Tonight was time for a zone

[Nubb16]

I've not been a big critic of Cal whiles he's been here, but I just don't understand a few things he does. I've heard him say a million times "I play to the strengths of my team." Why does that only apply to offense? Our team obviously is not a great man to man team and we average close to 2 players fouling out each game. That's not a strength. Why not change it to something, anything that may help? At least try something different.

 

[JohnnyGentle]

paean/peon

hold your breath until i make another mistake like that

cal coaches during games, so my characterization of his philosophy is inaccurate? no, your knee-jerk simpleton interpretation is inaccurate

he doesn't see his job as bailing his players out with tactics. his attitude is that they if they do what they're supposed to do, they'll be successful. and when he's haranguing them during games, it's about effort/attention/decision-making

 

[3rex]

paean/peon

hold your breath until i make another mistake like that

cal coaches during games, so my characterization of his philosophy is inaccurate? no, your knee-jerk simpleton interpretation is inaccurate

he doesn't see his job as bailing his players out with tactics. his attitude is that they if they do what they're supposed to do, they'll be successful. and when he's haranguing them during games, it's about effort/attention/decision-making

Ok if you say so but I would say "bailing out his players with tactics" is a good thing. I'm sure Cal,does also.

Nice edit on your original thought by the way...seems like the word philosophy somehow disappeared.

 

[Big_Blue79]

Or screw you!

So you concede that what you presented as fact was, in fact, baseless speculation? Thanks! I will have that screwdriver, thanks. (that's what you meant with "screw you," right? Surely you're not objectively wrong and rude.).

 

[kybassfan]

Yes that's what I said. Much different than "a zone works 99% of the time." A 1st grader could see the difference.
Find one & have her help you understand.

So 99% of coaches use zones but not because they work. Yeah, that makes sense.

Clearly, you have no clue what you are talking about.

 

[CatPhight]

So 99% of coaches use zones but not because they work. Yeah, that makes sense.

Clearly, you have no clue what you are talking about.

They work especially well when you're vulnerable defensively...like in foul trouble.

Being stubborn is Cal's Achilles Heel.

 

[3rex]

So 99% of coaches use zones but not because they work. Yeah, that makes sense.

Clearly, you have no clue what you are talking about.

You can't really be this dense. I simply refuse to believe it.

If you don't see the difference between "99% of coaches have some type of zone in their arsenal" and "a zone works 99% of the time," then I can't help you.

 

[kybassfan]

They work especially well when you're vulnerable defensively...like in foul trouble.

Being stubborn is Cal's Achilles Heel.

Certainly, I agree when a team has an effective zone, there are times where it has application. My contention is that we don't have an effective zone. We're struggling with man to man on exactly the skills needed to mount an effective zone. I don't think he's been stubborn. He's being practical. He's gotta work with what he's got.

 

[kybassfan]

You can't really be this dense. I simply refuse to believe it.

If you don't see the difference between "99% of coaches have some type of zone in their arsenal" and "a zone works 99% of the time," then I can't help you.

So, if those coaches don't have the players to effectively play it, why would they have it in arsenal. Of course, I've asked you this before. You don't have an answer, you just bluster. You are advocating the use of defense which would be less effective. I'm not the dense one here.

 

[CatPhight]

Certainly, I agree when a team has an effective zone, there are times where it has application. My contention is that we don't have an effective zone. We're struggling with man to man on exactly the skills needed to mount an effective zone. I don't think he's been stubborn. He's being practical. He's gotta work with what he's got.

But what he's got can't adequately defend the way we'd like them to. Nothing wrong with throwing a wrinkle and a surprise or two here and there,
especially to protect foul-prone players and to adjust to a teams strategy.

I'd use it sparingly, but use it nonetheless.

 

[3rex]

So, if those coaches don't have the players to effectively play it, why would they have it in arsenal. Of course, I've asked you this before. You don't have an answer, you just bluster. You are advocating the use of defense which would be less effective. I'm not the dense one here.

In 40 plus years years of watching & 25 plus coaching basketball I've never had, or seen, a team that "don't have the players to effectively play zone." It's taught. That's what coaches do. Cal has before. He is a very good coach teacher, proven over & over. I hope he will decide at some point to do so again.

 

[kybassfan]

But what he's got can't adequately defend the way we'd like them to. Nothing wrong with throwing a wrinkle and a surprise or two here and there,
especially to protect foul-prone players and to adjust to a teams strategy.

I'd use it sparingly, but use it nonetheless.

But you have to play it with the players we have. Lee and Skal lean and reach like crazy. That's largely why they are foul prone. They don't move their feet. Movement is far more critical in zone than man to man. Poythress gets called on to shift way too often and that makes him foul prone. A zone might help Willis because he gets beat a lot from the top of the key, but you don't turn the team over for one guy.

I see it as taking players which are struggling in man to man and putting them into a formation where the very skills they are weak in are the ones they need the most. The considerable practice time needed to install a zone would be better spent on working on man to man fundamentals. This doesn't even consider the problems which accompany a zone such as rebounding and outside shooting. This sounds more like a strategy of fixing something that is broken by using another broken part.

Not that it matters anyway. Coach is going to play man to man. End of story.

 

[kybassfan]

In 40 plus years years of watching & 25 plus coaching basketball I've never had, or seen, a team that "don't have the players to effectively play zone." It's taught. That's what coaches do. Cal has before. He is a very good coach teacher, proven over & over. I hope he will decide at some point to do so again.

When? I've been watching him since Umass. I've never seen a zone out of his teams for more than a few plays. The guy is more dedicated to a man to man than BCG was.

Bottom line is you will be wrong. We'll be playing man to man. So whine.

 

[3rex]

When? I've been watching him since Umass. I've never seen a zone out of his teams for more than a few plays. The guy is more dedicated to a man to man than BCG was.

Bottom line is you will be wrong. We'll be playing man to man. So whine.

We probably will. Certainly Cal's prerogative. Won't stop some for giving an opinion otherwise.

And, this may shock you, but Cal was a coach even before you saw him at UMass.

 

[kybassfan]

We probably will. Certainly Cal's prerogative. Won't stop some for giving an opinion otherwise.

And, this may shock you, but Cal was a coach even before you saw him at UMass.

Got smarter in his old age, certainly.

 

[chevyman 50]

I would like to see a zone sometimes to but Cal has been during this for along time with a pretty good record. I watch the game again today, just like everybody else that plays us on the rd. Tn. played the best game ever against us, they hit alot of 3 s with a hand in there face, hit FT s got lose balls, alot of fouls called was not fouls but we have to live with that , our inside game is awful other than POY.

 

[michaeluk26]

Or screw you!

Why? Because you were wrong and he is correct?

 

[rolaid]

I'm sure Cal is thinking about it now...especially next road game...simply can't allow teams to shoot 30 plus free throws. Look for him to put in a match up zone or go pack line & see if other teams can make 3's.

Ulis and Murray both are liabilities in man and the others just don't have basketball instincts