Will the Cs adopt the Zone?

[FrDrake]

I think everyone can agree that Carlisle did a great job coaching the Mavs to the championship and he made excellent adjustments against Miami through out the series, including moving Barea into the starting lineup.

The Mavs also reportedly use the zone more effectively and more often than any other team in the league (source: Van Gundy on air).  They stymied the Heat and made them shoot over the zone which they couldn't do.  Of course...Lebron couldn't miss a three against the Celtics in round two but who's complaining. 

Next year, I think we'll see a lot copy cats all over the league adopting the zone but more importantly, wouldn't it help an aging Celtics D to adopt the zone at least part of the time?  Adapt or be left behind as they say...

[MBunge]

I think everyone can agree that Carlisle did a great job coaching the Mavs to the championship and he made excellent adjustments against Miami through out the series, including moving Barea into the starting lineup.

The Mavs also reportedly use the zone more effectively and more often than any other team in the league (source: Van Gundy on air).  They stymied the Heat and made them shoot over the zone which they couldn't do.  Of course...Lebron couldn't miss a three against the Celtics in round two but who's complaining. 

Next year, I think we'll see a lot copy cats all over the league adopting the zone but more importantly, wouldn't it help an aging Celtics D to adopt the zone at least part of the time?  Adapt or be left behind as they say...

It sounds like a completely logical thing to seriously consider, but I think it flies too much in the face of Doc's macho approach to the game.

Mike

[StartOrien]

I don't see it. The Celtics are offensively at their best when in transition or semi-transition. The zone would slow them down and force them into being more of a half court offense.

[Who]

Kevin Garnett is an excellent zone defender with his length, quickness and defensive awareness / leadership. Rajon Rondo too, very talented team defender.

I think the team would need a second big man with above average mobility to make it a worthwhile situational option. Otherwise, they are probably best off sticking with their man-to-man defense.

[CelticG1]

Kevin Garnett is an excellent zone defender with his length, quickness and defensive awareness / leadership. Rajon Rondo too, very talented team defender.

I think the team would need a second big man with above average mobility to make it a worthwhile situational option. Otherwise, they are probably best off sticking with their man-to-man defense.

How about Dalembert (poor man's chandler)

[mgent]

We're too good at man.

[zerophase]

I remember the year before the Garnett trade Doc made the Celtics play zone and it was actually really effective but I think we're too far solidified in the Thib system to add zone.

[Chris]

I don't think the C's need a zone.  Dallas does it out of necessity, because they really only have 1 interior defender, and most of their guards are undersized. 

[ManUp]

I don't think we need zone.

Our defense was never really an issue.

We need a solution for our crappy O.

[Who]

Kevin Garnett is an excellent zone defender with his length, quickness and defensive awareness / leadership. Rajon Rondo too, very talented team defender.

I think the team would need a second big man with above average mobility to make it a worthwhile situational option. Otherwise, they are probably best off sticking with their man-to-man defense.

How about Dalembert (poor man's chandler)

Oh yeah, Dalembert would be great.

[Chris]

Kevin Garnett is an excellent zone defender with his length, quickness and defensive awareness / leadership. Rajon Rondo too, very talented team defender.

I think the team would need a second big man with above average mobility to make it a worthwhile situational option. Otherwise, they are probably best off sticking with their man-to-man defense.

How about Dalembert (poor man's chandler)

Oh yeah, Dalembert would be great.

The only way I would condone a Dalembert signing would be if they were going to switch to a zone.  He just has never had any interest in playing within a defensive system that does not revolve around him standing next to the basket, trying to swat shots, no matter what else is going on.  Works for the zone, terrible in the C's regular system.

[CelticG1]

Kevin Garnett is an excellent zone defender with his length, quickness and defensive awareness / leadership. Rajon Rondo too, very talented team defender.

I think the team would need a second big man with above average mobility to make it a worthwhile situational option. Otherwise, they are probably best off sticking with their man-to-man defense.

How about Dalembert (poor man's chandler)

Oh yeah, Dalembert would be great.

The only way I would condone a Dalembert signing would be if they were going to switch to a zone.  He just has never had any interest in playing within a defensive system that does not revolve around him standing next to the basket, trying to swat shots, no matter what else is going on.  Works for the zone, terrible in the C's regular system.

Yeah same here. At this point I could see him thriving in that position but in our defensive system as it is currently constructed he would be a waste to have

[PortCelt]

I think everyone can agree that Carlisle did a great job coaching the Mavs to the championship and he made excellent adjustments against Miami through out the series, including moving Barea into the starting lineup.

The Mavs also reportedly use the zone more effectively and more often than any other team in the league (source: Van Gundy on air).  They stymied the Heat and made them shoot over the zone which they couldn't do.  Of course...Lebron couldn't miss a three against the Celtics in round two but who's complaining. 

Next year, I think we'll see a lot copy cats all over the league adopting the zone but more importantly, wouldn't it help an aging Celtics D to adopt the zone at least part of the time?  Adapt or be left behind as they say...

It sounds like a completely logical thing to seriously consider, but I think it flies too much in the face of Doc's macho approach to the game.

Mike

Doc can't stand zone because there tends not to  be a body on another body. But they'll probably do zone up because they do sag off bad shooters (doesn't every team?) and they cover the paint so well with their weak side help. But with KG blitzing the perimeter so much it's hard to think they will revert to outright zone, unless of course he's out of the line up. There's no problem with zone if your opponent is a lousy perimeter shooting team. Likely it's a change up that Doc may employ with new faces when there's not a lot of practice time. Could have been used in the Miami series for sure.

[MBz]

Celtics don't have the people to do it.  Chandler is the key to Dallas' zone.  Without Chandler, Dallas' zone doesn't work.  The Celtics don't have anyone who can rebound or block shots like Chandler.

[get_banners]

if we get an athletic big like dalembert, sure, we could do it against a team like the heat. i wouldn't rely on it too much, but against teams with crazy athletic wings who aren't really good outside shooters (but shoot jumpers, anyway), it is a good strategy.