The chameleon: a zone defense like no other.

The amoeba zone defense has achieved a great deal of popularity for three good reasons:

1. Unlike most defenses, it puts as much pressure on the ball as the man to man.

2. Its coverages aren't the standard ones that most coaches see and thus create confusion to zone offenses.

3. Due to their uniqueness, the players feel a pride of ownership and work hard to ensure its success.

Like every other defense, the amoeba has its problems. For one thing, it requires three interchangeable front-line players; the forwards and center. Many teams simply do not have such versatility among their top starters, thanks mostly to the size factor.

Though there simply aren't enough big kids and skilled point guards to go around, most teams do have an abundance of wing players, and therein lies the potential strength of the amoeba - a defense that doesn't depend on having three big guys on the floor at the same time.

The configuration of our chameleon (amoeba) is shown in Diags. 1-2. #5, our best rebounder, sets up on the left block (as you face the basket). Since most teams are right oriented and more shots are taken from the right side, more missed shots will come to 5's side.

The diagrams show the defensive coverage on a ball being passed from the point to the wing. As you can see, the coverage remains the same when the ball is passed from point to right wing (Diag. 1) and point to left wing (Diag. 2).

The difference appears when the ball is passed to the left (Diag. 3) or right corner (Diag. 4). When the ball is passed to the left corner (Diag. 3), our wing (3) closes out on the ball and 2 drops back to cover the vacant area. This keeps our big man, 5, always near the basket.

When the ball is passed to the right corner (Diag. 4), our post (4) closes out on the ball while the wing (3) drops to front the offensive post.

This is confusing to the offense since they have difficulty knowing where the defender is coming from, difficulty knowing whom to screen (if they do so)and difficulty coping with a defense that isn't as symmetrical in its coverage as other defenses are.

Most zone offenses are symmetrical. Whatever they do to one side, they do to the other.

Obviously, the wing men (2 and 3) have to work harder than anyone else. The 5 man only gives support when the ball is away from him and fronts the post when the ball is on his side.

The 4 man gives support when the ball is away. He plays the ball aggressively when it's in the corner and guards the post when the ball is anywhere else.

The 1 man (point guard) gives support when the ball is away, guards it aggressively when it's not on his wing, and keeps it out of the high post when it's anywhere else.

Where 2 and 3 become interchangeable is when the ball is shifted from the corner to the point (Diags. 5-6).

When the ball is shifted from point to wing to corner (Diags. 7-8), the players switch responsibilities. #2 is now at the point and 3 on the wing.

Depending upon their personnel, coaches may position players differently (e.g., 4 and 5).

An obvious problem with the chameleon is that your wingmen must front the low post when the ball is in the right corner.

Since your 4 man is aggressively guarding the ball in the corner, you should (if possible), have a bigger man guarding the ball, making it more difficult to lob the ball into the post.

The major difficulty is requiring your wings to play the right low block area, the paint, the left-wing, and the left corner. This will take greater effort, well-conditioned players (with good anticipation) and more substitutes.

As stated earlier, you'll usually have an abundance of people at this position and substituting freely at these spots will bring more energy to the defense.

Another coverage you must address is what to do when the ball does get inside. But the main rule here is "never let the ball get inside" whatever it takes.

Since 5 has practically no ground to cover, you should have no trouble with a ball that goes into the left block.

If your man at the point of the zone (2 or 3) doesn't drop quickly enough and the ball gets into the low post on the right side, the point and the 5 man should be able to double the ball, with the opposite wing (2) dropping in front of the opposite low post and the # 1 man zoning off the middle (Diag. 9).

If the ball goes into the high or mid-post (Diag. 10), the closest defender should guard the ball and all the other defenders should play the next pass, as the ball will usually be passed inside in order to collapse the defense and pass out to the open man.

As with other defenses, problems will always arise. If, for example, you play two small guards, your #2 man is short, and your team isn't deep at the wing positions, the chameleon won't be a good defense for you.

If you normally play three bigger people at one time, the chameleon will be a better defense for your team.

To sum it up, the chameleon gives you a defense with a different look and will be extremely effective if the players buy into it and commit themselves to making it work.

Jack Fertig, Coordinator of Basketball, California State U., Fresno