I have a few upcoming opponents where I think it might make sense to run the 3-2 zone but I'm not at all certain I have the roster to pull it off.  And by not certain, I really mean I don't think I can run 3-2.  But I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask what you guys think.

These are my two small forwards that I have for my D3 team.  Miller starts while Hager is the backup.  No shocker there.  Miller gets 22 minutes a game to Hager's 16.

Name	Yr.	Pos.	A	SPD	REB	DE	BLK	LP	PE	BH	P	WE	ST	DU	FT	TOT
Edward Hager	Fr.	SF	71	38	23	79	8	41	32	37	49	31	65	42	D-	516
Michael Miller	Jr.	C	51	53	87	31	61	39	26	65	48	76	73	67	B-	677

With Miller, I question him being the SF in a 3-2 for two reasons.

1) I'm not sure how effective he would be defensively.  His ATH/SPD is probably ok but maybe is below average?  (That's probably going to depend on the opponent.)  Regardless of opponent, his defensive rating is below average.   Not sure how much he helps guard the perimeter.

2) Assuming he can guard the perimeter, would I ever want to put him there?  He's not a natural small forward.  He is a center that has has the 6th best passing rating of all D3 centers and the top ball handling rating (by 17 points) that because of those somewhat freakish ratings I've wanted to shift to the small forward spot.  Because he is a center, he has a rebounding ratings that blows away other D3 small forwards -- I don't know if he has the top rating but among true small forwards, the best D3 rebound rating is 69.  His shot blocking skills are also better than any other true D3 small forward; the best true SF block rating is 60.  It seems like I would be completely wasting his talent by putting him on the perimeter.  I also don't know that for certain since I don't have a ton of experience with a guy like this.

As to Hager, it really comes down to an issue speed.  He's got very good athleticism and defensive ratings -- and both had high potential at the beginning of the season.  But Hager's speed is maxed out.  Frankly I think he's speed rating of 38 is coming close to the unacceptable range for a SF.  For a guard I would find it completely unacceptable.  So I don't know how much trouble I would be in if I were to put Hager in a 3-2 zone.  Would the athleticism and defensive ratings make up for the speed deficiency?


So I guess I have three questions, although the answers to the first two might make the third answer obvious.

1. Can Michael Miller play SF in a 3-2 zone?
2. Can Edward Hager play SF in a 3-2 zone?
3. With these two players as my SF options, can my team play a 3-2 zone?

I think you'd be fine defensively in a 3-2 zone with those guys.  I'd be a little bit worried about your rebounding, though.  You're already hurting it by putting your best rebounder at the SF position, and if you go to a 3-2 you could have some trouble on the defensive boards...

Thanks dahsbebater.

I'm not too concerned about the rebounding as a whole.  You are correct that is not ideal that my best rebounder is at SF, but he's not heads and shoulders above the others in the frontcourt and I think it really gives me an advantage at D3 to be starting three 80+ rebounders.  I don't lose sleep having Miller's rebounding at SF compared to at C.  (And even if that wasn't the case, I don't have anybody else to play SF so I have to stick Miller there.)

That said, I do worry about truly wasting the rebounding and shotblocking if I switch from 2-3 to 3-2 which is why I'm asking if my roster composition really allows for the switch.  So it's good to know you're thinking that I might have trouble if I do.

It looks like your 2-3 zone is very vulnerable towards other team's shooting 3's. Since the 2-3 zone's defensive ratings are averaged for the PG and SG and the SF, PF, C you have to have your better defenders at PG and SG because when you play your starters their defensive ratings averaged are only 36. To be really successful against stopping outside shooting, your defensive average should be higher.

I think you should've switched to a more + 2-3 or put better defenders at the top of the key.

I think your math is off on the 36 zsap but your general point is correct.  My guard defense is poor.  To defend my defense, my team is pretty young and almost all players do have high potential in defense.  They will never be great defenders but will be better than what you see now.  (Ignore the seniors, they are transfers I just signed to fill my class.)

Although I don't get your last point.  Right now I'm running a 2-3 zone with a +2 setting.  Are you suggesting I go to something like 2-3 zone, +5?  If you wouldn't mind clarifying, I'd appreciate it.

I will send you a sitemail.

Thank you much, zsap!

nacho - I don't have a resource to back this up with, but I conversed with CS a while back and they told me the 2-3 zone took the average of the defensive guards vs the offensive guards and the average of the 3 defensive front court players vs the offensive front court players.  For the 3-2 zone, the SF goes with the guards.

If you have, say, two SF's and one is fast but less athletic, and the other athletic but less speedy,   Would you want the speedster to play in a 3 - 2 and the athlete to play in the two three all other things being equal?

Posted by 4green2 on 4/4/2011 10:08:00 AM (view original):
If you have, say, two SF's and one is fast but less athletic, and the other athletic but less speedy,   Would you want the speedster to play in a 3 - 2 and the athlete to play in the two three all other things being equal?

This is my understanding 4green2.

And it's why I created this thread.  I don't think with my roster I really can run the 3-2 effectively, but I wanted to check.  I also don't 100% know this to be the case either so I was hoping to get some feedback either to verify this or tell me I'm wrong.

Posted by mccabemi on 4/4/2011 9:45:00 AM (view original):

Hannibal- all else equal- does the 3-2 defend against the 3 better than the 2-3?   And does the 2-3 rebound better?   Or is it just a matter of flip flopping the "sf" position?

IMO, 3-2 does better against the 3 (than the 2-3) and the 2-3 rebounds better (than the 3-2).  I imagine someone could dig up something from WIS to confirm that, but I don't have anything handy.

with a 79 defense I suspect he might be able to manage even with a lack of speed.