Kori Ellis
12-24-2004, 12:30 PM
Title Kryptonite? Zone Defenses Plague Spurs
By Scott Blackwell
FullSportPress.com
http://www.fullsportpress.com/artman/publish/article_457.shtml
It was like an Amtrak train on the rails of America or like half the auditions you see on American Idol. It was the San Antonio Spurs’ offense trying to solve the Orlando Magic’s zone defense Wednesday night.
And if the last two weeks of the season are any indication, it was a sight that Spurs fans will come to loathe the rest of the year unless changes are made.
Ladies and gentlemen, for all the greatness that is Tim Duncan, for all the depth sitting on the bench ready to spell the Spurs starting five, for all the attention to detail that is the Spurs coaching staff and front office, the Spurs have a fatal flaw as they chase their third NBA title in six years -- the zone.
Anyone familiar with the Spurs, with their leader on the sidelines, knows Coach Gregg Popovich and his military background. But the same militaristic precision and accuracy that builds title worthy defenses also builds opponent game plans at the other end.
In the case of the Spurs offense, arguably the franchise’s most explosive in over two decades, it’s rolling out the good ol’ zone. As the Los Angeles Lakers once packed the inside fueling Spur playoff collapses, the Magic, Memphis Grizzlies and Seattle Supersonics have now done the same in what can only be described as the Spurs’ title kryptonite.
In the third quarter Wednesday, Orlando cashed in to the tune of four minutes without a black and silver bucket. As San Antonio’s frustration grew, so did the Magic’s hopes. But what happened a week earlier gave pause to South Texas. Didn’t a lineup of Robert Horry, Brent Barry and Beno Udrih made the same tactic look foolish? This time, the same three watched from the bench as the Spurs lost not only the momentum, but the game.
In earlier losses this season, similar defensive strategies contributed to wins by the Toronto Raptors (two points in the first six minutes of the fourth, 9 for the entire quarter), the Grizzlies (10-1 run in the third), the Houston Rockets (4 minutes without a FG in the fourth) and two by the Sonics, who have used the zone to beat up on Tim Duncan and limit the inside opportunities of the Spurs.
More curious are the substitution patterns that constantly leave zone busters like Horry, Barry and Udrih lost on the bench. Sure they give up a little on the defensive end, but what good is defense if you still end up losing 2-0?
After frustrating playoff eliminations in the past, the Spurs made the kind of changes that league GMs rave about. They bring in Horry to give Tim Duncan a big man with range. They go out and grab one of the league’s premier shooters in Barry; a move several in the league say was only surpassed by Miami’s acquisition of the Big Diesel.
But when push comes to shove, when Duncan stares down zones and looks outside for help, those signed to give him help are watching from the bench.
There’s still time for the silver and black to find its cape, but title kryptonite looms. One thing’s for sure though -- it’s time to let the zone busters do their job.
By Scott Blackwell
FullSportPress.com
http://www.fullsportpress.com/artman/publish/article_457.shtml
It was like an Amtrak train on the rails of America or like half the auditions you see on American Idol. It was the San Antonio Spurs’ offense trying to solve the Orlando Magic’s zone defense Wednesday night.
And if the last two weeks of the season are any indication, it was a sight that Spurs fans will come to loathe the rest of the year unless changes are made.
Ladies and gentlemen, for all the greatness that is Tim Duncan, for all the depth sitting on the bench ready to spell the Spurs starting five, for all the attention to detail that is the Spurs coaching staff and front office, the Spurs have a fatal flaw as they chase their third NBA title in six years -- the zone.
Anyone familiar with the Spurs, with their leader on the sidelines, knows Coach Gregg Popovich and his military background. But the same militaristic precision and accuracy that builds title worthy defenses also builds opponent game plans at the other end.
In the case of the Spurs offense, arguably the franchise’s most explosive in over two decades, it’s rolling out the good ol’ zone. As the Los Angeles Lakers once packed the inside fueling Spur playoff collapses, the Magic, Memphis Grizzlies and Seattle Supersonics have now done the same in what can only be described as the Spurs’ title kryptonite.
In the third quarter Wednesday, Orlando cashed in to the tune of four minutes without a black and silver bucket. As San Antonio’s frustration grew, so did the Magic’s hopes. But what happened a week earlier gave pause to South Texas. Didn’t a lineup of Robert Horry, Brent Barry and Beno Udrih made the same tactic look foolish? This time, the same three watched from the bench as the Spurs lost not only the momentum, but the game.
In earlier losses this season, similar defensive strategies contributed to wins by the Toronto Raptors (two points in the first six minutes of the fourth, 9 for the entire quarter), the Grizzlies (10-1 run in the third), the Houston Rockets (4 minutes without a FG in the fourth) and two by the Sonics, who have used the zone to beat up on Tim Duncan and limit the inside opportunities of the Spurs.
More curious are the substitution patterns that constantly leave zone busters like Horry, Barry and Udrih lost on the bench. Sure they give up a little on the defensive end, but what good is defense if you still end up losing 2-0?
After frustrating playoff eliminations in the past, the Spurs made the kind of changes that league GMs rave about. They bring in Horry to give Tim Duncan a big man with range. They go out and grab one of the league’s premier shooters in Barry; a move several in the league say was only surpassed by Miami’s acquisition of the Big Diesel.
But when push comes to shove, when Duncan stares down zones and looks outside for help, those signed to give him help are watching from the bench.
There’s still time for the silver and black to find its cape, but title kryptonite looms. One thing’s for sure though -- it’s time to let the zone busters do their job.