"beating the zone"

[SBU72]

It seems that all game previews discuss how a team can beat the zone. Why don't they ever tell how to beat a teams m-2-m defense. (high picks, double picks, give and goes, etc) It would also seem that since the NC run and more teams try top prepare more for the zone, that such detailed info no longer needs to be shared, especially since it is discussed adnausum during every broadcast ("Why doesn't coach A a player flash to the foul line" Maybe coach A doesn't have a player who can do anything good if he gets the ball at the foul line!) And saying a team has to hit 3 point shots is really sort of stupid. Don't most teams need to make 3's instead of missing them to win? In fact SU would almost prefer a team to make a few 3's to start a game as they then have a tendency to continue shooting them even when SU adjusts and forces a team out further.

 

[tbonezone]

always been that way. every game you get a detailed breakdown of how to beat the SU zone. and no reciprocation.
just don't try drinking a shot every time they say " into the middle of the zone free-throw line entry pass freeze it!"

 

[Brooky03]

A lot of announcers don't do a ton of homework, especially if they're covering multiple games in a day. That means they have to pick some main points about a team to talk about. For SU, the cherry picked points during march are: 1) Jim Boeheim is a HoF coach who's won a lot of games, 2) Syracuse plays 2-3 zone, 3) Syracuse is under investigation for blah blah blah.

Also, the 2-3 zone will forever be looked upon as a backup defense. As such, everybody thinks it's simpler to beat than M2M and they want everybody to know how simple it is to beat. Heck, if Charles Barkley was coaching against SU in every game, we would never win.

 

[jordoo]

My favorite was Hubert Davis "You have to beat the zone by pass or penetration" he would repeat this over and over again. Passing and penetrating off the bounce is a good way to beat any defense isn't it?

In reality it is an incredible compliment to JB and his zone. Everyone knows what we will do, they know every possible way to attack it, every game we play its talked about and yet it works and we are a very good defensive team year in and year out.

 

[sufandu]

It seems that all game previews discuss how a team can beat the zone. Why don't they ever tell how to beat a teams m-2-m defense. (high picks, double picks, give and goes, etc) It would also seem that since the NC run and more teams try top prepare more for the zone, that such detailed info no longer needs to be shared, especially since it is discussed adnausum during every broadcast ("Why doesn't coach A a player flash to the foul line" Maybe coach A doesn't have a player who can do anything good if he gets the ball at the foul line!) And saying a team has to hit 3 point shots is really sort of stupid. Don't most teams need to make 3's instead of missing them to win? In fact SU would almost prefer a team to make a few 3's to start a game as they then have a tendency to continue shooting them even when SU adjusts and forces a team out further.

They bring up our zone and how to beat it because it's unique and we're known for it. Why talk about m-2-m when everybody else does it and is, therefore, familiar with it. I take it as a compliment.

 

[Toga]

Someone ask the a-hole from Connecticut. Banged my head against the wall the other night whenever his face appeared as a courtside reporter. :bang:

 

[HoustonCuse]

My favorite was Hubert Davis "You have to beat the zone by pass or penetration" he would repeat this over and over again.

Or "shooting over the top of the zone". That's another favorite.

 

[jordoo]

Or "shooting over the top of the zone". That's another favorite.

lol, since no one shoots over m2m right?

 

[Cheriehoop]

Or using the word "patience" and ending up in slowdown boring games.

 

[HoustonCuse]

They need to spice up their descriptions. For instance the corner trap. Much to my wife's disgust, I always refer to this as "the meat blanket."

 

[HOFCeluck]

They bring up our zone and how to beat it because it's unique and we're known for it. Why talk about m-2-m when everybody else does it and is, therefore, familiar with it. I take it as a compliment.

This is the right answer. .. and it's weird that few get it.

 

[Hoov50]

The most interesting part to me is that teams that don't play us very often, regardless of the coach and talent level never seem to "know" what to do against the zone even with all of the readily available advice.

To me our zone is like a team that runs the triple option (or nowadays, the read) in football. You can game plan against it and work against it in practice, but until you go against the guys who run it for real it's not the same thing.

 

[tbonezone]

They need to spice up their descriptions. For instance the corner trap. Much to my wife's disgust, I always refer to this as "the meat blanket."

smothered in the dutch oven ?

 

[HoustonCuse]

smothered in the dutch oven ?

Nah, not since Southerland graduated.

 

[Coach Orange]

always been that way. every game you get a detailed breakdown of how to beat the SU zone. and no reciprocation.
just don't try drinking a shot every time they say " into the middle of the zone free-throw line entry pass freeze it!"

Interestingly, Coach Boeheim would tell you that the attack that gives our zone the most problems is when teams set a ball screen on the weak-side guard. However, the broadcasts rarely detail this attack as the way to beat the zone. :noidea:

 

[RF2044]

Interestingly, Coach Boeheim would tell you that the attack that gives our zone the most problems is when teams set a ball screen on the weak-side guard. However, the broadcasts rarely detail this attack as the way to beat the zone. :noidea:

Coach! Great to see you posting again.

 

[Scotch]

Great post.

My biggest pet peeve is that the media talks about the zone like it's static. Boeheim has tweaks that he can go to depending on how a team is attacking us (dropping a guard into the foul line area, etc.).

Boeheim also doesn't get enough credit for opponent scouting, and getting his kids to implement zone defense game plans based on opposing personnel. Our guys rarely waste energy guarding opponents in areas of the court where they can't hurt us (think Cody Zeller catching it at the foul line extended in the sweet sixteen in 2012 - go ahead, shoot a 17 footer).

Bilas is the only one who understands the method behind Boeheim's madness.

 

[SUMBA]

How to beat a 2-3 zone: Position a player at the high post capable of making a 15 foot jumper or passing down low. If the center commits to stopping the jumper the forwards should immediately cut to the basket and look for the ball.

How to beat a M2M: Screen and roll.

Not that difficult....

 

[Madbiker]

Get ready for 2 solid hours tonight of Len Elmore imploring Cal to beat the zone. I'll probably have to turn off the sound.

 

[stuckinbig11]

must be that the zone is hard to beat

 

[TheCusian]

Get ready for 2 solid hours tonight of Len Elmore imploring Cal to beat the zone. I'll probably have to turn off the sound.

Don't forget halftime. Some other washed up coach or player who couldn't beat the zone will repeat what was said during the broadcast.

 

[AZOrange]

How to beat a 2-3 zone: Position a player at the high post capable of making a 15 foot jumper or passing down low. If the center commits to stopping the jumper the forwards should immediately cut to the basket and look for the ball. How to beat a M2M: Screen and roll. Not that difficult...

Having a good player in the high post is key.

 

[TexanMark]

How many gratuitous Juli shots tonight? I'm thinking 3.

 

[realorange]

Don't forget halftime. Some other washed up coach or player who couldn't beat the zone will repeat what was said during the broadcast.

Ring up our old friend from Vermont.

 

[tbonezone]

"Our guys rarely waste energy guarding opponents in areas of the court where they can't hurt us "

our guys also rarely waste energy guarding guys who have already knocked down 5 early treys . get your plavich on!