Zone D

[Shoot the J]

Please forgive me for being an uneducated fan.

Would somebody please explain to me why it's a negative to play zone? We've seen it be very effective against the Heat, yet whenever it's suggested, it's almost always followed by a "if they have to".
I'm just curious what the disadvantages of a zone d are, and why teams seem so hesitant to go that way.

Thanks in advance
GO C's!

[Celtics18]

Please forgive me for being an uneducated fan.

Would somebody please explain to me why it's a negative to play zone? We've seen it be very effective against the Heat, yet whenever it's suggested, it's almost always followed by a "if they have to".
I'm just curious what the disadvantages of a zone d are, and why teams seem so hesitant to go that way.

Thanks in advance
GO C's!

I think a lot of people feel that it's easier to stay engaged defensively in a man to man defense.  I also think there's the stigma attached to a zone defense that it's an admission of sorts that you can't compete athletically with the opposition.  Nobody wants to admit that.  Also, the defensive 3 second rule makes playing the zone somewhat of a nuisance.  It's a difficult position for the center in the zone to have to guard the paint and make sure he steps out of the lane every two and a half seconds.

Having said that, the good defensive teams like the Celtics and the Heat are almost always employing some kind of zone principles, even when they are playing a more traditional man to man defense.

[Mr October]

Also if Miami puts in 5 shooters, KG has to get pulled out of the paint and can't protect the basket.

In college the center can still hover in the paint. Not in the NBA. This team needs KG's elite defense in the middle.

[Shoot the J]

Makes sense. Thanks
In playing a team like the Heat, though, wouldn't it be an effective way to keep DWade & LBJ out of the paint and force them to shoot mid-range jumpers?

[Freebo]

Makes sense. Thanks
In playing a team like the Heat, though, wouldn't it be an effective way to keep DWade & LBJ out of the paint and force them to shoot mid-range jumpers?

they are actually playing a combined defense. It's a very complex man-to-man, because there is a lot of switching and helping. If you watch closely it's never straight up man-to-man, nor is it a straight up zone.

[ballin]

I think that we should use it a little more against the Heat.

More than anything, I think it just helps to switch up the defensive looks that they're getting by mixing it up. Throwing a zone out there occasionally accomplishes that

[ewp]

I think that we should use it a little more against the Heat.

More than anything, I think it just helps to switch up the defensive looks that they're getting by mixing it up. Throwing a zone out there occasionally accomplishes that

I think that it may be effective to use it a little when KG sits, maybe do something to mix it up as the Heat have been going on runs when KG sits.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

Zone, with rondo and dooling up top..then switch in md..keep miller and chalmers from going off...

[LooseCannon]

In playing a team like the Heat, though, wouldn't it be an effective way to keep DWade & LBJ out of the paint and force them to shoot mid-range jumpers?

It doesn't work if guys like Mike Miller and Mario Chalmers hit their open threes.  It doesn't work if the Heat are disciplined and patient and move the ball while waiting for someone to find a gap between zones.  But it does work against mentally weak teams who don't handle the pressure well and can't make open jumpers, so it is a scheme that should work some of the time against Miami.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

Haslem as starting center for the heat....you think you seen hard fouls before....Haslem is a famous hacker....he is put in there for his hacking....it is pat riley style..."when the other team is better, hack them down to your level" of course the announcers will just say it is " good playoff basketball" when they throw our guy to the ground, or wind up and hit him in the head when the ball is sorta near it....BUT, when rondo pushes a guy who runs him out of bounds, or riles HIS leg..while the other guy does the same....TECH......not even 1/2 the contact force......these guys that say there is no difference.....probably never got hit that way.....

[Pat3]

Good point