The Zone Defense

eh pop always does something to one-up the other coach in attempt to throw off the other team. Works a lot, helps with such a deep team.

Overall the zone was poorly executed mainly because of late rotations and instincts. It's a shame because if we could run a good zone defense it would be great for this team since obviously our man to man defenders aren't the best anymore and have aged.

I would like to see them improve and continue to practice it periodically, but if it has a couple more showings like that than my mind could change. It's a nice tool to have to throw the opposing offense out of whack but I don't know about using it the whole 4th quarter.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DPG21920

Does no one remember how poor the zone defense tactic was in pre-season. It was literally the worst display of zone defense I have ever seen at any level.

This team should not play zone.

---

Not as a primary defense, but last night the zone defense worked in that it confused Denver and stalled their offense. Never hurts to throw your opponent a curve ball every now and then.

Spurs dodged plenty of bullets last night despite the zone, not because of it in my opinion.

If they are going to run it in specific situations (like small ball), they should probably devote a little practice time to doing it correctly.

Wasn't watching the defense closely, but as you described it, it was probably terrible.....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nathan Explosion

The zone made the Nuggets their own worst enemy. The Nuggets couldn't miss a shot in the paint, so the Spurs left them wide open and dared them to shoot. I'm sure Pop didn't want wide open shooters, but that's what he got.

The Nuggets took what was given but couldn't capitalize. It's like in football playing nickel and daring a team to run the ball on you when you know they can't. Take the team out of its comfort zone and see how they react.

Again, it may not have been textbook, but it did help the Spurs win. Don't like the execution, but love the results.

---

Zone defense is very common in Europe and it was the biggest problem for USA in the Olympics or World championships this decade because they didn't have outside shooters and it was illegal in the NBA so they have to learn how to attack that defense

The way to the rim is closed so you have to move the ball quickly to find the open man.Pop didn't want wide open shots but it's the big risk of the zone defense.It's your bet. You have to hope they miss the shots.When it happens it's hard to score.

Sometimes you needn't overthink it.

Spurs got screwed with the schedule, happens to every NBA team a couple of times a year, and the Magic were due. You don't lose 9 of 10 when you've got that much talent and expectation upon you, especially not when a tired team's coming into your building on national TV.

Pop's cracking jokes on the bench, making fun of Bonner and that pathetic foul attempt on Howard. :rollin

Wrong thread . . . :lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Blackjack

Sometimes you needn't overthink it.

Spurs got screwed with the schedule, happens to every NBA team a couple of times a year, and the Magic were due. You don't lose 9 of 10 when you've got that much talent and expectation upon you, especially not when a tired team's coming into your building on national TV.

Pop's cracking jokes on the bench, making fun of Bonner and that pathetic foul attempt on Howard. :rollin

---

Schedule has nothing to do with not showing up. Spurs have been extremely lucky these past 5 games. This is a bigger problem than their record indicates.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DPG21920

Schedule has nothing to do with not showing up. Spurs have been extremely lucky these past 5 games. This is a bigger problem than their record indicates.

---

It wasn't about not showing up tonight. There's a reason for the aberration, it's not the Spurs being unprofessional and simply not showing up.

Yeah, they've been plenty fortunate. And yeah, they've got needed room for improvement; 25-3 (now 4) wasn't leading me to believe this team was on its way to winning the championship as is or playing as is.

But tonight's game wasn't any indication. The Spurs have been playing at an extremely high level when it comes to maintaining focus and playing with grit, they were due for an off night -- the circumstances only conspired to make sure it'd be tonight.

“This is a different (Magic) group,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said before tipoff. “They’re a little more together; know what’s going on more than they did that night (against Dallas).

“The zone is not something we’re going to use very often. I think we were just as much lucky as anything else. It was a surprise more than anything. It worked for us last night, but I’m not going to take a whole lot from that.”

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursna...one-what-zone/