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This is a half-court 3-2 zone offense action designed to create a quick paint touch for the Center (5) by combining three stresses at once: a flare screen for the Small Forward (3), a step-up screen look from the Center (5), and a low pin by the Power Forward (4).
Use it when the defense is in a 3-2 zone and the top line is aggressive against wing catches. The action makes the zone shift from right to left, then attacks the open middle before the low defenders can recover. For broader zone-offense context, this fits well with the principles in How to Attack a 3-2 Zone.
Start in a 3-out / 2-in alignment against a 3-2 zone.
The spacing should stretch the zone horizontally. The PG starts with the ball on the right side, while the SG and PF occupy the weakside. The SF is the reversal target, and the Center is the eventual slip finisher.
The SG (2) leaves the weakside corner and moves diagonally toward the top-middle defender. The goal is to screen or at least occupy the middle defender in the top line of the 3-2 zone.
At the same time, the SF (3) flares over the top of that screen, moving from the right slot toward the left slot or left wing area. The SF should arrive balanced, with hands ready, because the next pass is coming immediately.
As the flare action develops, the Center (5) steps up toward the ball-side top defender. This should look like a real step-up screen for the PG.
The Center does not hold the screen for long. The purpose is to make the defense react toward the ball, freeze the top defender for a beat, and create separation before slipping.
The PG (1) passes to the SF (3) on the left slot or wing after the flare. This pass must be firm and on time.
The pass is the trigger. Once the ball changes sides, the zone has to shift. That movement opens the middle lane for the Center’s slip.
After selling the step-up screen, the Center (5) slips hard into the middle of the paint. This is not a slow roll. It should be a sharp, direct cut into the open space between the top line and the low line of the zone.
The Center should show target hands early and expect the ball before the defense fully rotates.
While the Center slips, the PF (4) pins the low weakside defender near the block. The pin prevents the low defender from stepping up to tag, bump, or contest the Center.
The PF should use a wide base, strong lower body position, and legal screening contact. The job is not to chase the defender; it is to hold the inside position long enough for the pass and finish.
On the catch, the SF (3) looks inside immediately. If the Center has position, the SF throws the pass into the lane.
The Center catches and finishes in one motion. The ideal finish is a quick catch, chin, and score before the low line can collapse.
The first read is the Center slipping into the middle. If the Center wins the lane, the SF should deliver the pass immediately. Holding the ball gives the zone time to recover.
The second read is the low pin. If the PF has sealed the low defender, the pass should be led away from help and toward the Center’s inside shoulder.
If the top-middle defender fights through the SG’s screen and takes away the passing lane, the SF should not force the interior pass. The ball can be held briefly, swung, or used to attack the shifted zone, but the designed scoring window is the quick slip.
If the low defender beats the pin and steps up early, the Center may catch short and finish through contact, or the offense can use the collapsed defense to move the ball out. The priority is still the paint touch created by the slip.
The SG must make the flare screen useful. The screen does not have to destroy the defender, but it must delay the top-middle defender long enough for the SF to receive the reversal pass cleanly. Screen angle matters: the SG should meet the defender’s path, not drift into open space.
The SF must sprint the flare route and arrive shot-ready. Even though the first look is inside, the catch must look like a real scoring threat. If the SF catches casually, the zone will sit in the paint and take away the slip.
The Center must sell the step-up screen before slipping. If the Center slips too early, the defense sees it. If the Center holds too long, the window closes. The cue is: “show screen, make the defender react, then go.”
The PF’s pin is the hidden key to the play. The slip only works if the low defender cannot tag the Center. The PF should pin with strong hips, wide feet, and active hands showing as a rebounder or dump-off target after the finish.
The PG’s pass to the SF should be delivered on time. A late reversal ruins the timing between the Center’s slip and the PF’s pin.
The SF’s interior pass should be early and firm. Lead the Center into space. Do not float the ball into the middle of the zone.
The SG screens air instead of the top-middle defender. Correct it by teaching the SG to find the defender’s body and screen the path the defender needs to recover through.
The SF drifts instead of flaring with pace. Correct it by requiring the SF to sprint to the catch spot, plant outside the arc or slot area, and show hands early.
The Center slips without selling the screen. Correct it by making the Center pause just long enough to look like a real step-up screen. The defender must believe the screen is coming.
The PF releases the pin too early. Correct it by cueing the PF to hold until the ball is clearly thrown to the Center. Releasing on the catch is often too late; releasing before the pass usually allows the tag.
The SF catches and surveys too long. Correct it with a 0.5-second rule: catch, look inside, pass if open. The slip window is short.
The Center catches and brings the ball down. Correct it with finishing rules: catch high, chin the ball, and finish without an extra gather unless contact forces it.
If the defense overplays the SF coming off the flare, the SF can stop short into space instead of drifting too wide. The important detail is maintaining the passing angle to the slipping Center.
If the top line starts anticipating the Center’s slip, the Center can hold the step-up screen slightly longer before slipping. This keeps the action honest and can open a driving lane for the PG if the defense chases the reversal too aggressively.
If the low defender starts jumping the slip early, the PF should exaggerate the pin and seal deeper. The offense can also use the Center as a short-roll passer if the defense collapses with two defenders.
For a simpler version in the same family, 3-2 Flare Slip to Rim removes some of the timing complexity while keeping the flare-and-slip concept. For a closely related option with a similar pin concept, use 3-2 Flare to Slip with Pin.
The main scoring option is the Center slipping into the middle of the lane after selling the step-up screen.
The SF makes the key pass. After catching the reversal from the PG, the SF must look inside immediately and feed the Center before the zone recovers.
The PF’s pin prevents the low defender from tagging the Center. Without that pin, the slip can be crowded even if the timing is good.
It is built for attacking a 3-2 zone. Some screening principles may carry over, but the spacing, pin, and slip timing are designed specifically to punish zone rotations.
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