If we're having so much trouble guarding inside, why don't we switch to zone for at least some part of the game? We have pretty mobile big men, there shouldn't be a reason it wouldn't work. I saw the Blazers use it pretty effectively against us the other night and the Mavs use it very frequently to good results with Chandler as their C.
The defense we should be playing with this group of undersized more athletic players is overplay. You overplay the passing lanes and force the opponent into an uptempo game. Yes, you give up some layups. But we're already giving them up and that is after getting fouls called and getting beat down defensively anyways. We might as well overplay and force the opponent into an uptempo game. If they get a layup, we should be ready to run it back up their heels on the other end and get it right back, then guard them the entire 94 feet and force a helter skelter style game.
Kevin Martin and Aaron Brooks doesn't understand simple defensive schemes, playing zone is not as easy as people in here though, it is designed to make the opposing teams take midrange and late clock out of rythm 3's. It takes a lot to play it well.
It depends who were are playing really... Like a very good 3pt. Shooting team NOT SMART But worth a try since we lost Yao and Hayes (for awhile)
Good idea, but I can't recollect this team, at least currently constructed, playing zone. True we may not have the time of practice sessions.. it would be beneficial to have offensive AND defensive coordinators just like in football. It would solve our problem in the short run, until the opposing team hands it back to us. We really just need to find some major inside presence.
Exactly, with the schedule as it is in January it will be impossible to get the practice time required.
For the time being, until we get Hayes back or get a trade done for a player or two that fits better into a half court scheme. The only guys we got that can play half court basketball with any kind of efficiency are Miller, Scola, Battier, and Lowry and Miller, Scola, and Battier can only play one end efficiently while they totally suck at the other end. And defensively we totally suck in half court other than Battier. Everybody else we have playing either can't defend at all or they are terrible in half court set defense and would be much better served in a wild uptempo simple overplay and scramble style. If we expect guys like Hill to have any kind of success we've got to go uptempo and let their natural athleticism be emphasized while de-emphasizing their decision making. If they overplay and get beat, head to the other end and look for the quick pass down. Get it back fast and go replay the defense again.
