Zone defense is a basketball strategy where players are assigned specific areas of the court to cover, rather than marking individual opponents. This approach allows teams to protect the basket and limit scoring opportunities by creating a collective defensive effort. Each player is responsible for defending any offensive player that enters their designated zone. In zone defense, common formations include the 2-3 zone and 3-2 zone, which refer to the arrangement of players. The 2-3 zone has two players near the perimeter and three closer to the basket, while the 3-2 zone has three players up front and two near the basket. This strategy can be effective against teams that rely heavily on outside shooting.