Very cool breakdown of the Mavs' zone defense. - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

jthig32 · 02-04-2011, 01:50 PM

There's a ton of video and screen shot, so just follow the link.

Quote:

In the NBA, there is a perceived weakness when a team plays zone on defense. Sure, there are teams who run it time to time to change up the pace, but if you are running the zone for long periods of time, many think you are admitting that you can't match up with the opponent. (Last spring's Suns-Lakers series comes to mind.) There hasn't been a team that has used the zone for long stretches and been successful. That is, until this year.

According to Synergy Sports Technology, the Mavericks have played zone defense 12.8 percent of the time this season, by far the most often in the league and more than double that of the Trail Blazers, second at 5.8 percent. Seeing and expecting the zone is one of the keys to being able to beat it. Yet, Dallas opponents seeing the zone multiple possessions per game, the Mavericks remain very effective running this defense. They've allowed just 0.85 points per possession on 39.8 percent shooting from the field.

In fact, even though the Mavericks play so much zone, they still have posted a top 10 defense in terms of Defensive Rating (102.3, ninth in the league). One of the main reasons you don't see teams run a lot the defense is because you can't run a standard zone in the NBA because of the defensive three second rule. Teams struggle with this concept and instead of trying to work through it, they just abandon the zone as a primary defensive concept.

The Mavericks are able to counter the defensive three second rule by playing more of a match-up zone than a straight-up zone:

monosylab1k · 02-04-2011, 01:53 PM

:tu

jthig32 · 02-04-2011, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monosylab1k

:tu

Glad you enjoyed it.

Kidd Karma · 02-04-2011, 02:23 PM

Nice, thanks for posting and rep.

KillerLeft · 02-04-2011, 02:45 PM

Thanks for posting this, jthig, it's really great stuff. I've already passed it along more than once.

sefant77 · 02-04-2011, 02:48 PM

"Zone defense is bad defense"

Magic announcer

Usually Lurkin · 02-04-2011, 02:49 PM

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On this one possession, Chandler covers a lot of ground and does a lot of things. How many centers in the NBA today would be able to do that? Five at most.

great stuff. Thanks for posting.

Dave Mustaine · 02-04-2011, 02:51 PM

interesting read.

DTown All Day · 02-04-2011, 02:51 PM

good stuff. thanks for sharing

KillerLeft · 02-04-2011, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Mustaine

interesting read.

Hey, Dave, remember when you played the National Anthem for Mtv's Rock 'n Jock Baseball Classic back in '95?

That was awesome.

Dave Mustaine · 02-04-2011, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KillerLeft

Hey, Dave, remember when you played the National Anthem for Mtv's Rock 'n Jock Baseball Classic back in '95?

That was awesome.

well yes I (Dave) am a pretty cool scro.

dude1394 · 02-04-2011, 03:47 PM

Great stuff...jthig...You even see the wood pointing a lot..hopefully he's getting it..but also it may explain somewhat of his issues out there.

Also the blocking out sequence was really interesting. I noticed on that one that Yi had inside position on dirk on that one, so we had the one side wrapped up but if the ball comes out short, we might have been in trouble.

Great stuff...