can the zone D work against a team like the Kings (or the Mavs)? - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

mcsluggo · 01-13-2003, 02:24 PM

First off, disclosure: I am not a Mavs fan, and I have yet to see a complet Mavs game this year.

A lot of praise has been swirling around the Mavs defensive turn-around this year. A lot of this turn-around has been attributed to the Mavs excellent execution of their new modified zone.

Question: Can a zone defense win against a team with as many outside weapons as the Kings (or the Mavs, for that matter) have?

What do you think? and if not, How should/could the Mavs play D against the Kings? (I guess a similar question is What defensive schemes have been effective against the Mavs?)

Drbio · 01-13-2003, 02:26 PM

A rotating zone can. It will take hustle and effort though.

Base Line Guy · 01-13-2003, 02:36 PM

yes

BLG

NBAGURU · 01-13-2003, 02:59 PM

Good question, mcsluggo!! I've seen a few Kings game on the league pass (which I definetly recommend for anyone that doesn't have one!!) and the teams they were playing were running the zone D. The Kings were breaking the Zone D like nothing, because of Webber and Divac's passing skills. Kings know how to play the zone! They can hit the three and break it open. So I think the Mavs need to play 70% of man-to-man and 30% zone.

by the way "DRBIO".....how many posting do I have now?

LRB · 01-13-2003, 03:17 PM

Zone defense like man-to-man or any other defense depends on good execution to be effective. Man-to-man can be beaten and so can zone or any defense. But if executed properly zone can be very effective. The Mavs have the ability to throw more effective zone defensive looks at the kings than any other team. So there aren't any viable comparisons. But if not executed effectively, the zone is easily beaten. Execution is and will always be the key. Diversity in the defensive looks helps lower the level of execution which must be obtained to be effective. The Mavs are capable of very effective execution and of throwing multiple defense looks at a team. But we are capable of not playing effective also.

irontoad · 01-13-2003, 03:22 PM

Pardon my idiocy, but what exactly is the zone defense in basketball? How does it differ from the normal man to man setup?

LRB · 01-13-2003, 03:25 PM

irontoad: In man-to- man defense you are assigned a man to guard and follow him where ever he goes. In Zone defense you are assigned an area to guard and you guard the man in your area. Things get a little more complicated with multiple players in an area and there are a few more twists, but this is the basic difference.

nowitzki_prophecy · 01-13-2003, 03:34 PM

a zone can always work if you do it quickly enough and tight enough,the same case with the kings.
the thing is,when you have as many guns as the Kings or Mavs have when your zoning you gotta to it perfectly so no one would get the good look at the basket,but still,if you do it good enough,a zone can stop in my opinion any team.

irontoad · 01-13-2003, 03:38 PM

ah, thanks LRB.

kg_veteran · 01-13-2003, 04:10 PM

The Mavs run a number of different zones, but when they are working properly, all of them extend out to the three point line and challenge outside shooters as well as help to clog the lane. Thus, they definitely can help slow down the Kings if executed properly. No defense is going to stop the Kings, but we don't have to stop them completely to beat them.

LeRoi · 01-13-2003, 04:11 PM

KG is right. We run about 20 variations of zones, and switch to man to man. It will have lapses, it should be good enough is.