Explain the zone defense

#1
USAF_Vol

USAF_Vol

Let there be BEER
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Aug 1, 2005
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#1
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.
 
#2
#2
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.
 
#3
#3
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.
 
#6
#6
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?
 
#7
#7
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.
 
#8
#8
Mullet said:
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.
Click to expand...

it's hard to improve when you're very good.
 
#9
#9
So, what it all boils down to is that we don't have any reliable outside shooters?
 
#10
#10
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.
 
#11
#11
USAF_Vol said:
So, what it all boils down to is that we don't have any reliable outside shooters?
Click to expand...

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.
 
#12
#12
kidbourbon said:
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?
Click to expand...
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.
 
#14
#14
dickens821 said:
Pearls system most definitely uses down screens
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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.com/2008/08/tennessees-modified-flex-offense.html
 
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#15
#15
USAF_Vol said:
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.
Click to expand...

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!

Staff Safe:good!:
 
#16
#16
DeadThree024 said:
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.

X’s & O’s of Basketball: Tennessee's Modified Flex Offense
Click to expand...

Foregoing the downscreen also keeps the posts on the posts and the guards at the top, where downscreening flip-flops them. If you have bigmen that can shoot from the elbow and are trustworthy handling the ball in space, and guards that are big and physical enough to score and screen on the blocks, the downscreen has the advantages of 1) freeing people for the elbow jumper, 2) creating movement down low, making the baseline screen more effective, and 3) creating movement at the top so your guards aren't just standing there handing the ball back and forth, which our guards have had a tendency to do (even Lofton and J. Smith.)

The baseline screen--the "flex" screen--is almost impossible to defend without help. The downscreen helps confuse or remove the help. But it comes with the significant disadvantage of putting your bigs at the guard and your guards on the post, so Bruce has chosen not to use it.
 
#17
#17
i really think we shoulda kept the FLEX ! i mean, look at our guards size. there all 6'6 or taller except Tabb and Maze and there PG's. big PG's that is..

we could post some of em up and get them those easy layups jajuan had about every game last year.. he was so quick and athletic he could post up last year..

it'll also get Scotty and Reynaldo away from the 3 point line which is a MUST ! along with Tatum
 
#19
#19
thats what i meant, we should have kept the part of the flex that will let your guards be on the blocks at times..
 
#20
#20
It's hard for our guards to get down low if you don't have big men that can draw defenders out, not to mention other guards that can shoot the three ball.
 
#23
#23
true..

but idk.. it just seems like our offense is too easy to guard b/c they just stand behind the 3 and pass it back and forth.. ALL the time.. it kills me to watch it..
 
#25
#25
i wonder if Bruce tells them to just drive da helll out of the ball ?

he should, just so they can get used to it
 
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