God, watching zone is so boring...

[TheDude1]

Was watching the Duke exhibition yesterday... we played against a team that played zone the entire time. Good lord, watching zone can be terribly boring. I get that it can force more strategy etc etc... but jeez, what a snorefest.

 

[Cat_Incognito]

I agree. I liken it to the four corners gimmicky defense back in the day. Zzzzz's

I do wonder though, will Duke run zone defense to protect the big 3 from foul trouble since there's not much, if any quality depth?

Tangential thought - I doubt UK zones any this year, although I wish they'd zone Duke. With our depth, I could see this team running a full court press early and often.

 

[JimboBBN]

Sounds like Cal needs to zone Duke lack of shooting could hurt so early in the year against an elite team

 

[WojoRising]

I couldn’t disagree more. When it’s played aggressively it’s a lot of fun. When it’s played to limit possessions it’s horrible, yeah, but they’re completely different styles. That ‘11-‘12 Syracuse team was so fun defensively

 

[TheDude1]

I couldn’t disagree more. When it’s played aggressively it’s a lot of fun. When it’s played to limit possessions it’s horrible, yeah, but they’re completely different styles. That ‘11-‘12 Syracuse team was so fun defensively

Was last night an enjoyable zone?

 

[dukedevilz]

I think this Duke team is a bit lacking in shooting, so I suspect a lot of zone defense this year. 13 for 31 last night, though? Not bad. I'll take that.

 

[Mac9192]

Was last night an enjoyable zone?

No offense Dude, but how much fun is it beating The Little Sisters of the Poor by 40+? Zone or no zone.
Now, if we beat Kentucky, I could care less if they wear skirts.

 

[TheDude1]

No offense Dude, but how much fun is it beating The Little Sisters of the Poor by 40+? Zone or no zone.
Now, if we beat Kentucky, I could care less if they wear skirts.

Zone makes it particularly boring to watch... it slows the game down SO much. I wanna see some of the young guys going, you know?

 

[LandofOzDevil]

No offense Dude, but how much fun is it beating The Little Sisters of the Poor by 40+? Zone or no zone.
Now, if we beat Kentucky, I could care less if they wear skirts.

No offense Mac but it’s called an exhibition for a reason. It’s a tune up to try and gain some chemistry and get the team going into the regular season.

Or would you prefer our first game this season be against UK in the champions classic? K does this every year. Plays the NCAA DII champion from the previous year and one other game. Is this the first you’ve learned of this?

 

[LandofOzDevil]

Zone makes it particularly boring to watch... it slows the game down SO much. I wanna see some of the young guys going, you know?

Change the shot clock to 24 seconds. Widen the court a bit and go to 4 quarters.

 

[lurkeraspect84]

No offense Mac but it’s called an exhibition for a reason. It’s a tune up to try and gain some chemistry and get the team going into the regular season.

Or would you prefer our first game this season be against UK in the champions classic? K does this every year. Plays the NCAA DII champion from the previous year and one other game. Is this the first you’ve learned of this?

I had no idea.Smart move by K.

 

[Mac9192]

No offense Mac but it’s called an exhibition for a reason. It’s a tune up to try and gain some chemistry and get the team going into the regular season.

Or would you prefer our first game this season be against UK in the champions classic? K does this every year. Plays the NCAA DII champion from the previous year and one other game. Is this the first you’ve learned of this?

Hold on Oz. I wasn't complaining about playing these teams. Totally get the experience, no matter who it is, before jumping in against someone really good. I was only referencing the zone being boring part. That's where my comment came from.
Personally, I wish we had 2 more games before Kentucky.

 

[Mac9192]

Zone makes it particularly boring to watch... it slows the game down SO much. I wanna see some of the young guys going, you know?

True, but we may be weaker against zone teams, and that may help us get better. I agree, I want to see them run too, but we know teams like Syracuse and Virginia will do everything they can to bottle us up.

