Defense Emerging For Siena

[Tony]

Defense is going to be key to rest of season. Big home game tomorrow to make last 5 games meaningful. To win on road team defense has to be at high level. We need to play well vs Iona who is playing much better of late. A little worried we take gals for granted after ass kicking we gave them in New Rochelle. This team hasn't handled success well this year. By this time of year most of the rankings( kenpom, Sagarins, Net etc ) are fairly accurate and they all say Siena is best team in conference- but dont get too cocky, its not head and shoulders better, its slightly better and this team has already lost to some weak teams- so take nothing for granted. Having said all that-- its all right there for taking if team is good enough to stay focused. All starts tomorrow vs Gals. Buckle up hopefully a fun "stretch run"

spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/capital-region/sports/2020/02/18/defense-emerging-for-siena

[jong10]

The starters for the Gaels have been logging a TON of minutes the last 4 or 5 games - and with both Gist and Van Eyck out, expect more of the same.

The last two games in particular they've really attacked the paint and gotten to the line a bunch.

Play 40 minutes of solid defense, limit the good looks from the perimeter and attack the paint and try to get Agee into foul trouble. Let's get this home streak to 13-0!

[greengold4ever]

We might see a good deal of zone D as well........because of their lack of depth, so hopefully we are preparing properly to attack it and not settle for just long jump shots.............

[mike60]

This is an asking for knowledge question and not looking for argument one. Sometimes when a team is playing a zone or one thinks they will people will say we should be looking for the open three and have a good inside to out passing game. At other times you have the advice that gg4 just gave. How do you know which is best? They seem contradictory but probably not.

[greengold4ever]

Feb 18, 2020 8:53:13 GMT -5 mike60 said:

This is an asking for knowledge question and not looking for argument one. Sometimes when a team is playing a zone or one thinks they will people will say we should be looking for the open three and have a good inside to out passing game. At other times you have the advice that gg4 just gave. How do you know which is best? They seem contradictory but probably not.

there are a number of ways you attack a zone.................quick passing & ball reversal makes those in the zone react fast to where the ball moves to, thus a player opening can develop or mismatch can occur where a vacated area is shown............dribble drive in a seam is a way to penetrate the zone, from there you can get a higher pct shot, or deliver a pass because the defense is likely to collapse on that penetration leaving other offensive opportunities available...............a very common strategy is also putting a player at the FT line, but you want a solid ball handler/decision maker in that spot since he can react once he receives that pass within the zone by either putting up a short jumper, driving to the basket or kick out to open team mate (for us, having Pickett or Burns there is ideal, and even Camper since he is an aggressive driver to the hoop)................also have a player in the "short corner" which is between the corner & the basket but not to far out, getting the ball there can also create a mis-match in the zone to allow for other offensive opportunities (shots, passing, driving)...........lastly, and this is something that most don't think of because it is more common when playing against man D, but you can "screen" in a zone, it has the same effect and again creates offensive opportunities..........and I should add, having some excellent deep shooters of course is death to a zone, but sometimes that can be fools gold thinking you can continually hit a higher pct of the deep shots, that's what zones want you to do, just keep chucking up jump shots rather than really attack the zone.....................above all, it takes patience because a zone D can really frustrate a team on offense....................

[mike60]

Thanks. Great reply

[greengold4ever]

Feb 18, 2020 11:39:41 GMT -5 mike60 said:

Thanks. Great reply

many years of playing (and still playing), plus coaching over time you tend to learn a bunch..................