Zone Defense

[Michael Anthony]

The Celtics are in the unique position of having the biggest team of all time... and possibly the slowest.

In spurts, I think a lineup of Shaq-JO-Garnett-Pierce-Allen could be a game changer. Nobody can take it to the paint on that crew, and our rebounding would be unreal.

The problem is defense, and the solution is the zone.

[Jeff]

I actually thought about this as well.  But there has to be some reason why more teams don't utilize the zone to defend pick-and-rolls more.  I'd imagine the defensive 3 seconds rule and illegal defense rules have something to do with it but someone with a better pedigree in coaching will have to help me out here.

[Larry Pistol]

The reason why it is so hard to play zone defense in the NBA is because almost every single player can knock down the open jumper. That's why we play man-to-man but help on each other's man. We just need every single player on the court to know where they need to be at all times. When PP gets beat by the dribble of Kobe, KG needs to step in and defend the rim, that's easy. But then JO/Shaq needs to shift to cover KGs man who is most likely close to the rim since KG just switched to Kobe whose attacking the rim.

I just don't think the zone works in the NBA which is why you never see it. It actually just became relevant again in 2001 when all "illegal" defenses have now been made legal. But whether it is because it just doesn't work at the professional level or because it is just getting back, I just don't see this happening. Only strength and team devotion will solidify our defense.

[sk7326]

I actually thought about this as well.  But there has to be some reason why more teams don't utilize the zone to defend pick-and-rolls more.  I'd imagine the defensive 3 seconds rule and illegal defense rules have something to do with it but someone with a better pedigree in coaching will have to help me out here.

i think it's the defensive 3 mostly ... in college and in europe you can play zone, clog up the middle and force a team to shoot jumpers.  Here, any zone still leaves that opening.  That said, a matchup zone can work - and almost every team's defense has some zone concepts in how the help works and when switches take place.

If you look at the Jim O'Brien Celtics teams for instance, they basically zoned the middle by fronting the post and blasting the pick. 

A full zone ultimately has holes that quick passing can exploit ... in a basic 2-3, if you can get the ball to the high post, either via pass or via dribble, you can create open shots just about everywhere.

[manl_lui]

didn't we use zone defense against Kobe in 2008, and Lebron?
 

[Chris]

The Celtics are in the unique position of having the biggest team of all time... and possibly the slowest.

In spurts, I think a lineup of Shaq-JO-Garnett-Pierce-Allen could be a game changer. Nobody can take it to the paint on that crew, and our rebounding would be unreal.

The problem is defense, and the solution is the zone.

The problem is, you can't play a true zone in the NBA, which minimizes the effectiveness of those big men.  They can't hang out in the paint, just waiting for someone to come in there.  They need to either be with their man, or out of the paint every 3 seconds. 

The C's already do play a sort of zone, which has been incredibly effective.  It is essentially a matchup zone, where they overload the frontside of plays.  But I don't think a full out zone will be effective in anything but short spurts.

[LilRip]

phoenix played a gimmicky zone in the playoffs last year and that worked pretty well against LA. If i'm not mistaken, it was a buzzer beating Ron Artest putback that really swung the series.



- LilRip

[Fafnir]

phoenix played a gimmicky zone in the playoffs last year and that worked pretty well against LA. If i'm not mistaken, it was a buzzer beating Ron Artest putback that really swung the series.



- LilRip

No it didn't LA shredded Pheonix's defense.

[mgent]

phoenix played a gimmicky zone in the playoffs last year and that worked pretty well against LA. If i'm not mistaken, it was a buzzer beating Ron Artest putback that really swung the series.



- LilRip

No it didn't LA shredded Pheonix's defense.

Yes.  Thus the zone.

[sk7326]

phoenix played a gimmicky zone in the playoffs last year and that worked pretty well against LA. If i'm not mistaken, it was a buzzer beating Ron Artest putback that really swung the series.



- LilRip

It did, until Game 6 ... zones are important to have in the toolchest, but it can't be a primary defense.  The Celtics zone plenty already, but it's in how they overload the strong side.

[Fafnir]

phoenix played a gimmicky zone in the playoffs last year and that worked pretty well against LA. If i'm not mistaken, it was a buzzer beating Ron Artest putback that really swung the series.



- LilRip

No it didn't LA shredded Pheonix's defense.

Yes.  Thus the zone.

They shredded their man to man defense, and they also shredded their zone.

The games Pheonix won they managed to outscore the Lakers, the Lakers got their points every single game no matter the defense thrown at them.

[youcanthandlethetruth113]

I can envision some sort of shifting-zone working for small spurts.

Also, a box+1 is a decent option as well.

[Who]

I forget that zone defense that the Wolves used regularly back in the day ... vague memory of it ... under Flip Saunders with Kevin Garnett at the top of the key. Was it two bigs and two wings? A 2-2-1?

Using his long wingspan to bother point guards and playing great help defense by overloading onto the strong side wing or dropping deep to double the post.

That zone was very effective. It would be worth testing to see if that would work here.

[Celtics4ever]

If we rebound , we will control the ball and the tempo.  If we control the tempo our speed of lack thereof won't matter too much.

[MBz]

It's very difficult to run an effective zone in the NBA.  The first reason is defensive 3 seconds.  Even in zones where you don't have someone camped in the middle such as a 1-2-2 or a 3-2, you still need to help and you tend to be in the key for more than 3 seconds.  The second reason is NBA players are just such good shooters that with simple ball movement and a good pivot man it makes it very easy for guys to get open looks while stepping in to the shot.  I do suspect teams will try to play zone against the heat, but without being able to constantly protect the basket, it will just be too difficult.