Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="IthacaMatt, post: 4681686, member: 405"] I think the problem with Boeheim's zone over recent years, aside from lack of the right type of athletes, was that one of his innovations became a new kind of achille's heel of his system. First, back in the 80's and 90s, people would say that you beat the 2-3 zone with the skip pass to the opposite wing. So Boeheim got bigger, lankier guards, to take away the skip pass. So, then teams started putting 3 point shooters on [I]both[/I] wings, so it was 3 vs. 2 at the top of the zone (PG + a shooter on each wing vs. our 2 defenders). Then, Boeheim innovated again and pulled his forwards up even with the foul line, so now it was 4 guys defending 3. But then, after watching Pitt attack the zone, they figured out to go with the foul line entry pass, since it was 2 on 1 with the center and the offensive low post player. The Center had to either challenge the foul line guy, or hedge / fake, but stay at home on the low post guy. This led to all sorts of new adjustments - pinch the 2 guards at the foul line to take away the entry pass, have the weakside forward come help on the offensive low post player, etc., but over time - FINALLY THE WEAKNESS - is that (1) he asked his centers to[I] cover more and more area defensively, [/I] and (2) he took his forwards [I]too far out of rebounding position[/I]. If Autry simply plays the zone with the forwards deeper, so they can help on the boards and cover the corner shooter as well as the wing shooter, we'll be [I]so much better [/I]in that defense. I see a man-to-man pressure defense, I see a zone press falling back into a 2-3, but with the forwards lower, so they can help more. I see 3 big shot blockers in the back, and loads of rangy athletes. It could be like our defenses back in Autry's day. I'd be very happy to see that. [/QUOTE]

Verification: What is a Syracuse fan's favorite color?