Setup and Organization

Teams are divided into offense and defense, switching roles after four to five minutes. Two cones are placed between the three-point line and half court (extended from each elbow). The offensive alignment starts with one player in each baseline corner and a third ball-handler near the cones. The defense begins with one defender in each low block area (matched with the corner players) and a third defender on the three-point line at the top of the key. The drill is scored defensively: every stop is worth 1 point, charges are worth 2, and fouls reset the defense’s score to zero.

Step-by-Step Progression

1. The drill begins when the top offensive player attacks off the dribble toward the basket.
2. This triggers the top defensive player to sprint to either cone, touch it, and recover into play, leaving a temporary 3-on-2 advantage for the offense.
3. The low defenders must communicate and rotate quickly to stop the ball and cover passing lanes, buying time for the recovering third defender.
4. Once the third defender re-enters, the drill flows into a live 3-on-3 possession. The defense must scramble, close out, and recover to finish the stop with a rebound.

Scoring

Charges taken are worth 2 points. All other defensive stops are worth 1 point. Defensive fouls or offensive rebounds allowed reset the defensive unit’s score to zero. The unit with the most points at the end of their segment wins.

Coaching Points

Emphasize sprinting and urgency on the recovery. Defenders must rotate early, communicate loudly, and stop the ball before it reaches the paint. Reinforce discipline on closeouts—short, under control, high hands—and insist on physical box-outs to complete the possession.

Variations

Change the alignment of the cones to adjust recovery distance, or allow the offensive player to start from different spots (wing, slot, or deep corner). You can also add a one-dribble restriction for the offense or run the drill in progression to 4-on-3 for advanced teams.