Sunday, February 7, 2016

Etorre Messina on Zone Offense (Annotated)



Messina is an international champion and major Spurs' assistant. He teaches principles, not an integrated offensive system. Annotations to save time (although I hate bullet points):

  • Critical to control spacing to facilitate penetration/cutting
  • No spacing, no advantage; it is always about finding advantage. 
  • Find the where and the when of advantage of the 'weakest defender' 
  • Allow individual attack or attack by a teammate
  • It is difficult for players to identify advantage
  • *Never allow one defender to cover two offensive players
  • Use movement to create defensive problems
  • By 2 meter movement can create 3 on 2 attack on the front of zone
  • Humor at 10:36 (worth hearing)
  • Ball reversal value in zone distortion and changing angles for penetration
  • Coach has obligation to teach different 'vision' and attendant options (see/react)
  • "You are a good coach if you use me in the right way." Messina took the guy off the National Team. 
  • Cutting (flash) can confuse defense based on guard positioning. 
  • Knowing where to flash depends on the defense
  • After the flash entry, relocation is important
  • If the zone is moving at you, this may create an advantage.
  • If the ball is in the corner and you dribble out and defender follows, there is opening behind.
  • If shooter running the baseline, you can screen the bottom zone defender
  • This can create post up action against the middle of the 2-3 if you don't screen (50:20)

  • Because the zone moves 'on the ball' that may be enough to move players to open up lanes (because of defensive anticipation)
  • If screening the high zone defender and it seems well-defended, it may still create opportunity for the screener (sealing)
  • "The quality of offense depends on the quality of the passing."