Celtics Are Zoning In

by Jeff Clark on Feb 18, 2012 9:00 PM EST in Boston Celtics News & Links

You wouldn't think that the Celtics have too many troubles on defense. But Doc seems like he's willing to try any trick in the book to squeeze a little extra out of this team to get wins. So he's incorporating a zone defense into the schemes. But it isn't the easiest of transitions.

Celtics zone a work in progress

For a team that prides itself on playing great man-to-man defense, asking - no, expecting - them to play zone is not something that's embraced quickly. That initial reluctance has certainly played a role in Boston's struggles at times in a zone defense. "Our guys are starting to buy into it," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers, who added that there are still a couple who "don't get it yet."

One guy that "doesn't get it" (in another sense of the phrase) is ex-mate Tony Allen. The other night he must have been watching TNT because he tweeted a rather disparaging comment or two about the C's zone defense. Including "they look like they don't even know how to play that [expletive]."

On the other hand, it is kind of hard to take Tony's perceptive skills seriously when on the next tweet he referenced Derrick Rose, who wasn't even playing that night. So Salmon and Mashed Potatoes aside, is the defense working?

Is the zone defense working? - Boston Celtics Blog - ESPN Boston

So let's bottom line it: Is the zone working? The Celtics are allowing 0.814 points per play in man defense, second best in the league, according to Synergy Sports data. Against the zone, Boston is allowing a still-respectable 0.843 points per play, which ranks ninth in the league. One difference: Teams are shooting a mere 37.4 percent against Boston's zone defense (as opposed to 39.7 percent in man). That seems to suggest that, by going to zone looks, the Celtics are hoping that teams will get complacent and settle for jumpers. That seems to be working as Synergy data shows that teams are scoring a mere 35.3 percent of the time against zone versus 39.6 percent against man. At the very least, it's taking time for opponents to adapt to the zone look.

Seems like another weapon to pull out and frustrate teams like the Heat, but not a full time sort of thing.

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Comments

I like that

Doc is willing to be flexible, but if we still have guys that don’t get our original defensive schemes, is it really a good idea to add more to what we’re doing?

by jackscompletelackofsurprise on Feb 18, 2012 9:36 PM EST reply actions

Sounds good

we just need to wait and see

I don't follow rules, I let the rules follow me.

by relja111 on Feb 18, 2012 9:39 PM EST reply actions

Nets beat Bulls 97-85 on the road...

…just sayin’.. :)

by jess m on Feb 18, 2012 10:22 PM EST reply actions

Plus

you shouldn’t give up as many offensive rebounds playing zone— and shouldn’t foul as much either. Certainly making Lebron, Rose, etc stand and shoot from 3 point range is a far better bet than trying to stop them one-on-one. The NBA does not have as many pure shooters as college (plus farther 3 pt shot in NBA). If nothing else, it slows down the game.

by P stoff on Feb 18, 2012 11:35 PM EST reply actions

Actually it can be harder to rebound when playing zone defense because you have to search for a man to block out since you’re not really playing anyone specific, and we all know how much trouble our bigs have boxing out as it is.

by jackscompletelackofsurprise on Feb 18, 2012 11:49 PM EST up reply actions

yes,

but the Celtics’ man defense commits everyone to ball side to stop the initial attack— leaving the backside open for put-backs. Often, there is no man to box out— especially if they are the help defender. You are right that Zone defense makes it tougher to find a man to box out, but it leaves your bigs in overall better position to be a factor more consistently.

by P stoff on Feb 19, 2012 12:10 AM EST reply actions

Doc

is willing to turn over any stone to tweak the defense! YO-DOC! The defense is fine, how bout the freakin’ offense! He complains all the time about needing more BALL movement! How about more PLAYER movement! Rondo dribbles Ray and Paul run around trying to get open off picks and everyone else stands around! Never cutters to the basket. Only one guy works the baseline, Marquis D(he excels at this). Get KG down in the low post. He’s a great passer(Paul too), and run some people to the hoop! It’s the old Princeton offense, with guys in nonstop motion. Used to drive even the best teams crazy.
It’s pretty easy to guard some one who’s just standing there! Playing centers 20 feet from the basket just isn’t working!

by OhioGreen on Feb 19, 2012 8:54 AM EST reply actions