Zone vs. Man

[cjm720]

A question for some of the Xs and Os out there.

When does a coach essentially go with a zone vs. man? Is it more dependent on the personnel on your team or the opposing team?; style of play?; size of the opponent?; does foul trouble ever play a roll?; other reasons not mentioned?

I've noticed with this edition of the Zags, our starting 5 usually always plays man, but once we make a substittion or two it gets switched up to a 2-3 ( and I swear I saw a 3-2 a few games back).

Thanks in advance.

[Jedster]

A zone is generally used when...

When an opposing team has a player or players are too quick or too big for a man-to-man defense to be effective.
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Especially effective if the other team has poor outside shooting. Exhibit A: 2009-10 UW Men's Basketball team

[CDC84]

Program staple

It goes without saying that a zone is also used if it is a staple of your program. Like Syracuse's matchup or Michigan's 1-3-1 under John Beilein. Those programs recruit players who are ideally suited for the defense that they use. For example, almost every wing and big man that you see wearing an Orange uniform is very long. Length makes a matchup zone all the more lethal.

[a13coach]

Sometimes a coach with throw up a zone during a game just to throw the other team off of its offensive rhythm or try to change the pace of the game, give the players a bit of a breather.

Or they see that a certain opposing player(s) is now in the game and they want force that player(s) out of their comfort zone.

[ZagNative]

Appreciated the discussion in this thread. Doug Gottlieb discussed this in one of his recent podcasts, which I unfortunately can't find now.

[sonuvazag]

just to add: man is usually more effective for boards.

[kitzbuel]

just to add: man is usually more effective for boards.

And, with quick defenders, it can be very disruptive and lead to fast-break and transition points like last night.

[titopoet]

The use of zones verses man to man is far more complex. Coach Few, I have notice, uses a variety of zones to mix it up. He has the master of 3-2 zone near by in Heathcote. He also has used a variety of man to man defenses. (A misconception is that there is only one) like pressure, sagging, or pack the line.

In his man, he tried a couple of different systems. Yesterday, the Zags fought through screens and switched back. Something new. One of the dangers is to think the zone is played to hide a weakness, just take a look at Syracuse's matchup zone. It is as good of defense as any pressure man, and one of the signs of hurting 'cuse is getting them into their man.

Few likes to switch his defenses both in his man and zone. He changed his sagging man and pressure. Against, traditional motion offenses, he tends to go pressure man. With dribble drive, he is using more sagging man or zone.
When Will Foster is in, he tends to use zone, not because of Will's weakness, but his strength. In pressure man, the player Will is on will drift out of the paint to get Will from guarding the paint. In the zone, Will can stay in the paint, allowing the guards to extend on the wings.

[maynard g krebs]

A zone may also be employed against a very athletic team that likes to go one on one and play a lot of streetball. A few years ago, GU forced such a team to miss 23 or so straight challenged jumpshots in a blowout road victory. It was a sweet homecoming for Dan Dickau, who was booed mercilessly by the locals.

Recently, a player on this team was quoted in the Seattle Times as saying he wished teams wouldn't play zone against them.

[sonuvazag]

A zone may also be employed against a very athletic team that likes to go one on one and play a lot of streetball. A few years ago, GU forced such a team to miss 23 or so straight challenged jumpshots in a blowout road victory. It was a sweet homecoming for Dan Dickau, who was booed mercilessly by the locals.

Recently, a player on this team was quoted in the Seattle Times as saying he wished teams wouldn't play zone against them.

Who are the Washington Huskies?
chickens for 600, Alex.

[EngineerZag]

Loved the man-to-man D last night.