23 MATCHING ZONE DEFENSE IDENTICAL TO ONE USED AT NRP STIFLES ORLANDO MAGIC

Orlando Magic doomed by zone defense against Utah Jazz
Orlando Magic — posted by zach mccann on November, 10 2010 11:39 PM

Quentin Richardson and the Orlando Magic struggled against the zone in the fourth quarter, going 2-for-10 from beyond the arc. (US Presswire)

The zone defense is a rarely used tactic in the NBA, and it’s especially rare to see it against a sharp-shooting team like the Orlando Magic. But on Wednesday night, a second-half switch to a zone defensive scheme powered the Utah Jazz to a 104-90 win in Orlando.

The Jazz were out of ideas after trailing by as much as 18, and toward the end of the third quarter they mixed things up defensively by going away from man-to-man.

“We weren’t able to match up with Dwight Howard inside,” Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. “So we tried to zone him some. Fortunately they missed some shots.”

The Jazz ended the third quarter on an 9-0 run, cutting a hefty Magic lead to nine. Utah remained in zone defense in the fourth quarter, and the results were negative for Orlando: Howard scored just one point and the Magic made 26.3 percent of their shots in the quarter.

The Jazz clicked on offense and outscored the Magic 39-20 in the period.

“They got into a little zone and we started rushing and pressing for shots, and that’s when we started getting turnovers,” Howard said. “We just have to play the game we’ve been playing to get wins. Inside, out.”

Added Rashard Lewis, who finished with 16 points: “I thought the zone disrupted us a little bit and we know how to play against zone defense. But tonight we got a little disrupted by zone and our offense didn’t flow as well.”

Zone defense is something the Magic will rarely see this season – it’s ordinarily foolish to zone up against the best three-point shooting team in the league – but it’s a method that worked Wednesday night. It’s something the other contending teams will have in their holster against Orlando, and if the Magic’s three-pointers aren’t falling and they’re turning the ball over – like tonight – then it can be effective.

KNIGHTS: DESPITE WHAT THIS REPORTER SAYS OUR 23 AND 31 PROPERLY PLAYED CAN SHUT DOWN GOOD 3-POINT SHOOTERS!!!! THE JAZZ JUST DID IT TO THE NBA'S BEST 3-POINT SHOOTING TEAM!!!

REMEMBER: THOSE WHO SAY IT CAN'T BE DONE ARE USUALLY BEATEN BY THOSE WHO DO IT!!!!

Kobe Bryant's Commitment to Excellence and Work Ethic

I recently read about a clinic Kobe Bryant did with players at the Michael Jordan Legacy court. Kobe Bryant’s commitment to excellence and attention to detail is second to none. He is arguably the best current player on the planet, and what I read helped me understand why.

Kobe Bryant taught the players the importance of having offensive combination moves. In other words, a variety of moves along with counter moves and counter moves to the counter moves.

For example, a shot fake, one dribble pull-up jumper to the right, then a fake and step in the same direction only to pull back and make the move to the other direction. Kobe’s point is that a player needs to practice moves and combinations to the extent that they become natural in the game.

How does Kobe do it? Preparation, focus, and a drive like no other athlete. Do you know that Kobe Bryant does not move on to the next combination move/shot until he has made 150 shots…IN A ROW?!

It is incredible to think that someone will work to make that many shots in a row for just one move let alone doing it repeatedly in an entire workout of combination moves. This takes extreme focus and drive. And points to the type of commitment that makes Kobe the best current player on the planet.

Being successful is not about the talent that you possess; rather, it’s about what you do with that talent. What are you doing with yours?

Learn from the most accomplished players what it takes to be successful and apply those lessons to everything you do, whether on the court or in the classroom.

“Commitment – Responsibility – Work”

The Practice Floor is Where Champions are Made

No team works harder than the 2010 NCAA championship Duke Blue Devils

Michigan State Basketball is known for a "blue-collar work ethic" that has led the Spartans to 5 Final Fours in the past 11 seasons

Ray Allen Works And Gets Better With Age

Ray Allen’s work ethic has become stuff of legend. Allen often declares that his workout and practice routines are directly related to his ability to continue to contribute as he is now playing into his mid 30’s.

