Looks like JB has made some adjustments to the zone | Syracusefan.com

Looks like JB has made some adjustments to the zone

The opposite guard has dropped to the high post to cut off the pass and the forwards are playing higher to protect the dropped guard. Looks to have made a difference.

thats how we play the zone. The off ball guard has long dropped to the high post and some here have complained about it for years because that guard hasn’t always been able to get back out quick enough to cover a man shooting a 3. The forwards coming up isn’t new either. Some teams it’s more obvious than others. But we’ve done it enough some people comment that it looks like we pkay a 4-1 defense.
 
thats how we play the zone. The off ball guard has long dropped to the high post and some here have complained about it for years because that guard hasn’t always been able to get back out quick enough to cover a man shooting a 3. The forwards coming up isn’t new either. Some teams it’s more obvious than others. But we’ve done it enough some people comment that it looks like we pkay a 4-1 defense.
It was definitely intentional against UVA, daring bad shooters to take the three. But it’s not always done if we are playing a team with guards who can shoot.
 
It was definitely intentional against UVA, daring bad shooters to take the three. But it’s not always done if we are playing a team with guards who can shoot.
Buddy talked about this in the post game interview. Said an adjustment was made to bring the forwards up more to help the guards defend shooters.

Said it started with the UVa game, along with a concerted effort to rebound as a team (everyone needs to contribute).
Said it helped a lot and saved the legs of the guards a bit (they didn't have to work quite as hard).
 
Buddy talked about this in the post game interview. Said an adjustment was made to bring the forwards up more to help the guards defend shooters.

Said it started with the UVa game, along with a concerted effort to rebound as a team (everyone needs to contribute).
Said it helped a lot and saved the legs of the guards a bit (they didn't have to work quite as hard).
that’s really interesting. That leaves the center even more alone on his island. Bringing the oppo guard down to help prevent the pass to the big at the foul line is JB’s way of providing the center a little support. Could lead to a bunch of alley oops over Sid and MD though.
 
thats how we play the zone. The off ball guard has long dropped to the high post and some here have complained about it for years because that guard hasn’t always been able to get back out quick enough to cover a man shooting a 3. The forwards coming up isn’t new either. Some teams it’s more obvious than others. But we’ve done it enough some people comment that it looks like we pkay a 4-1 defense.

Not as extreme the last two games. Listen to JB in the presser. He even said we made adjustments compared to how we played it earlier THIS season.
 
Not as extreme the last two games. Listen to JB in the presser. He even said we made adjustments compared to how we played it earlier THIS season.

yes, this team hasn’t brought the forwards up as high other years. Each year and opponent is different. But it’s part of the zone and like I said we’ve discussed here numerous times how it looks like a 4-1. The off guard dropping is something that is a staple and used 95% of the time.
 
yes, this team hasn’t brought the forwards up as high other years. Each year and opponent is different. But it’s part of the zone and like I said we’ve discussed here numerous times how it looks like a 4-1. The off guard dropping is something that is a staple and used 95% of the time.
95 is way too high a number. And the drop is much more pronounced now. I’ve seen numerous games where the off guard drops halfway, but they were fully committed against uva. I will agree that each team can be different.
 
95 is way too high a number. And the drop is much more pronounced now. I’ve seen numerous games where the off guard drops halfway, but they were fully committed against uva. I will agree that each team can be different.

this discussion shows why the defense is our weakness this year. When played properly the past x years, that off guard has almost always dropped. It’s caused many discussions here because posters felt we shouldn’t do that because some guards don’t get back out quick enough. Cooney, who was actually pretty good at it because he had good anticipation, used to get beat up here for getting caught down there. It’s a staple of our zone. Denying the pass to the big at the foul line.
 
this discussion shows why the defense is our weakness this year. When played properly the past x years, that off guard has almost always dropped. It’s caused many discussions here because posters felt we shouldn’t do that because some guards don’t get back out quick enough. Cooney, who was actually pretty good at it because he had good anticipation, used to get beat up here for getting caught down there. It’s a staple of our zone. Denying the pass to the big at the foul line.
Think the guards are dropping farther down this year to help Sidibe who struggles to get there.
 
the issue is we have a team of players who are inconsistent in their assignments. On top of that we have 3 centers who compound positioning mistakes with reach in fouls and then our sub rotation gets messed up..

when the bigs stay out of foul trouble it helps everything.

trying to play 3 guards who all have issues on D and then a forward like Hughes who just doesnt bother most of the time getting in position its no wonder we are up and down on D.
 
J I think the adjustments have coincided with playing poor shooting teams. It's still a personnel issue. GIII is too short to deny the post effectively.
 
Think the guards are dropping farther down this year to help Sidibe who struggles to get there.

well if the forwards are also coming up higher then Sid has corner responsibility too. Our zone is like 5 fingers all moving at once. When the ball moves all 5 guys move as their responsibility changes. Last year we always dropped that off guard. How high the forwards went depended on opponent and strategy.
 
this discussion shows why the defense is our weakness this year. When played properly the past x years, that off guard has almost always dropped. It’s caused many discussions here because posters felt we shouldn’t do that because some guards don’t get back out quick enough. Cooney, who was actually pretty good at it because he had good anticipation, used to get beat up here for getting caught down there. It’s a staple of our zone. Denying the pass to the big at the foul line.
Probably right. Just watched the condensed game highlights. Guards are still trying to figure this out. Noticed in one case joe dropped even though the ball was on his side. Easy jump shot that he was too late to contest.
 
Probably right. Just watched the condensed game highlights. Guards are still trying to figure this out. Noticed in one case joe dropped even though the ball was on his side. Easy jump shot that he was too late to contest.

that’s why JB has said numerous times that it takes 1 or 2 years for some players to figure out how to play the zone. Our guards this year are slow or short and being inexperienced doesn’t help.
 
looks the same to me. Hughes is getting better offensively. That has been the difference.
 
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There were times last night that the guards were lower than the wings.

the inverted zone. Interesting. Lol. We have a long ways to go defensively.
 
There were times last night that the guards were lower than the wings.
I’d love to pick JB’s brain on this. Is this a reaction to our guards being a touch slower than in the past, improved shooters, the extension of the 3 point line, or a combo of all three.
 
I’d love to pick JB’s brain on this. Is this a reaction to our guards being a touch slower than in the past, improved shooters, the extension of the 3 point line, or a combo of all three.

or mistakes by the defenders
 

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