For the life of me I can't figure out what the NBA was thinking by bringing back the zone defense. First of all it is a fundemental change to the game that will will make some star players inneffectual and make stars out of some journeymen. All the strategic moves in shaping teams and all the offensive philosophies are out the window. I guess TVland didn't like clearouts but 1 on 1 is closer to street ball. Here are my guesses on the future: 1. Big bodies are in, tweeners are out. Just fill up the lane with 7 footers force outside shots and rebound; no agility required. 2.Shooters are in , slashers are out. Driving the lane will become both dangerous and futile. 3.Outlet passers and open court closers will be money. Since nobody in the NBA can shoot the only way to score will be rebound and run. (Lou LLoyd makes a comeback) 4. I think Shaq will still get his numbers but will pay the price with a constant 3 man hack-a-Shaq attack. As far as the Rockets go, I think they are blessed with zone-busters..Bull, Mo-T, Mooch,Lanky and yes The Wiz. The big question is, can Hakeem and Cato be the lane dwelling, shot blocking, intimidating force needed to own the paint? ------------------ consciousness is the awareness of awareness
All you armchair coaches out there let us hear how the Zone will effect the NBA! "When I was at Klein Oak and we played Ostertag at the Christmas tourney, we set up in the........" ------------------ consciousness is the awareness of awareness
The Zone is WAY overrated. Teams are taking guys like Gasol instead of top notch talent like Griffen and Battier because of the Zone. First, it'll only last a year. Second, the reason why teams want guys like Matt Bullard is because they dont really have someone that can create in traffic. The Rockets have 2 guys that can do that. NBA point guards would demolish the 1-3-1 unless the frontcourt guy is Payton or Kidd. There may be lower scores, but trust me, guys like Mobley, Iverson, and Nash will get their points. ------------------ One of the newest members of the New Jersey Nets fan club.
As far as offnese goes, midrange jumpshots will be in. ------------------ "Chucky who? I thought we were talking about basketball?" Charles Barkley
I think the biggest misconception among fans is that they think teams will play an all out zone, which isn't the case. As much as old timers like to say that shooting is a lost art form, teams that play an all out zone will get killed on the outside by shooters more times than not. I expect a loose man to man, with players guarding an area ie: top of the key to free throw line extended on the right side, freethrow line extended to baseline, freethrow line to top of the key. ------------------ The Smurfs were Communists
3.Outlet passers and open court closers will be money. Since nobody in the NBA can shoot the only way to score will be rebound and run. (Lou LLoyd makes a comeback) Solution to this: Get people who have fundamentals and can shoot the ball (what a concept!) 4. I think Shaq will still get his numbers but will pay the price with a constant 3 man hack-a-Shaq attack. Solution to this: Build a team of good players instead of 1 or 2 stars and a bunch of scrubs. The point of the zone is to get people to run and to focus on teamwork over individualism. Will it work? Who knows, but the "problems" you described are easily fixed if you try to spread out your talent. ------------------ http://www.swirve.com ... more fun than a barrel full of monkeys and midgets.
Let me just say that there isnt an offensive minded post player in the world that likes zone defense. Shaq may actually be stopped now though. ------------------ "banging Shaq is a whole different expirience"-Pete Babcock Behold the power of quotation
At what pont did he describe those things as "problems"? ------------------ The season's over, but the 'Stros have started. Guess I'm still gonna be nursing that keg...
I think teams will most likely run a 2-3 to stop our starting guards, which is why i feel The Wiz is still pretty valuable to us. and of course the concensus here is that Bull will be too. ------------------ President of MY fan club.
I didn't really read any of the posts in this thread, but I feel obligated to say the 1-3-1 zone kicks ass! I think my cc.net sim league brethren will agree... ------------------ This post contains no smilies, you must judge my seriousness on your own... "I'm a Level 18 mage, wanna form a party?" -- Dr of Geekdom in search of a Dungeons and Dragons buddy...
I don't think that teams will just sit back in their zone just because they are allowed to. Man on man D will still be played, it's just that the teams won't be forced to guard Stacey Augmon or Jamal Crawford on the perimeter when they know that they haven't got a hope of making the shot from out there. Bring on TEAM basketball!! ------------------
A lot of good NBA coaches already play zone defense. Pat Riley is known for it. Every Rocket fan knows George Karl does it. Everybody rags Hakeem for all his turnovers in against the Sonics in '96, but the double was on him before he got the ball, subsequent turnovers, both on the ball and crosscourt, are attributable to this. However, the bottom line is that NBA players can shoot. Day in and Day out it may not seem that way, but teams that leave guys wide open lose. If you a mixture, dropping your guys in to deflect, intercept the pass, or to muscle hands on the ball after receipt, you can, and it works. You want to play 5 on 4, triangle and two, box n one, amoeba, crazy Dale Brown/LSU zone? You are going to be toast. ------------------
The problem with the 1-3-1 as an NBA zone is that it would keep two men in the paint, which will not be allowed for more than three seconds (unless the camped out player is within an arm's length of a defensive player). I think when teams run a zone, it will be 2-3, with the middle player (the center) posted on the strong side just outside of the lane. Of course, this will open up the paint for weakside cutters. ------------------
not true. this is an attacking zone which traps the ball and takes away passing and driving lanes. it rarely has a man camped out anywhere.
Hey Joebarleycares, are you named after the Rockets first Cato, Joe Barry Carroll? After more consideration I have to agree with Tacoma. I think the pros won't really run a zone as we know it from school ball. I think they will just run a sagging man to man. The defense will match up man to man but the defensive players will not be required to clear out like under the former illegal defense rules. They can hang around the lane to help out which should create a rash of turnovers from the big men. Players guarding nonshooters could essentially play 2 on 1 on the main offensive threats. Players covering shooters will have to match up further out. Someone got me wrong, I think the sagging man on man greatly helps the Rockets. Defensively it helps cover our liabilities at the C and PF using quickness from the 1& 2 to help out. Also, our good rebounding guards can be closer to the ball coming off the rim. Ofensively, the Rockets have always emphisized shooting skills. I think quick perimeter passing and shooting over the top will be the way to score. A lot of the Rockets scoring has been over the top using the inside out passing game to get the open shots. I just don't know if you will be able get an open pass into a big man with all the sagging hands. I can see us playing the Lakers sagging 4 men on Shaq and letting Cutino taking Kobe 1 on 1 then bombing them with high percentage shooting on the other end. Maybe we can sign Mad Max to a minimum contract and just bring him off the IR when we need him piss off one of the Young Guns. Rudy won his Championships playing the 2 man game because it was the best option within the existing rules and the fact that he had the best player in the world with which to run it. But, I think he enjoys coaching team ball more. ------------------ consciousness is the awareness of awareness
