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Reverse and Circle

A baseline out of bounds play against 2-1-2 zone or 2-3 zone: 4 steps with diagrams and coaching points.

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Half-court diagram of Reverse and Circle, step 1 of 4: 5 offensive players; player 1 has the ball; lines: 3 cuts.
On the slap, 2 clears to the left corner. 3 cuts across the lane to the middle block. 5 runs the baseline to the right corner.Credit: Ball Coach

How it works

A baseline play against a 2-3 that shifts the zone to the ball side and reverses it. Three players clear or cut through the paint, the entry goes to the right corner, and the ball comes back to the top before the inbounder circles into the right wing for the last pass.

When to use it

Under your basket against a 2-3 or a 2-1-2 zone when you have time to run a full set and want the zone moving from one side to the other before the last pass.

Personnel

1 inbounds, then circles: a shooter with good hands who catches on the move. 5 is a corner shooter who can hold the ball and pass back out. 2 is a guard who can catch at the top and reverse the ball. 3 and 4 are your bigs: 3 sets the middle and 4 finishes at the ball-side block.

Step by step

  1. F115342

    Step 1. On the slap, 2 clears to the left corner. 3 cuts across the lane to the middle block. 5 runs the baseline to the right corner.

  2. F215342

    Step 2. 4 dives down the lane line for a quick flash to the ball-side block. The zone sees three players below the free-throw line on the ball side.

  3. F315342

    Step 3. 1 passes to 5 in the corner. As the zone shifts to 5, 2 loops from the left corner around the top to the right slot. If nothing is there, 5 passes back out to 2.

  4. F415342

    Step 4. With the ball reversed to 2, 1 circles the baseline and up the right side into the wing. 5 screens on the right side. 4 slides into the middle of the paint and screens the zone's middle defender, with its back to the spot where 1 catches. 2 passes to 1 on the right wing.

Reads

  1. First read. 5 in the right corner off the entry pass. If the low ball-side defender doesn't step out, 5 has the corner three.
  2. Second read. 2 at the right slot after the loop, on the pass back from 5. The zone has shifted to the ball side, so 2 has the top for a shot or a swing.
  3. Third read. 1 on the right wing after the circle. The last pass goes back to the side the ball started on, after the zone has been moved across.

Counter

If the zone doesn't shift to the corner, 4 seals the low defender on the ball-side block and 5 skips the ball across to 2 at the top, so the play is already on the second read.

Teaching cues

  • Clear to the corners with your hands ready for a return pass.
  • 2: run the loop around the top at a steady pace; arrive at the slot as 5 catches.
  • Corner: catch and look before you pass; the zone shifts a beat late.
  • 1: circle wide of the ball and arrive on the wing ready to shoot. 4: screen the middle defender of the zone with your back to where 1 will catch.

Use this play

Version
1 (current), approved October 1, 2026
Published by
Ball Coach
Source
Published by Ball Coach under its first-party license, credited to Ball Coach. Released as a fixed version; any later edit gets a new version number.
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