ZIPPER OFFENSE

During the 1960's, the Boston Celtics were successful in winning a longer string of consecutive championships than any team in the history of professional sports running the zipper offense.  This offense has been used for a variety of reasons to either enter into an offense or to run it as an offense all to its own.  This article will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the zipper offense as well as ways to run it, some plays that go along with it, and ways to teach this outstanding offense to your players.

Advantages of the Zipper Offense

There are a number of reasons as to why a coach would want to run the zipper offense.  They include:

1. Versatility.  The zipper offense can be run from a number of different sets.  Anything from a 2-1-2 set to a 1-2-2 box to a 1-4 high set can be used to get into the offense.  This allows the coach to use different formations to run the same basic plays.

2. The ability to run multiple plays.  Because there are several plays that can be run using the zipper set, you can adjust the offense to your personnel.  I will show a myriad of plays that will provide some ideas as to how you can run the offense to best fit what your players can do well.

3. The ability to enter into another offense.  The zipper preset can be used to get into motion offense, flex offense, shuffle offense, or a pick-and-roll offense easily.  By running the basic preset, the zipper offense can be used as a quick hitter to score right away or to get into the offense if the quick hitter doesn't score right away.

Disadvantages of the Zipper Offense

However, like most set offenses, the zipper offense does have its disadvantages which include the following:

1. Like most set offenses, the zipper offense can be easily scouted.  Because the offense relies on specific calls to run specific plays, the offense is tipped off to the people in the stands, including opposing coaches watching the game.  The only way to counteract coaches from picking up on your calls and tendencies is to have a high volume of offensive plays from the set.

2. The zipper offense also requires that you need to have certain elements of offense that your defense sees on a regular basis.  This requires that your team spend separate practice time working on other offensive concepts that are not incorporated in your set offense.

3. Putting in the zipper offense also means that you will need to have another offense that you can enter into once you have run the quick hitting play without attempting a shot.  If you choose not to have an offense that your team can easily flow into, your team will require quick shots out of the zipper offense.  Those quick shots could ultimately mean the difference between winning and losing games.

Basic Zipper Plays

When entering the zipper offense, we have four basic reads for our point guard when entering into the offense.  The first read is the back cut by the wing.  If we are playing a pressure defense, we can look to get this entry by having the wing fake high then cut back door (Diagram 1).  A defender actively denying the wing will be brought out away from the basket creating a moment of separation where our point guard can enter the ball to the cutter for a lay-up.

The second option for the point guard is to turn the corner if his defender is guarding him too high.  In Diagram 2, the defender is shown as being too high and too far behind the dribbler.  We give the point guard some latitude to attack the rim if this develops; however, we will hold the point guard accountable.

Diagram 1

Diagram 2

The third option is how we read the down screen.  This works two ways:  The first is that the cutter comes off of the down screen cleanly and the defense doesn't switch the screen as shown in Diagram 3.  We look for the cutter first and will pass him the ball.  If he gets the ball, we will run the play.  If he gets overplayed, we will dribble him out with a back cut as shown in Diagram 4.

Diagram 3

Diagram 4

The fourth option is the post up.  This works one of two ways:  The first is that the post man comes open after setting the screen and the cutter receives the pass.  We only look for this post up if the screener does not have to get involved in the play as a screener (Diagram 5).

The other is when the screen gets switched by the defense.  Here, we want to go right inside and exploit the switch to our advantage (Diagram 6).

Diagram 5

Diagram 6

One variation of the zipper offense is to use a back screen instead of the usual down screen.  This little change is what we call a "Utah" cut.  Here, the wing sets a back screen for the play-side post player to bring him into the low post.  The progression of reads for the point guard changes as he will look back cut, turn the corner, post up and wing on high (to the spot or on the backdoor) in that order.  The change of looking into the post first instead to the wing is made because of how the screening action is set on the "Utah" cut instead of the zipper cut (Diagram 7).  If they switch, we will look to take advantage of the switch by looking to pass to the screener and set up a one-one-one situation with the post man's defender one-on-one with the wing (Diagram 8).

Diagram 7

Diagram 8

Here are some basic plays that can be run from the zipper set:

1. The regular play.  Once in a while, we might get lucky and get a great shooter a wide-open look off of the zipper cut or even get the ball into the post immediately.  If we do not get either of these, we can then go into other options.  Typically, these options will be called from the set.

2. "Go" (Diagram 9). This play is really a change of pace when running the zipper offense.  Instead of passing the ball to #2, we run the pick-and-roll on the side with #5 coming out to set the ball screen for #1.  #2 and #3 spot up while #4 dives to the help-side short corner.

