@HighEliteMajor
“In every zone defense, there is exposure though. The 1-3-1 is of course exposed on the baseline more when the ball is up top as @drgnslayr pointed out. Once the ball goes to a wing, the 1-3-1 flattens and looks a lot like a 2-3, thus why that is a preferred method of attacking the 1-3-1 if you don’t have time to prepare. Most teams prep against 2-3 looks. So if you move the ball to the wing initially, you start your set that way as you flatten the 1-3-1 and get the same look as you prepped against. The key there is trapping to try to take that option away.”
That deserves repeating… very solid information!
I agree… the weakness in that 1-2-2 is in the middle. That is where I am hoping Andrew (and his athleticism) can stretch cover that area a bit. At least make it impossible for someone with their back to the rim to be effective… The key is to make it hard to feed… and with Andrew on top and two up high on the perimeter, we should make it tough.
Running any kind of zone requires defenders to not only guard space, but making passing difficult. Our guys need to have their arms extended and swinging… and know how to hedge passing lanes. We need more of that happening, regardless of what defense we are playing. We don’t challenge passing lanes enough to play good, disruptive defense.
Our biggest challenge on defense is learning how to hedge. Everything on d should involve hedging, as our defenders try to force action away from certain areas of attack, whether it be driving or passing lanes. We just don’t understand and use hedging properly. Hedging is one of the main tools you use after scouting a team (and players) properly.