The Zone...

[thegame]

Scoring is down... way down.

Some players, noteably Tracy McGrady, are calling for the removal of the zone defence from the game. Makes sense to me, Jordan, Bird, Magic, Isaiah and others flourished without the zone, and the NBA enjoyed it's best period of success. Now, seeing 80 points is as good as you'll do on almost any night, unless there is overtime. I hate the zone and what it's doing to the pro game, as take-control players like AI, T-Mac, Vince Carter, Kobe, and others have a tougher time playing their game, and making the overall product more exciting. If I have to sit through 10 more years of 75-69 sleepers, I might start watching MLS.

What do you guys think?

[nyjunc]

Scoring was down way before they went to the zone. The players are just too big and there's not enough room on the court for great offensive flow like in the 80s. They've tried many things to increase scoring(moving the 3 pt line up then back, the :08 sec rule to get it past halfcourt, etc...) and it never seems to work. I think it was Rick Carlisle the other night had an interesting suggestion. He made the comment to make the rim wider by a 1/2 inch around and it will increase the shooting %s and increase the points. I doubt they'd ever do it but it's an interesting idea.

[Snarf]

I think getting ride of the zone will help with some. The superstars will do be better players without the zone. But the biggest problem is that players are just not making shots. More and more I see wide open players miss jump shots. I am just hoping that it gets better, because it is bad when the Raptors have trouble getting over 60 points.

[RaidersFan]

I would be mad if they took the zone away. I love playin zone defense. It keeps you fresh for offense. Too bad if players liek T mac cant score as much if he doesnt have someone gaurding him up tight. The zone D is smart. No way they get rid of it because its just a way you play the game.

[matthew94]

I agree with Raidersfan. I think the zone defense is just smart. There are ways to beat the zone, you just have to get everyone moving around!

One reason I quit being a fan of the NBA for a while was b/c only one offensive player was moving at a time. It was dumb/lazy basketball. I think coaches in the NBA want to win enough to motivate their guys to move around. Players will develop the skills necessary to beat the zone.

[RaidersFan]

The key to bball on ofense is to move without the ball. in a zone D the best way to beat it is drive right down the middle it will definatly move the peopel around then kick it out to the man on the wing for a wide open jumper. Basketball is not a hard sport to play....You just have to break it down.

[mighty peace warrior]

hmm how do you break a zone.....get someone to shoot who can hit a jumpshot

the zone might cause a downturn in scoring in the short term but eventually the NBA will benifint because someone will have to learn to shoot