"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog."

Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues 5'3"

Earl Boykins 5'5"

Earl Boykins 5'5"

PERSEVERANCE

"YOU CAN'T BUY HEART"

“Building Your House”

A carpenter was preparing to retire. He tells the company he works for he was through building houses. They ask him to build one more house before he retires. He agrees and through the process of building this last house he begins to cut corners, uses cheaper materials, doesn’t use the same precision he was known for and, basically, builds an inferior home. When he’s done he gives the keys to his boss and says, "Here you go, I’m done." The boss returns the keys and says, "Thanks for all your hard work and dedication to this company. This home is yours and we appreciate you." Obviously, had the carpenter known he was building his own house he would not have cut corners.

EVERY DAY .... IN EVERYTHING YOU DO .... WHETHER YOU REALIZE IT OR NOT .... YOU "BUILD YOUR OWN HOUSE" ....

WHAT KIND OF HOUSE ARE YOU BUILDING TODAY????

Setting Goals

“The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don't define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them.” Denis Waitley, author of The Psychology of Winning

Excellence

“Excellence can be attained if you care more than others think is wise, risk more than others think is safe, dream more than others think is practical, and expect more than others think is possible.”

Practice

“Practice what you don’t know more than what you do know. It’s easy to practice something you’re already good at, and that’s what most people do. What’s tough is to go out and to work hard on the things that you don’t do very well.”

KNIGHTS: READ CAREFULLY -- WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS AND HOW OUR 31 AND 23 DEFENSES CAN HELP US IF WE PLAY THEM RIGHT!

Don Casey (former high school, college, and NBA coach) comments on the 2010-11 Miami Heat and what it takes to win championships:

"So what's in store here? Who knows? That's the interesting part -- players must play within the boundaries of team concepts, both on offense and defense. As the Lakers and Celtics -- and, yes, the Heat -- have proven, it's a team game, period. Teams win championships with team-skilled players, or play the team game to be in a position to win. The statement that 'great players don't always need to play great -- only when they must play great" is something we'll find out with the Heat.'

Coach Casey strategizes on how best to contain the Heat's potential offensive fire-power:

Even with the defensive restrictions (e.g., illegal defenses via three seconds), the matchup zone will be more effective than man-to-man defense. In the "pure" man defense, coaches cannot provide strong help-side defense, as the USA World Championship team and its opponents can do in international competition.

We just saw Phoenix shake up the basketball world, avoiding a sweep by changing defenses in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.

With the Lakers scoring just 15 points in the second quarter of Game 3, coach Alvin Gentry found diamonds in his own backyard. While The Lakers' zone offense concepts date back to the Neanderthal Man, after they shot 18-for-60 from the 3-point line in two games, the Dawn of Zone Enlightenment arrived. Afterward, Phil Jackson stated real teams don't play zone in the playoffs.

Really?

Phil (Jackson) should take notice; real teams have a zone defense as part of the package. He and others should check Synergy Systems and scroll to Game 3 of the 2006 Finals between the Heat and the Mavericks. Pat Riley changed his defense to a quasi-two-three matchup zone, and guess what? Miami went on to win four straight for the title.

The matchup zone will accomplish the following against Miami:
1. It will neutralize the Heat's athleticism.
2. It will disrupt Miami's offensive rhythm.
3. It will impede the pick-and-roll drastically.
4. It will contain or push out or down Miami's drive and kick plays.
5. It will force the Heat's offense to take time. The matchup makes the shot clock your ally.
6. It will make the Heat a "catch and shoot" team. How many of those players does Miami have? I'm not talking about spot-up shooters; I'm talking about guys who can catch and shoot. I see maybe one, Mike Miller.
7. It will make Miami's offense more routine, and the more routine an offense, the easier it is for a defense to groove into its schemes.
8. It can make Miami think "zone" even if the other team is back in man-to-man defense.

KNIGHTS TAKE NOTE ... THE POWER OF OUR 31 AND 23 DEFENSES TO DEFEAT VERY TALENTED OPPONENTS!!!!