Western Conference Finals: Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers

[ex carrabba fan]

Quote: Originally Posted by Landlordos7

Why? I don't understand why it's popular opinion amongst basketball enthusiasts that zone defense is somehow inferior to man-to-man, because it really isn't, conceptually. Maybe if you are a man-to-man team, and run it every once in a while, in which case it will obviously not be as effective as it could be if you were always committed to it.

It's not as black and white as "zone defense is or is not inferior to man-to-man"

Not all "zones" are straight 2-3 or 3-2 or what have you. They are much more intricate than that.

Besides, teams will bail in and out of it depending on the play.

You can't point to any title winning team and say "they won playing mostly zone defense". There's a reason for that.

[Landlordos7]

Quote: Originally Posted by ex carrabba fan

It's not as black and white as "zone defense is or is not inferior to man-to-man" Not all "zones" are straight 2-3 or 3-2 or what have you. They are much more intricate than that. Besides, teams will bail in and out of it depending on the play. You can't point to any title winning team and say "they won playing mostly zone defense". There's a reason for that.

Not in the NBA, at least. The reason for it is that it wasn't even legal until recently, and it's unpopular. You can't say that it fails until a team actually tries it and comes up short, until then nobody knows.

[ex carrabba fan]

Quote: Originally Posted by Landlordos7

Not in the NBA, at least. The reason for it is that it wasn't even legal until recently, and it's unpopular. You can't say that it fails until a team actually tries it and comes up short, until then nobody knows.

True, but any team which depends on mostly zone defense is going to get figured out. It's inevitable. There are way too many soft spots that can be exposed in any zone.

Hate to throw the "these guys are pros" line out there but it holds true. When it comes down to it, on that level, to beat the other team in a series you're going to have to beat them man up. A zone will only get you so far, but a hybrid can be successful ala Boston 2008.

Like I said though, that Boston team had Perkins, Powe, KG, Posey, hell even PP and Ray Ray were punking LA's then-soft cast of characters. Their hedging was brilliant but their bruising man to man defense ultimately broke LA.

Kobe did have a lot of good looks in that series though, it's a shame he couldn't knock more jumpers down. He got in the lane a lot, just not to his sweet spots.

[jeebs9]

Quote: Originally Posted by ex carrabba fan

It's not as black and white as "zone defense is or is not inferior to man-to-man" Not all "zones" are straight 2-3 or 3-2 or what have you. They are much more intricate than that. Besides, teams will bail in and out of it depending on the play. You can't point to any title winning team and say "they won playing mostly zone defense". There's a reason for that.

Exactly......

[jeebs9]

Quote: Originally Posted by Landlordos7

Not in the NBA, at least. The reason for it is that it wasn't even legal until recently, and it's unpopular. You can't say that it fails until a team actually tries it and comes up short, until then nobody knows.

How many college teams that played zone have won the NCAA title?...I can only think of the orangemen.

[jeebs9]

Quote: Originally Posted by ex carrabba fan

True, but any team which depends on mostly zone defense is going to get figured out. It's inevitable. There are way too many soft spots that can be exposed in any zone. Hate to throw the "these guys are pros" line out there but it holds true. When it comes down to it, on that level, to beat the other team in a series you're going to have to beat them man up. A zone will only get you so far, but a hybrid can be successful ala Boston 2008. Like I said though, that Boston team had Perkins, Powe, KG, Posey, hell even PP and Ray Ray were punking LA's then-soft cast of characters. Their hedging was brilliant but their bruising man to man defense ultimately broke LA. Kobe did have a lot of good looks in that series though, it's a shame he couldn't knock more jumpers down. He got in the lane a lot, just not to his sweet spots.

How about Rondo?.....lol

[Dice]

Quote: Originally Posted by jeebs9

How many college teams that played zone have won the NCAA title?...I can only think of the orangemen.

One of my favorite teams of all time won in 1990, the UNLV Running Rebels. They won playing a match up zone called the, Amoeba defense. And that defense strangled a lot of team's offenses during that time.

[jeebs9]

Quote: Originally Posted by Dice

One of my favorite teams of all time won in 1990, the UNLV Running Rebels. They won playing a match up zone called the, Amoeba defense. And that defense strangled a lot of team's offenses during that time.

I knew there was another team. But I couldn't remember what the name of the team for the life of me. But that was a very crazy bunch. Probably the most hops on one team of all time....lol That was a very scary defense.