I believe as it has been said on here that it depends on what kind of team you are and who you are playing. One of my favorite though would be the match up zone. In this it looks like you're playing man, but really you just have a part of the zone and anyone that comes in your zone is your man. If you have players that will talk on the defensive end and talk to each other on when to switch, and not switch etc... this kind of defense could be very effective.

Man to man get more done.

I would like to see UK use some zone.

I think whatever defense a team plays is dictated by the personnel they have. In reference to most high schools, a coach has to be flexible enough to possibly change his offensive and denfensive scheme periodically in order to be successful. Remember, it is not college where you are recruiting for a system. One year you may have a big slow team and a couple of years later a smaller quick team. You should run an offense and defense that gives your team the best opportunity to be successful and play to your strengths. Whether you play man or zone if pressure is constantly (should be) applied to the basketball when it is dribbled, passed or shot it will definitely increase your chance of success. I prefer man to man but any defense that allows the ball to enter the post and the opposing team to shoot a large number of high percentage shots will most likely not be successful. Teams that play an agressive man to man starting at half court and continually allow the offensive player to get to the paint off the dribble have not been taught the basic principal of staying between your man and the basket. The paint is the highest percentage area for scoring.

It can indeed be done, BUT the key to your statement is the bolded part. :thumb:

 

And you have to agree that size, athleticism, and quickness are all assets that a good defensive team will have.

I do agree, but basketball IQ also comes into play. Anticipation is a thinking deal and not all athletes have that attribute.

Your best zones have great man to man principles applied.

Some part of that might be true but, lets make an example you can have all the heart in the world as far as basketball is concerned but, you can't change your height, athletic ability etc. Which means a team who can only shoot the 3, tallest man being 6ft, and all slow un-athletic players but hardworkers. How would a man defense help them against the likes of Holmes or Scott County because those high talented athlete's would blow right pass them in a m2m.:walk:

 

If it is taught wright you would have help on the help side of def. So when defender get's beat run's into another defender.

If it is taught wright you would have help on the help side of def. So when defender get's beat run's into another defender.

 

A good, disciplined, smart M2M team may be able to overcome a more athletic team sometimes, but the bottom-line is this: if the offensive team is also smart and disciplined, the greater athletic talent is going to find ways to beat that smart, disciplined M2M team by taking advantage of their physical talents. I think that's what Camel1 is trying to point out. All things being equal in terms of execution, the zone does have the ability to help equalize some physical inequalities.

 

This has been an interesting thread, but I think we've just confirmed what we already knew: the best defensive team is a smart and disciplined team, regardless of the defense it plays. And that team is even better when it is versatile enough to employ multiple defenses to confuse the other team and to create matchup issues.

Like many have said, it depends on the opponent.

Often times if your team is not athletic, it would probably be to your benefit to play zone.

And you never know, if you are a straight zone team and you are playing a good team on a night when they are not shooting well then things might go your way.:jump:

I would like to see UK use some zone.

 

So would I. Imagine all of their length in something like a 1-2-2 trapping half court zone. I think they use to do it back in the late 90's and it worked pretty well.