 

[LandofOzDevil]

Hold on Oz. I wasn't complaining about playing these teams. Totally get the experience, no matter who it is, before jumping in against someone really good. I was only referencing the zone being boring part. That's where my comment came from.
Personally, I wish we had 2 more games before Kentucky.

Fair enough. Cheers bud!

 

[Rupp'sRunt]

Zone makes it particularly boring to watch... it slows the game down SO much. I wanna see some of the young guys going, you know?

Dukes a team full of athletes that don't particularly shoot well. Get used to the zone because you're going to see it all year long.

 

[TheDude1]

I am aware of this, and I get that it is useful, etc etc.

I am simply saying that, as a fan, it was boring to watch a team attack a zone.

 

[lurkeraspect84]

I am aware of this, and I get that it is useful, etc etc.

I am simply saying that, as a fan, it was boring to watch a team attack a zone.

I wouldn't even watch if I were you.

 

[LandofOzDevil]

Dukes a team full of athletes that don't particularly shoot well. Get used to the zone because you're going to see it all year long.

I’m good with that. We have 3 guys that can slash through a zone and get to the rim at will. Will be nice to see a Duke team attack off the dribble and not just jack up 3s.

 

[brooky03]

I couldn’t disagree more. When it’s played aggressively it’s a lot of fun. When it’s played to limit possessions it’s horrible, yeah, but they’re completely different styles. That ‘11-‘12 Syracuse team was so fun defensively

Greatest post of all time

 

[RR30]

Zone makes it particularly boring to watch... it slows the game down SO much. I wanna see some of the young guys going, you know?

You guys played it basically all of last year and I didn't see many complaints.

 

[brooky03]

Pack line defense is by far the most boring, fyi

 

[TheDude1]

You guys played it basically all of last year and I didn't see many complaints.

Its not *as* bad watching it when your team is on D... but watching an offense run against it is just painful. Two teams that play zone against each other... ugh.

 

[jhmossy]

Pack line defense is by far the most boring, fyi

 

[Wildcat-in-STL]

Running zone when their tallest player was still shorter than Zion was funny. I mean the zone had no effect what so ever but then again maybe they are a team that runs zone primarily anyways. But if they were trying to have a good showing.... a ball line defense would of worked best... triple team zion anytime he got the ball down in the paint.

 

[TheDude1]

Running zone when their tallest player was still shorter than Zion was funny. I mean the zone had no effect what so ever but then again maybe they are a team that runs zone primarily anyways. But if they were trying to have a good showing.... a ball line defense would of worked best... triple team zion anytime he got the ball down in the paint.

Apparently that was their usual defense.

I have to say, I was impressed by Zion operating in the middle of the zone; he just turned SO quickly and went right at the defenders, and was just so big and heavy and in control that he scored consistently. Usually that guy in the middle of the zone can get a little jumper or dump it off; it was fun to see a guy who could just turn and score.

 

[KYtotheCore]

I could care less if they wear skirts.

 

[Wildcat-in-STL]

Apparently that was their usual defense.

I have to say, I was impressed by Zion operating in the middle of the zone; he just turned SO quickly and went right at the defenders, and was just so big and heavy and in control that he scored consistently. Usually that guy in the middle of the zone can get a little jumper or dump it off; it was fun to see a guy who could just turn and score.

Like i said on the UK home board..... we'll find out if he can do that against players taller than him soon enough but the kid has a special gift that he can contort his body down low and make really difficult shots look easy. If he can do it at will against UK and our front line then the kid is unstoppable.

 

[Quavarius]

Dukes a team full of athletes that don't particularly shoot well. Get used to the zone because you're going to see it all year long.

Shot it well last night. Made 13- 3’s

 

[TheDude1]

Like i said on the UK home board..... we'll find out if he can do that against players taller than him soon enough but the kid has a special gift that he can contort his body down low and make really difficult shots look easy. If he can do it at will against UK and our front line then the kid is unstoppable.

Yeah, the soft touch and body control wasn’t something that was a big thing coming in (everyone just talked about dunks) but it’s stood out. Obviously the guys he did it against last night are different than the top teams.