Assuming we pick yao with our first draft pick, I believe most of our problems are over if we play a 2-3 zone with Cuttino and Steve at the top, Yao down low, and a mix of Kenny Thomas, Mo Taylor, and Eddie on the wings. I do not see how this kind of defense could fail with the players we have. We will not have to worry about the quick small forwards blowing by one of our bigger and slower players because backup will be there. This also gives us a great 6th man in whoever does not start on the wing. What do you guys think about this?
I'll take a stab. The opposing team has a big center walk to near the basket and face the ball. They lob him the ball. He backs Ming down and dunks. Of course this can only work for them if there big man is as good as college stiff who may be a second round pick.
Here are the major reasons why we won't play zone. 1. It's hard to defensive rebound from a zone defense. This is common sense, since our big men wouldn't be in prime position to box out. When you play a zone, there will be gaps in the defense that offenses can exploit by sending cutters to the open spots, or by grabbing offensive boards in the gaps. 2. Too many good ball handlers in the NBA. The zone is very effective in the college game, because they have less ground to cover (19 ft 9 inch 3 pt line), as well as the fact that not too many players in the NCAA are good enough ballhandlers to dribble through a zone defense. In the NBA, a 2-3 zone or whatever, has to extend 4 feet further since the NBA 3 pt line is at 23 ft 9 inches. That extra 4 feet is a lot of ground to cover. Also, every PG and 75% of SGs in the NBA have the necessary ballhandling skills to slice through a defense. 3. If Ming is our "linchpin" to the zone defense, then it will be useless, with the 3 second defensive rule. In college, centers can stand around the goal for as long as they want to. In the NBA, the opposing team will just pull their big men out of the paint, and force Ming to step out of the paint to avoid the 3 second call. NBA teams really don't use the new NBA rules to employ a zone defense. But rather, they use it to double team players without the ball.
