Zone Defense - Awkward Solution?

[alpinegroove]

"If you go to a zone it can change their offensive approach," said Kings coach Paul Westphal. "It can break up the rhythm of the other team. It can allow us to play a little bigger lineup and not be worried about some of our bigger guys having to chase players around the floor in positions they're unfamiliar with defending."

That's key for Jason Thompson, who is being used as a small forward instead of his natural position of power forward. Against Memphis, that would have meant chasing one of the most athletic wing players in the NBA, forward Rudy Gay.

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/11/10/3173395/kings-notes-team-zones-in-on-opponent.html

Zone defense seems like an awkward solution for giving JT play time.
Perhaps players who aren't familiar with a certain position shouldn't be playing that position...
Plus, PW is saying that zone defense allows them not to be worried about the awkward match-ups. I hope he is worried about the state of our defense...Zone might be the wrong answer...


​

 

[cuad]

They shouldn't play zone because they have the players to man up against any team. Westphal must not know a lot about man d.

Teams just keep putting Casspi and Landry in pick and rolls to tear us apart.

Poor Jason Thompson though, last year he played most of his minutes at C and now he's an SF. I can't expect him to ever take the next step if he keeps getting dragged through the mud like this.

The solution I see is that Cousins has to become Zach Randolph, with extra height, maybe better vision and hopefully some defense. Oh right, and less fat. Then we can churn out this lineup:

Dalembert / Thompson
Cousins / Landry

 

[Bricklayer]

"If you go to a zone it can change their offensive approach," said Kings coach Paul Westphal. "It can break up the rhythm of the other team. It can allow us to play a little bigger lineup and not be worried about some of our bigger guys having to chase players around the floor in positions they're unfamiliar with defending."

That's key for Jason Thompson, who is being used as a small forward instead of his natural position of power forward. Against Memphis, that would have meant chasing one of the most athletic wing players in the NBA, forward Rudy Gay.

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/11/10/3173395/kings-notes-team-zones-in-on-opponent.html

Zone defense seems like an awkward solution for giving JT play time.
Perhaps players who aren't familiar with a certain position shouldn't be playing that position...
Plus, PW is saying that zone defense allows them not to be worried about the awkward match-ups. I hope he is worried about the state of our defense...Zone might be the wrong answer...


​

Hey coach! We do in fact have a 6'11" wing player who in fact knows how to play the wing on the roster. Has even played some SG. Has even been known to play some defense. And his name is not Jason.

Just saying.

 

[kingsboi]

I swear we have one of the worst pick and roll defenses. As for this "zone defense" thing, well it's worth a shot when we play a team like the T-Wolves who can't shoot, but if we try this against the Suns, good luck & goodnight Paul Westphal.

 

[SacTownKid]

In the right circumstance zone can be a down right game changer. IF, and it's a big IF, you play it correctly. Your players have to be well schooled in positioning and be very attentive to both the ball and the area they are playing.

 

[est.1999]

I'm kinda getting tired of Westphal.

 

[Nighthawk1]

They shouldn't play zone because they have the players to man up against any team. Westphal must not know a lot about man d.

Teams just keep putting Casspi and Landry in pick and rolls to tear us apart.

Poor Jason Thompson though, last year he played most of his minutes at C and now he's an SF. I can't expect him to ever take the next step if he keeps getting dragged through the mud like this.

The solution I see is that Cousins has to become Zach Randolph, with extra height, maybe better vision and hopefully some defense. Oh right, and less fat. Then we can churn out this lineup:

Dalembert / Thompson
Cousins / Landry

It's almost shades of Donte last year playing the 2 + 3 + 4... Now JT will be getting minutes at 3 + 4 + 5. Confusion for our players is never ideal when they're young and trying to develop skills at a position they should ideally be getting minutes at. How is one 6'11 240-250lbs ok at SF now and one during pre-season was over-weight when he was still more athletic and better defender then who is replacing him currently?

 

[Kingstime]

I'm kinda getting tired of Westphal.

Me too he is ignoring the most blatant thing about JT at the 3 thing, he can't shoot the ball from far enough out or with any consistency right now. This is something that should of been a pre season experiment, not something we do during these games. A lineup of Dally/Landry/JT/Cisco and Reke pretty much hurts Reke's strengths as a player. As seen last night the Twolves of all teams, a team who has been getting blown out CONSISTENTLY pretty much made Reke a decoy/distrubtor. But that's fine because Reke has to show he can distrubute the ball so these naysayers get off his back about the whole ''PG or SG???''. However what's not fine is clogging the whole paint area with bigs so his only option is to toss it out to one open wing player for a shot. If JT is gonna play a position make him play 4 and run Landrys ISO's for him, but him at the 3 kills everything for this team.

As for the zone question, it worked temporarily for the Mavs a couple years ago when they couldn't D up for squat and it has helped us out sometimes this year so far.

 

[Prince_XY]

Hey coach! We do in fact have a 6'11" wing player who in fact knows how to play the wing on the roster. Has even played some SG. Has even been known to play some defense. And his name is not Jason.

Just saying.

\
Coach: Oh yeah! But that player is gone. He showed up weighing 250 lbs. (thinking he would be playing PF and C) and not ready to take his NBA career to a higher level. I did not forget him. He is actually rehabbing at the bench and doing very well with what he loves best - waving the towel and cheering intensely.