When you are playing 2 -3 zone defense, the offense will try to overload you by attacking 1 defensive player with 2 offensive ones. This means that your weak side defenders will often have to guard multiple threats. Let us analyze how should the front-line and the back-line players cover their position the right way.
If the ball goes on the side, the front-line defender will cover the ball, and the other guard will need to cover the high post player (Power Forward) and the Point Guard.
His correct position would be halfway between the Power Forward and the Point Guard, but the majority of the coaches do not want the ball to get to the elbow, so sometimes it is 1/3 way to the elbow and 2/3 of the way from the point. He must have his eyes on the ball, and be active in a way that the player with the ball must not feel comfortable to make the pass to either of them. He can position himself closer to one or the other and wait for the pass and maybe steal the ball.
It is up to him to play those mind games with the ball handler, but he must be aware that it is more dangerous if the high post player receive the ball.
The wing weak side defender must step inside the paint. He's back must be parallel with the baseline so he can see everything.
If he is turning towards the ball, he wont be able to see the cutters, or the screen for the corner shooter.
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