Explain the zone defense

[USAF_Vol]

Forgive my ignorance! I heard all game how the zone kills us.

I sit and watch how we pass the ball like a hot potato all day on the perimeter and the announcers talk about zone.

Can someone please explain these different zones and what is going on.

If you have a link, post it, I would love to read about this.

Thanks for the help.

[BeecherVol]

When you have an advantage inside on a team, the opposition may play this sorta Defense to force U to shoot the ball from outside.

It has a dual effect on us because we are not shooting the ball well from there right now.
Last year with Lofton and Smith teams did not play us much zone, if that makes sense.

We will see a lot of zone this year Im afraid.

Hope that helps.

[ivtec_jrod]

Yea, the other teams will let us shoot the perimeter shot all day long. Especially, when we aren't half as good as we were last year.

[USAF_Vol]

How do you defeat it? Besides shooting from outside.

What defense do we run?

[VOLNBAMA]

Zone defense - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

we usually run a man-to-man defense.

[kidbourbon]

I think the better question is what kind of half-court offense are we running? Is it organized enough to deserve a moniker? And does it fit the type of players we have?

[Mullet]

My only criticism of Pearl has been his half court offense.

I think our half court offense (especially against the zone) is very good at all. And it hasn't improved.

[VOLNBAMA]

Originally Posted by Mullet

My only criticism of Pearl has been his half court offense.

I think our half court offense (especially against the zone) is very good at all. And it hasn't improved.

it's hard to improve when you're very good.

[USAF_Vol]

So, what it all boils down to is that we don't have any reliable outside shooters?

[UTLCA]

To beat it, you attack the soft parts of the zone, just like football. You can break it by passing around it and attacking those soft spots both with passes and with drives. Putting Tyler or Wayne in the paint and letting them work from there with the ball is probably our best shot.

If you pass directly into the zone, and let it collapse on the ball handler, then it opens up cutting lanes and shorter looks at the basket.

[BeecherVol]

Originally Posted by USAF_Vol

So, what it all boils down to is that we don't have any reliable outside shooters?

Sorta, Most zones are played out of necessity, some are played as base defenses that teams practice more, therefore execute better. We have more of an attacking man to man defense, that is made to cause more turnovers and an up pace game. This style when executed properly is very entertaining. Zones can be very effective as well and Bruce is starting to play it a little more as he figures his team out.

[DeadThree024]

Originally Posted by kidbourbon

I think the better question is what kind of half-court offense are we running? Is it organized enough to deserve a moniker? And does it fit the type of players we have?

This is my first post on VN. Most of the time I just read and enjoy the discussion, however I could not resist sharing my knowledge and opinions on this topic. Pearl's base half-court offense is a variation of the flex offense. A traditional flex use's cross screens on the baseline and down screens to free players back up to the top. Boston College runs an extremely tight flex offense compared to Tennesee's wide open floor spacing, also Coach Pearl's flex-O does not use the down screens. The two players at the top will occasionally switch with one of the bottom three, but it doesn't appear to be scripted like a traditional flex. As for attacking a zone, like a previous post said, penetrating the gaps and getting the ball into the teeth of the zone is the best way to score. Getting the ball into the short corner or the high post can provide scoring opportunities for big men. However, obviously the easiest way to score against a zone is to knock down a few perimeter shot's, it's not hard to get good looks from the outside when facing a zone but you have to make shots. Finally, I think Coach Pearl is an excellent motivator and genuinely care's for his players, but he is still in the process of learning the x's and o's of the game. I played for a very young coach in college who was similar in that regard, but I respected him and would've ran through a brick wall for him if asked to.

[dickens821]

Pearls system most definitely uses down screens

[DeadThree024]

Originally Posted by dickens821

Pearls system most definitely uses down screens

At times they might use the down screen, but I know for a fact it's not after every cross screen along the baseline. Traditionally, in the flex the down screen is set for the cross screener to come up and either look for a shot or continue the offense. Pearl's flex has more floor spacing which i prefer. In my time as a player I've ran the flex with and without the down screen and I prefer without because of spacing. His variation allows for making more plays off dribble penetration instead of relying purely on screens to get good shots. I'm not saying CBP doesn't use down screens in any of his offense's i'm simply saying his version of the flex does not have the continous cross and down screening action of a more traditional flex. The link below gives Tennessee's modified flex in a diagram. The down screen is an option, but is not repetitive like a true flex.

http://coachingbetterbball.blogspot....x-offense.html

[BeecherVol]

Originally Posted by USAF_Vol

Forgive my ignorance! I heard all game how the zone kills us.

I sit and watch how we pass the ball like a hot potato all day on the perimeter and the announcers talk about zone.

Can someone please explain these different zones and what is going on.

If you have a link, post it, I would love to read about this.

Thanks for the help.

By the way man, Merry Christmas, and thanks for your service. I have a cousin that is a chaplin in the USAF with the rank of Major. He's a Bama fan, so you can imagine what Christmas will be like for me.

Go Vols!

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