Better Defensive Tactic: Zone Defense or Hand Checking?

[TMagic]

So what do you think is the more effective defensive tactic?

Me personally, I have to go with zone defenses.

Now, keep in mind that zone defense does not mean that a team is playing a 2-3, 1-3-1, or any other specific zone.

Just that you do not have to be guarding any body on the floor, thus allowing players to roam, and zone any area. This allows the defense to shade an offensive player without penalty.

This is a far more effective defense, IMO. You have defenders now that are able to crowd the painted area. This also gives the defense a chance to get into better defensive position to help out on any offensive position. Legalizing the zone allows for defenders to get into better position to take charges as well.

You see it in many games where there is a weak offensive player. The defense will leave that guy open just to give help defense where necessary.

With zone defense being illegal, on an ISO, all an offensive player has to do is get by his man if there was no double. If that's accomplished, there is a free lane to the basket lots of the time. Defense appears to always come late.

Now, you see guys having to beat several defenders to get to the rim. You also see teams taking more three pointers than in the past, which I feel is indicative of of teams packing it in more giving more looks to shooters. There is an increased need in players needing to be able to shoot as a skilled offensive player will penetrate, the defense collapses, and the offensive player will kick it out. But a jumper is also valuable to avoid the help defense altogether. Now superstar players have to rely on their teammates even more. We are seeing much more of a team game.

I put myself in the situation and think it would be much tougher to go up against a defense zoning my side as oppose to going one on one with one man to get by.


So what do you think?

Zone defense? Or hand checking?

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Re: Better Defensive Tactic: Zone Defense or Hand Checking?

One isn't better than the other. It all depends on who they have on the floor, who you have on the floor, and the situation.

[Brankles]

Re: Better Defensive Tactic: Zone Defense or Hand Checking?

I'd go with "Roam" Defense, where if there's a weak offensive player on the floor, the defensive player will sag off, play help defense and sit in the passing lanes. With so many average big men in the league, it's especially effective when a guy like Dwight Howard can guard a player like Anderson Varejao or Samuel Dalembert and just float around and block shots.

Hand checking isn't really an offensive strategy the way a zone/roam defense is, it's just a physical style of play. A player can play overly aggressive on defense if he has a big man behind him to block shots. I'd almost say a hand-check kind of defense is only possible if there's a Zone Roamer behind an aggressive defender.

[amra01]

Re: Better Defensive Tactic: Zone Defense or Hand Checking?

it depends on the situation with zone you need all players to know how to shot and move the ball it doesn't change alot better basketball teams can break the zone easilly and star players shine even in zone D watch kobe and lebron against zone with double and tripple team help defense inside you have 2 players open waiting either inside or outside but they have to move correctly and have good distance.

[Muzyk23]

Re: Better Defensive Tactic: Zone Defense or Hand Checking?

some pros some cons, but generally zone defense makes players shoot jumpers more as the lane is clogged and they can't drive to the hoop that easily..thank God for defensive 3 seconds rule

nonetheless, I'd prefer they go back to hand checking and make zone defense illegal, but it won't happen

[bamalam]

Re: Better Defensive Tactic: Zone Defense or Hand Checking?

i agree pros and cons, depends on the players too.

hand checking example:

first one off the top of my head -

derek harper hand checking was pretty effective. he would literally guide guys where he wanted them to go

zone -

sa vs lebron in the finals