Has anyone used halfcourt press defense enough to get a feel for it? With Man or 2-3 defense. If using a zone can you use 3-2 instead of 2-3? Getting a new team and thinking of experimenting. Thanks.

I’m happy to discuss here or via sitemail if you have specific questions on HCP/zone.

Phalla is a great coach that runs this. Just throwing another name out

Great,! If I use the HC/Zone can I use a 3-2 or a 2-3?
It seems like I should recruit speed for the press but the other desirable skills would be for either zone or MTM ?
I'll have to change defenses, do I get any credit in the learning curve for players who already know the defense I'm going to? If we've been playing man do we start with more knowledge if we do HCP/MTM?
Any other things I should know? Thanks.

If you use zone, you can switch between zones, if that’s what you’re asking. I usually stick to 3-2, because that’s how my flex teams are constructed. When I had triangle teams, sometimes they ended up geared toward 2-3. Occasionally, I will still be in a position against an opponent, where it makes sense to play 2-3 for a game or two, but I let personnel dictate for the most part, and with the speed/perimeter focus of flex, it seems to gel really well with press/3-2.

You keep all the IQ you’ve built up with man, so moving to a HCP/man likely makes the most sense, if that’s what you’re looking at. Add 8-10 points of practice and by the end of the first season, all your guys should be to C to C+ level for press. (I’ve won championships at all 3 levels with HCP, and I have never used more than 10 minutes of practice for the press, FWIW). From there, a HCP will start yielding the extra turnovers every game, which is the point of HCP. I will say, if playing HCP/man, stamina and filling your roster will be basically as important as it is with straight press, so keep that on your radar when recruiting.

Thanks for the help, shoe3 and topdogggbm!