defense correctly (boxing out). If they really pack it in, 4 and 2 better be ready, willing, and able to knock a few down because they will get their chances. Diagram B Now this is where the adjustment is. If the driver (3) is stopped before the lane (which he always will be early), his first look is to dump it into 5 or 1 who are sealing (or may just be open. If they are not open, he jump stops and the backside post (1) fills up for him as a pressure release. The player (1) then dribbles it to the guard spot while the opposite corner (2) fills the backside guard spot. The high post (5) returns to his spot, the driver (3) fills the backside block, and we are back in our set. Diagram C Eventually, the defense is going to start really sinking to prevent the drive. Once they do that your driver (especially if he is a great guard) is going to be able to get his feet painted and get in the lane. If the driver (3 in this case) reaches the lane, it signals the defense is packing tight. Once the driver (3) is in the lane the players on the blocks (5 and 1) space to the short corners and the corners (4 and 2) come high to the guard spots. Often they will then be open for threes, since the rest of the defense is sagging so far inside to prevent the dump down. Make them pick their poison. (A) (B) (C)
High and Wide: Late in a game, with a lead, or when you are being trapped in the half court, I would run this offense high and wide. The roles, placements and the rules are all the same, but instead of running it at NBA three or three point line area, run it almost at half court. If a team is in a zone late you can have 1 and 2 play catch, or just have 1 hold the ball, until they either come out and try to guard you (overextending their defense) or go man to man. Even with a trapping scheme the pass form 1 to 2 is easy. They try to take that away, your middle man (5) simply steps up to the opening in the middle as a pressure release. If they take him away the corner is usually open (with a quick throw back or skip) and if that isn t the backside block will be wide open against a zone trap. Conclusion: Nothing new, nothing special, I am sure you have all seen something similar before. But hopefully you can take from this 1 or 2 new twists that help you out. I m not going to claim this is something I run all the time, but I think it s something that can be helpful for a team that plays a lot of trapping teams, odd front zones, and likes a continuity against a zone defense. If you have any questions, as usual don t be afraid to shoot me an e-mail at John.Carrier42@gmail.com. I m not always perfect at getting back to everyone, but I try! Thanks for taking the time to read this!