Re: fronting defense

[Kim Malo <kimmalo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 05:51 PM 1/28/2004, gene kirkpatrick wrote:
> Also, as I recall it, we only fronted a big man when we faced a Shaq or a 
> Yao, and then it was occasional so as to confuse him.

I think your memory is at fault here, Gene. That's not to say they always 
did it successfully or effectively, but they did at least attempt front 
with regularity.

>  When fronting is a constant, it frustrates the very basis of 
> defense--you stay between your man and the goal.  Violating the first 
> principle of defense became the key to what Dick Harter described as 
> "O'Briens defense."  That's hard to overcome.

Well no, that's first principal of one school of defense. Another school 
believes that if you keep your man from even touching the ball (i.e. what 
the fronting was supposed to accomplish), his relationship to the goal 
becomes irrelevant, especially as it's easier to front than block when 
there is a significant physical superiority on offense.

Kim