Tactics for the particular match should be chosen considering opponent’s playing style. You can try to find out your opponent’s playing style by watching his matches live or following matches’ chronology. One can also find a lot of information in the page of Teams’ statistics, where shots' stats is provided. Therefore you can see if your opponent more likes to play in the low post or attack from 3 points' line.
It is recommended to choose tactics of team’s offence and defence for every match. Team tactics may have considerable impact on match’s result.
Team tactics of the opponent may be guessed by analyzing his match chronology and statistics.
Defence
Common features of zone defence ("3-2", "2-3", "1-3-1"):
2 on 2 play is a bit less effective against zone defence
when playing 1 on 1 attack is more often finished with 3-point shot
bigger chances that some opponent players won’t be boxed out and will take a rebound
if the ball bounces close to the basket, most often big players will fight for rebound
team in defence gets less tired.
2-3 zone
Two players are guarding at 3-point line. The other three players are guarding area close to the basket.
Strength of defence:
close to the basket *****
mid range **
near 3-point line **
Other features:
A bit smaller chances to steal the ball
3-2 zone
Three players are guarding at 3-point line. The other two players are guarding area close to the basket (C and PF).
Strength of defence:
close to the basket ****
mid range ***
near 3-point line ***
Other features:
A bit easier to stop drives
1-3-1 zone
Center position player is guarding area close to the basket. Three players are near 3-point line and 1 player - in front.
Strength of defence:
close to the basket ***
mid range ***
near 3-point line ***
Other features:
The biggest chances to steal the ball
The best defence against drives
Man-to-man
Each player is constantly guarding opponent of the same position. Other players rarely come to help. Therefore when using this style of defence the skills' ratio between defender and his opponent is very important.
Strength of defence:
close to the basket **
mid range ****
near 3-point line ****
Other features:
Players in defence get more tired
When fighting for rebound every player tries to box out his direct opponent. If all players in defence have similar or better skills than their opponents, it is easier to get the rebound.
Bigger chances to steal the ball
More difficult to stop drives to the basket
Box and one
The most appropriate player man to man defends the best player in offence. Other players use zone defence aligning themselves in a “box” shape (2 players under the basket and 2 players near 3-point line).
The best opponents’ player is the one with the best accuracy skills (in the beginning of match) or the one who has scored most points (from the beginning of second quarter).
Strength of defence:
close to the basket ***
mid range **
near 3-point line **
Other features:
The biggest chances to defend the best player of the opponents
In other cases Box and One works like 3-2 zone but a bit less effective
Diamond and one
Works similarly as Box-and-One. Players that use zone defence align themselves not in a “box” shape but in a “diamond” shape. This style of defence is a bit more effective in the low post and less effective in the mid range (to compare with Box and One).