Which works better full court press or zone defense?

Question

As the head of our basketball squad can you help me?

Answer 1

Zone works best. Just look at the Syracuse team that won the national championship with Carmelo Anthony a few years back. They executed the 2-3 zone to perfection. People couldn't do anything against them. A full court press can simply be beaten with smart passing and a quick tempo. If your team isn't particularly fast, just run the zone.

Answer 2

Nothing can get the other team out of their game like a good full court press, but it takes a lot of practice to make it effective. Zone can work too, but in my coaching days, if your team doesn't know basic man-man defensive mechanics and rotations then the zone is useless. Drop the zone and work on the press.

Answer 3

Well zone is when you want to put alot of pressure on the offense, you should only use this in certain situations, it will tire your team out and sometimes it's not even necessary. Zone on the other hand is a very good defense because it keeps the defense stretched out across the court so its much harder to penetrate. So I think you should basically 85% use a 2-3, or 3-2 zone, and then 15% use full court press. Thats what my bball team does.

Answer 4

It depends on your players, and who you are playing against.

If you're fast, and the other team has poor ball handlers, a full court press is ideal. They never get the ball downcourt.

If you're slow, and they have a quick point guard, a zone will keep that point guard from getting to the hoop- at least in theory. Zones also limit the close shots the other team can get, and gives you positioning on defensive rebounding, which can be crucial.

Answer 5

both defenses. It depends on the situation. You do not want to press the entire game. Zone defense is to make a team shoot from the outside when they have a low post presence. If you have excellent long range shooters, then a zone isn't the best defense. Good ball rotation will kill it, if the team has good long range shooters. If not, then play zone. Make sure everyone knows how to play it.

Answer 6

I am a fan of the press. If you have an athletic team the press is the way to go. Mainly because it is the easiest to force turnovers with. Also you wear out the opponents fundamentally, they can't get the ball in play with ease, making them force "any open pass" type of ball movement, a logistical nightmare. Plus the guards are forced to move around a lot more, just to get the ball in play, wearing them down physically. By doing the press the focus is now equally "How do we get the ball in?" "How do we get the ball in play?" and "How do we react to lost dribbles?" All of this also forces opponents to burn up time-outs and make stupid fouls out of distress. If the team has good shooters, more size, better passers, or smarter players the zone is worthless in my opinion. But a press can be pulled off with only one attribute, athleticism, and that can be taught and trained much easier, unlike size, intel, and passing.

The zone is only good against athletic teams, one man teams, and the conservation of your teams energy. The zone, to me is a defeatist and/or offense first approach, not my cup of tea.

I think mixing them both is also a bad idea, I like full court press, including the inbounder, and keeping it man-to-man. If you have a case of a strong opponent player, double up on him ONLY when they have the ball, or out wit their defender, and bust through screens by playing slightly off your man.

Answer 7

it depends on the situation. Full court presses are very effective against a inexperienced team with bad handling skills, but there are ways of combating one.

Zone is very good against a team that can shoot competently in short-mid range, and who are very good at lay ups. It forces them to shoot long range, and as you are in the key, you should get most of the defensive boards.

However, it is very effective if you fuse both into your game plan. Use the full court press to catch the other team napping, and to make them work harder, and when your team is tired, use the zone to recouperate and force the other team to take the tougher long range shots.

Answer 8

You can combine both defenses into your coaching style as many coaches do and have done. For example only use your full court press on made freethrows and play half court zone on all missed shots. Or you can play zone on all made baskets. It is best to know your personell first inorder to decide what strategy is best for your team to use to be victorious. Inorder for any defense to successful you must first teach basic man to man defensive principles, when your team has learned man to man then you should teach zones and press defenses.

Answer 9

if you have fast players, a full court press is very good. If, by chance, the opponent is able to get past your D, your players can easily run back too zone defense.

Answer 10

You are clever. Games are won by defense.

With practice full court press is fast and furious... if you are fitter than the other side and evenly matched for size.. bring it on and run the legs off them.

Can't beat a good zone D if they let you set it up.