zone defense is the archenemy of Steve

I think teams may have figured out how to guard Steve just like how teams figured out how to guard TMac. That's why TMac started developing a killer outside shot.

http://www.coachingyouthbasketball.net/advantages_and_disadvantages_of_zone_defense.htm

ADVANTAGES

1. It is effective against medium and close-in shots and against pass and cut moves.

2. Its compactness closes normal passing lanes and necessitates careful maneuvering and accurate passing; therefore, it is effective against post attacks.

3. It develops aggressiveness in intercepting the ball.

4. It can conserve the energy of tired players.

5. It is an excellent defense from which to obtain good offensive fast break opportunities.

6. It is an excellent defense against a poor ball handling team and poor outside shooting team.

7. It is effective against teams using a set pattern, screening type offense.

8. It is effective against teams using a free-lance type of offense.

9. It reduces the number of fouls.

10. It is a good defense if the court space is restricted.

11. Rebound position is assured.

12. It is adaptable for tall, uncoordinated players who cannot play good man to man defense.

13. It is easier to teach from a team structure than man to man defense.

14. It protects players who are in foul trouble.

15. It is a good psychological defense against some opponents. They become cautious or take bad shots.

16. It hides weak defensive players.

17. Beating it requires a planned attack that must rely on accurate medium and outside shooting.

18. It is an effective surprise maneuver, especially if the team can play different types of zones from the initial zone structure.

19. A passive zone protecting the middle area forces a trailing team to take outside shots.

20. It is easily adaptable to a well schooled man to man defensive team as an auxiliary defense.

21. It is effective against a team with an outstanding driver, as it tends to immobilize the team and restrict the driver.

 

"They hid in a zone for 48 minutes," Francis said. ``They know better than to match up straight up with us."

Francis was trying to challenge the Mavericks' manhood, daring them to play more one-on-one defense.

http://www.kccall.com/News/2002/1129/Web_Sports/003.html

St. John's coach Mike Jarvis may hate using a zone defense, but his team loves playing it.

The third-seeded Red Storm held Maryland without a point for the final 8:26 of the first half, and freshman Erick Barkley scored 24 points to lead St. John's past the Terrapins, 76-62, in the NCAA Tournament South Region semifinals.

For the second straight game, Jarvis instructed his players to use a 2-3 zone defense to slow Maryland's speed. And for the second straight contest, the plan worked to perfection as the Red Storm (28-8) scored the final 20 points of the half to take a 38-19 lead into intermission.

The Terps shot just 35 percent (21-of-60) and committed 21 turnovers that led to 19 points. Francis was 5-of-13 from the field, while Profit and Terence Morris made only 5-of-17 shots.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/ba...ards/1999/03/18/recap.maryland.st_john_s.html

"It probably helped out some teams with bad one-on-one defenders," Abdur-Rahim said. "But when we went zone, it stagnated some team’s offense. It takes a lot of the one-on-one out and brings in a lot more jump shot."

For the most part, however, coaches are in favor of it.

"It gives the game more dimensions," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "You just can’t play street ball against a zone. You can’t just hoist it up and isolate and try to overmatch individuals. I think there are a lot of things that go into it that make it a good rule."

The zone defense, however, has had a dramatic change upon the game in another sense.

The isolation play, in which a team clears out one side of the court so its top one-on-one offensive player can have room to penetrate to the basket, became too much a part of the game. The role of the other four players was to stand around and watch.

Boring.

With a zone, that play is no longer as common and that has affected the abilities of some players.

"If you look at individual players -- Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady -- and teams as a whole, it has affected the game a great deal," Lakers guard Kobe Bryant said.

Bryant is accurate when comparing players such as Iverson, Carter and McGrady in terms of shooting percentage. Carter, the Toronto Raptors star, and Iverson, the reigning MVP from the Philadelphia 76ers, are both shooting career lows. McGrady’s shooting percentage is the lowest since he became a full-time starter in Orlando.

In contrast, Bryant, considered one of the game’s best one-on-one players, is shooting a career-best 47.8 percent.

Bryant pointed out that the zone has affected two teams the most -- Minnesota in a good way; Houston in a bad way.

Minnesota used the zone extensively early in the season and was 30-10 at one point. The Timberwolves, the No. 8 seed in the playoffs last year, are in fourth in the Western Conference.

"They’re big, they’re athletic and they can move," Chicago coach Bill Cartwright said. "They’re difficult to pass around."

Although Minnesota was the first to utilize the zone extensively, it has not found as much success recently. Teams have become familiar with the zone, Nelson said, and have made adjustments offensively to make it tougher for Minnesota to win playing the defense.

On the other end of the spectrum, Bryant said, zone defenses have hurt Houston the most, a team dependent upon the one-on-one abilities of Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley.

http://www.thedesertsun.com/news/stories/sports/1015127959.shtml

 

I didn't remember Sam Cassell having a jumper like he has now when he was with the Rockets. I don't know how long it takes to get a decent jumper, but Steve is 26 years old. I just know if I were playing defense on Steve, I'd make sure he shoots jumpers. It'll be interesting to see how the Kings defense him tonight.