Why was zone illegal in the NBA?

[ToadKings8]

For a period of time it was, what was the reason?

[NBAEMoreira022]

so white boys could have a shot

[adamcz]

The NBA has created all sorts of rules against playing normal, solid defense. No zone, no handchecking, no 3 seconds in the paint, no drawing charges close to the basket, etc. It's lame.

[bleedinpurple]

to enhance scoring.

[kenuffff]

scoring and no zone highlights players better more 1v1 isolations etc..makes it more exciting.

[Thorpesaurous]

Zone still isn't really legal. The defensive three seconds is basically outlawing zone, it just gives the player three seconds to realize that he's committing an illegal defense penalty, and correct it, so the ref doesn't have to blow the whistle every trip.
The whole point of switching the ball from one side of the court to the other is to make the defense shift side to side, and hopefully open the up the lane for a short time, and allow penetration that makes it all the way to the hole. The whole concept of illegal defense, and defensive three seconds just does that for everyone without them having to put in the work.
Honestly, 24 seconds isn't enough time to put in the work, so it's sort of needed. But it also explains a lot of the weaknesses in the game that have built up over the last 25 years. Like the fact that no one has any real mid range game, because you don't really need it if you can get to the rim more often then not. And the fact that there really aren't anymore true PGs, because their role of switching the ball from one side to the other has been rendered obsolete. And the spot up shooters used to pull the weakside of the defense away from the lane, their job has been done for them too.

Does any of this sound familiar regarding our recent international performances?

[FPower]

If players aren't allowed to hang out in the lane for three seconds when they're on offense, it seems logical to me that they shouldn't be allowed to do it on defense either.

[different107]

Zone still isn't really legal. The defensive three seconds is basically outlawing zone, it just gives the player three seconds to realize that he's committing an illegal defense penalty, and correct it, so the ref doesn't have to blow the whistle every trip.
The whole point of switching the ball from one side of the court to the other is to make the defense shift side to side, and hopefully open the up the lane for a short time, and allow penetration that makes it all the way to the hole. The whole concept of illegal defense, and defensive three seconds just does that for everyone without them having to put in the work.
Honestly, 24 seconds isn't enough time to put in the work, so it's sort of needed. But it also explains a lot of the weaknesses in the game that have built up over the last 25 years. Like the fact that no one has any real mid range game, because you don't really need it if you can get to the rim more often then not. And the fact that there really aren't anymore true PGs, because their role of switching the ball from one side to the other has been rendered obsolete. And the spot up shooters used to pull the weakside of the defense away from the lane, their job has been done for them too.

Does any of this sound familiar regarding our recent international performances?

What about Steve Nash and Andre Miller?

[saKf]

I don't understand how you can have a three-point line and not allow a true zone. Ridiculous.

[Y2Gezee]

What about Steve Nash and Andre Miller?

I piss on Andre Miller.

[dejordan]

back in the day i just assumed the nba gods figured allowing zone was giving an easy way out to players who could only perform on one side of the ball.

[dejordan]

I piss on Andre Miller.

R. Kelly?

[Scott Pippen]

to enhance scoring.

agree. Sad to know great defender like Scottie would be not as good because of new rules

[lilojmayo]

Zone still isn't really legal. The defensive three seconds is basically outlawing zone, it just gives the player three seconds to realize that he's committing an illegal defense penalty, and correct it, so the ref doesn't have to blow the whistle every trip.
The whole point of switching the ball from one side of the court to the other is to make the defense shift side to side, and hopefully open the up the lane for a short time, and allow penetration that makes it all the way to the hole. The whole concept of illegal defense, and defensive three seconds just does that for everyone without them having to put in the work.
Honestly, 24 seconds isn't enough time to put in the work, so it's sort of needed. But it also explains a lot of the weaknesses in the game that have built up over the last 25 years. Like the fact that no one has any real mid range game, because you don't really need it if you can get to the rim more often then not. And the fact that there really aren't anymore true PGs, because their role of switching the ball from one side to the other has been rendered obsolete. And the spot up shooters used to pull the weakside of the defense away from the lane, their job has been done for them too.

Does any of this sound familiar regarding our recent international performances?

well said the point of a zone is where ppl can camp in the paint all day when they outside guy cant shoot since they is 3 sec there really isnt a true zone in the nba

[Rekindled]

zone was illegal from the 80s to 00s, basicly the best period of nba.