How Long Can A Defense Stay in a Zone?

[WhistlesAndStripes]

Originally Posted by deecee

how the @#$#$ can you warn a coach to bring his team out of a zone?????? why not start calling plays and helping out on defense too...

where is W&S with his obituary on common sense?

You asked for it:

OBITUARY: THE SAD PASSING OF COMMON SENSE

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn't always fair, and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouth wash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Panadol, sun lotion or a sticky plaster to a student, but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar can sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I'm A Victim. Not many attended - his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

[swkansasref33]

I had a small 2A boys JV basketball game a while back. Visiting Team was up 20 at half, and came out in a 4 corners offense. This game had been back and forth, almost every play being a fast break. Needless to say, I welcomed the break. Anyways, the Home team came back and won the game by 2. The V coach never brought his players out of the 4 corners offense What a D.A.

[SMEngmann]

Having refereed with the shot clock, I disagree that it leads to poor shot selection on the part of the players every time. Rather, the shot clock forces players to make decisions and work to get the best possible shot available within the shot period. Without the shot clock, you might be able to be patient enough to get a perfect shot opportunity (rarely are teams that disciplined), but that doesn't mean that teams don't get good scoring opportunities or rush every shot. The shot clock forces teams to be disciplined, especially in the way they use that time. I also think that the defense should be rewarded for doing a great job denying good shots. JMO.

[Nevadaref]

No one said that EVERY shot that these teams take will be low quality shots. The case that is being made is that teams who normally play with a shot clock are far more apt to take low quality opportunities, if you wish to quantify it, let's say 30% of the time, when playing a game that does not have a shot clock. Against a solid opponent that could be just enough to lose.

The argument is also being made that these teams lose concentration on defense when having to defend for longer than half a minute and give up easy scores.

You have not been able to counter either point.

[Jimgolf]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

No one said that EVERY shot that these teams take will be low quality shots. The case that is being made is that teams who normally play with a shot clock are far more apt to take low quality opportunities, if you wish to quantify it, let's say 30% of the time, when playing a game that does not have a shot clock. Against a solid opponent that could be just enough to lose.

The argument is also being made that these teams lose concentration on defense when having to defend for longer than half a minute and give up easy scores.

You have not been able to counter either point.

You are making a statistical argument with made-up statistics that are difficult to counter. I haven't seen any studies about shooting precentages with or without shot clock for the same sample audience, so you can say whatever you want, I suppose.

However, your point is really only valid if efficient shooting is the paramount goal for basketball teams. This really ignores the effect that the shot clock has on defense. Teams that play good fundamental defense are rewarded by the clock in that they only have to play defense for a maximum of 35 seconds.

New York has the shot clock, while New Jersey does not. NJ games seem to be more about the coaches' skills while NY games seem to be more about players' skills, as players have to make decisions for themselves and not just follow patterned offenses until the defense falls asleep.

For what it's worth, NY has a 35 second clock but most shots are taken with more than 15 seconds left on the clock.

A different point that is important in larger schools is that the NCAA uses a shot clock and playing with a shot clock prepares the players better for the next level. In NY and NJ where upwards of 100 players each year go on to D1 basketball, this may be more important than in those areas where D1 level players are rare. This is one reason that NY has had the shot clock and used NCAA rules for girls games for quite some time.