2018 NBA Draft: 5 things to watch in the Sweet 16
By Max Holm
2. How do Duke’s bigs handle the zone?
Syracuse’s surprising run to the second weekend gives Duke and its star prospects an interesting challenge. This game should not be read as what Wendell Carter Jr. and Marvin Bagley III can or can’t do against a zone.
Offensively against a zone, the way to beat it is with intelligence and quick decision-making. Don’t draw conclusions from their points and rebounds; instead look for what decisions they make with and without the ball.
One of the promising sides of both players is their passing upside. Passing goes hand in hand with decision-making.
Right now, Carter has an advanced passing game and feel for basketball. He’s the type of player you put in the middle of the zone and picks a defense apart. We’ll see if Coach K obliges. Either way, it’s another opportunity to see a couple of top-10 picks in an unorthodox matchup.