3. "Fist" (Diagram 10).  On this play, #2 dribbles at #4 forcing him to the basket on a back cut.  If #4 is open, we want him to get the ball.  If not, #4 will go to the opposite short corner while #2 passes to #3.  From here, #3 will get a ball screen from #5 and go into a sideline pick-and-roll.

Diagram 9

Diagram 10

4. "Dive" (Diagram 11).  This play is similar to "Fist" except that instead of running the pick-and-roll, #4 screens away for #5 and brings him to the ball-side low block.

5. "Philly" (Diagram 12).  We run "Philly" as a pick-and-pop play for our #2 and #4.  #2 will read what the defense does and act accordingly.  He can penetrate to pass or attack the rim, spot up and shoot or pass back to #4.

Diagram 11

Diagram 12

6. "Shuffle" (Diagrams 13 and 14).  Diagram 13 shows a down screen by #4 on #3 and a back screen by #5 on #1 who makes a shuffle cut.  #2 can then pass to either #1 off of the shuffle cut or #3 off of the down screen. 

Diagram 14 shows what happens when the ball is passed to #3 off of the down screen.   #4 sets a down screen for #1 and #5 sets a flare screen for #2.

Diagram 13

Diagram 14

7. "Pinch" (Diagrams 15 and 16).  Diagram 15 shows #3 cutting to the same side of the floor as #1 and #2 while #4 acts like he is going to set a screen, but will instead flash to the elbow opposite #1 and #2 to set up the pinch post game.  In Diagram 16, #2 and #4 work the two-man game from the pinch post.

Diagram 15

Diagram 16

8. "Triple" (Diagram 17).  Triple sets up like Shuffle except that #3 and #4 set a double-down screen for #1 as #2 looks to get him the ball in the opposite corner for a quick shot.

9. "Choice" (Diagram 18).  Choice is a variation of Triple in that #1 can either come off of a single-down by #5 or a double down set by #3 and #4.

Diagram 17

Diagram 18

10. "Horns" (Diagram 19).  #3 clears to the ball-side corner while #1 comes off of a stagger double set by #4 and #5.  Once #1 gets the ball, he will set up a post entry with #4 by dribbling to the wing looking to get the ball to #4.

11. "Drag" (Diagram 20).  This is based off of one of North Carolina's counters in their secondary break.  #4 comes to the ball to set a ball screen for #2.  #3 spots up and #5 rolls to the opposite block while #1 sets a back screen by way of the low block on his side for #4.

Diagram 19

Diagram 20

12. "Loop" (Diagrams 21 and 22).  This play sets up like Shuffle except that #3 will go thru the block and come out off of #5's down screen.  Meanwhile, #1 will come off of a down screen set by #4.

Diagram 21

Diagram 22

13. "Spur" (Diagrams 23 and 24).  This play starts out like Triple except that #3 will make his cut to the corner opposite #1 once #1 clears and will run off of a down screen by #5.  Whichever side the ball is passed by #2, the player in the corner and the post will work a post-up game while the post opposite will back screen #2.

Diagram 23

Diagram 24

14. "Gator" (Diagram 25).  Somewhat similar to Pinch and Dive, #4 will start to the bottom of the free throw circle inside the lane and set a rear ball screen for #2.  #2 can go either way and #5 will move to the side opposite of #2's decision.  #3 and #1 will spot up in the corners.

Diagram 25

All of the illustrated plays can be run from the Utah set as well if a coach is so inclined to make that switch.  If all are incorporated (which I do not necessarily recommend) and the "Utah" call is added as a variation of the zipper set, you have a grand total of 28 plays from which to choose.  Also, if you use the three formations mentioned earlier in the article, you have the option of using up to 84 different plays.

Teaching the Zipper Offense

The first way we teach the zipper offense is by using Offensive Script.  Here, we will walk through the plays in the zipper offense without a defense.  This way, we can tell each player what their responsibilities are in the offense and how to run the plays.  When that is established for the zipper plays that we wish to incorporate in our offense, we will then break down the offense as a part of our whole-part-whole approach to teaching.

In our offensive breakdown period, we can work on the offense with three players at a time and two players at a time.  The three-man group will work on getting into the zipper or Utah plays while the two-man groups will work on some of the two-man variations that are included in the offense.  Working on these breakdowns allow the players to learn the offense through our concept of whole-part-whole teaching while installing the offense.

RETURN TO MEMBERSHIP AREA

© 2010-2017 Alan Peel Enterprises