If you must zone

[proshox]

pick one that you can execute. HCGM’s matchup zone is embarrassing.

[Shox-N-Awe]

I don't see anything special about our defense at all. The opponent's star player always gets their points. Shox did nothing defensively to alter the trajectory of the game from a loss to a win.

[ShockerPrez]

Defense is **** this year on the whole.

[Shaqness]

Not gonna pretend to be a coach, but helpside never being there in the paint is pretty frustrating.

[ShockerFever]

Defense is **** this year on the whole.

Pretty much.

[Shox The Revenant]

We've been spoiled by Shocker teams of the recent past and the great D they played (boy do I miss Mr. Cotton). Anyway yeah, kind of doubt this team will ever live up to the defensive standards set by the previous regime.

[WSUwatcher]

Defense isn't just scheme or technique, it's (even more than those things) execution. And right now WSU is without one of its two best defenders. This may not be the best defensive team we've seen under Marshall, but it's definitely going to get better.

[shock]

There is some good D being played in New Mexico...

[asiseeit]

Granted they had too many good looks from the arc BUT you have to give Young credit for
that. I'll say it again. The problem was NOT their shooting it was OURS ! It was an up
speed tempo game and hit the projected high/low number. They only shot 40% overall and
32.5% from the arc. Neither are great numbers. Their 3 point shooting was just average.
Had we shot the three at the same average level we probably win and I'll say it again.
Jones taking four shots in his six minutes missing all four hurt our attempted comeback,
especially when DW was the guy to go to at that time of the game or a SM bunny.

[ShockingButTrue]

The offense was -ahem- inefficient yesterday, to put if kindly. Passing 10 times in a half court set when your losing by 10 late in the second half is basically conceding, even if unintentional. The lack of desperation was perplexing.

[60Shock]

Our defensive prowess didn't just change during the OU game. Virtually since the start of the season every media person and most on this board have proclaimed that the Shockers are one on the best defensive team in the country. And now that it has finally been exposed in our latest game, although it has certainly been questionable in a few previous games, it now suddenly sucks?

Whatever it really is, Markis, when he is 100% back, will certainly help to improve matters, but just how soon and how much remains to be seen.

[proshox]

From Taylor on Twitter:

Before today, WSU was playing zone on 3% of its possessions. Teams were shooting 47% and scoring at 1.26 PPP - that's in the 5th percentile in Division I. Your instincts are correct - teams are shredding them few times they see WSU in zone.

[OregonShocker]

If you want to play an effective zone you have to have very quick and anticipatory, not reactive, players. I don't think we have enough of those types (especially without MM) to play zone effectively.