Should the Spurs

[MoSpur]

play zone on defense and try to make the Cavs beat them from the outside? That might limit LeBron from driving to the basket. I am not suggesting that the Spurs play zone for 48 minutes, but mix it up from time to time.

Your thoughts?

[Mr. Body]

No. The zone was one thing that really hurt Detroit.

[degenerate_gambler]

they're going to dare Cleveland's shooters make their outside shots whether they're in a zone or not.

that said, i think Pop shows zone for a time or two just to mix things up.

[MoSpur]

I think what killed Detroit was LeBron driving to the basket at will in Game Five

[Marcus Bryant]

Make James work for his and shut down the supporting cast.

[NoMoneyDown]

The Cavs don't have much of an offense anyway in these PO's, averagin 90.9 PPG - and that's with the "stellar" defenses of the Wizards and Nets.

[sandman]

they're going to dare Cleveland's shooters make their outside shots whether they're in a zone or not.

that said, i think Pop shows zone for a time or two just to mix things up.

Considering how the Spurs' defense is strong at rotational help on drives and staying on the shooters at the 3-point line to minimize kickouts, the ability for Cleveland to hit mid-range shots may be a telling factor in the series. I can see a free-throw line extended 16-footer from a big man as being the achilles heel in the defensive set.

[degenerate_gambler]

Make James work for his and shut down the supporting cast.


the supporting cast won't need any help from the Spurs...

they'll shut their selves down.

[MoSpur]

I'm sure Bowen is going to step it up. He has to because LeBron is like no other. Bowen has trouble at times w/guys who are physically bigger and stronger than him and who like contact. However, I do think Bowen is going to shift it into another gear this series. I just think the Spurs should try their best to make the Cavs into a jump shooting team.

[TampaDude]

Make James work for his and shut down the supporting cast.

Yup...go ahead and let LeBron get his 40...the Cavs won't be able to stop Tim, Tony, and Manu from getting their 70... :toast

[naico]

I'm not worried by our defense..If we make more than 44% of our shots then we win the series

[smrattler]

We need to start Elson. If Anderson V is not starting, we need Oberto to check in when AV does. Elson is also longer to put on Z. I know AJ got heat for changing his lineup to start the GSW series. I know Pop's gotten heat for last year changing things up for the Mavs series. But I think this is a move that makes sense and we have to do.

[Thunder Dan]

play zone on defense and try to make the Cavs beat them from the outside? That might limit LeBron from driving to the basket. I am not suggesting that the Spurs play zone for 48 minutes, but mix it up from time to time.

Your thoughts?


The Nets showed that the Cavs have trouble with a zone in their series, but then Detroit ran a zone and Cleveland picked it apart. It might be something to go to every now and again, like the Nets, but I wouldn't make it the main defense.

[djohn14]

I think they should play zone when Gibson is not in the game. He will knock down the shot. Nobody else will.

[Thunder Dan]

I think they should play zone when Gibson is not in the game. He will knock down the shot. Nobody else will.

Actually thats sort of true. Pavlavic has a nice outside shot, his weakness is driving it to the basket (which looks similar to a little girl taking it to the lane). So if you can put a man on him to make him drive, it will work well in the Spurs favor

[Warlord23]

The Cavs starting bigs can both hit jumpers from outside the painted area. Gooden has 15-18 ft range, Z has the 20 ft jumper. I don't think either of them is going to try too many inside moves on Tim and Oberto. They're going to camp out there as LeBron or Gibson try isolation drives into the paint, or do the pick-and-pop with LeBron/Gibson.

The positives for us: Gooden struggles on the road with his scoring. Whoever guards him should step in to cut off the driving guard and make him beat us. Of course, doing this all the time is asking for trouble, but double judiciously and see if he can make the jumper when not in rhythm.

The Cavs' best defensive line-ups have gaping holes in the offense: leave players like Snow/Varejao open all day long and see if they can beat us.

[degenerate_gambler]

Actually thats sort of true. Pavlavic has a nice outside shot, his weakness is driving it to the basket (which looks similar to a little girl taking it to the lane). So if you can put a man on him to make him drive, it will work well in the Spurs favor


i keep hearing Pav has a good shot, but all i saw against det. was him continually trying to take it to the basket and it rarely went well for him. way too out of control.

[Thunder Dan]

i keep hearing Pav has a good shot, but all i saw against det. was him continually trying to take it to the basket and it rarely went well for him. way too out of control.


right, thats exactly what I said. If he can have a open look he will knock them down, but it's the times where he is forced to drive where it shows how much of a pussy he is.

[ArgSpursFan]

No. The zone was one thing that really hurt Detroit.

true,but Detriot don´t have the right players to play any zone.These are guys who stoped playing zone in College and aren´t used to it.
S.A is a total diferent Team,with tony,manu,bruce,Fabricio with a huge FIBA background.
I believe Pop will use the Zone D, in the 3rd and 4rd quarters(a couple of pos.p/quarter) if the game is very close and Lebron is getting too many easy shots near the basket and Bruce is in foul trouble.
Zone D worked out pretty good against the suns and the Jazz anyways.

[DDS4]

We're gonna get killed on the offensive boards if we play zone.

[Thunder Dan]

the best way to screw up the Cavs is to change it up alot. Once they get in a rhythm they settle, and if you change it up, they get confused becuase most of them (other than Lebron) are idiots.

[Solid D]

I would be surprised to see the zone employed more than a couple of possessions each game. The Pistons' zone press worked fairly well to slow the pace down but once the half-court D set up, they played Red-Rover Red-Rover Let LeBron Come Over and he busted through easily.

[O-Factor]

The Spurs will allow lebron to get what he gets, probably 25 pts, 5 assists 6 boards. The Spurs will shut down the rest of the team. They play the best perimeter defense in the league, and Duncan will get Z, Gooden, and Varejao out of position, thus drawing fouls on them. Its going to be easy...

[MoSpur]

I forgot about how good of a rebounding team the Cavs were. The zone will help them in rebounding. I

[degenerate_gambler]

right, thats exactly what I said. If he can have a open look he will knock them down, but it's the times where he is forced to drive where it shows how much of a pussy he is.


i wouldnt go so far as to call him a pussy....just a bad finisher at the basket.

stick to what you know euro dude.

[ArgSpursFan]

What makes you all think that zone D will hurt any team on rebounding??Zone D keeps the big guys near the painted Zone,while man to man could spread the big guys from the paint by following their men.