Triangle offense
Encyclopedia
The Triangle Offense, also known as the triple-post offense, is an offensive strategy in basketball
. Its basic ideas were initially established by Hall of Fame
coach Sam Barry
at the University of Southern California
. His system was later refined by former Kansas State University
head basketball coach Tex Winter
, who played for Barry in the late 1940s. Winter also served as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls
in the 1980s and 1990s, and was also an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers
in the 2000s.
The system's most important feature is the sideline triangle created between the center
, who stands at the low post; the forward at the wing, and the guard at the corner
. The team's other guard stands at the top of the key
and the weak-side forward is on the weak-side high post — together forming the "two-man game."
The goal of the offense is to fill those five spots, which creates good spacing between players and allows each one to pass to four teammates. Every pass and cut has a purpose and everything is dictated by the defense.
If a pass to the block is not possible, the second option is either to pass to the weak-side guard who flashes top of the key from the weak-side wing position or passing to the strong-side corner. If the ball is passed to the corner the options are either shoot, pass to the strong-side block, or pick and pop with the wing. If it is passed to the weak-side guard it initiates the "pinch post" option. There are two options. The first and most common is to pass to the weak-side forward who flashes to the elbow (corner of the key at the free throw line) to receive the pass. When he does the options are a rub handoff, back door cut by guard without the ball, post up of the guard on a smaller player, or face up and attack. The second option is a pick and roll with the forward. The advantage to the first option is there are so many weapons to attack the defense it opens up a lot of freedom and ability to score effectively. The advantage on the second option is that the player who has the ball and uses the screen now has the entire side of the floor to work with to go one on one. Meanwhile, on the other side, the wing sets a screen for the corner guard on the triangle split. If the hand-off is not available, the forward or the guard can pass to the corner guard coming off the screen. If the defense overplays or expects the split, both the wing and the corner guard can back cut to the basket. During all of this time the original strong-side block player is able to establish position for an easy shot while the defender is lured by all of the movement and cutting by the other players.
If the strong-side wing-to-guard pass is not possible, the third option is for the weak-side forward to flash to the strong-side elbow, take the pass, and cut to the basket on the trademark backdoor play of the offense. Meanwhile, the wing and corner guard exchange on a down screen. The forward with the ball can pass to the cutting guard or to the corner guard coming off the wing's screen. If nothing's available, he can shoot the basketball himself.
The offense also has a variety of options if there's heavy pressure from the defense. If the initial wing-pass by the guard isn't available, the triangle can be created on the other side by passing to the other guard, who then passes to the weak-side forward (who then becomes the strong-side wing). The guard, who initially had the ball, then cuts to the other corner. The center or the pressured wing can flash to the opposite post. If the guard-to-guard pass is not available, the weak-side forward can make a similar flash cut that was mentioned earlier. That also creates many cutting opportunities. If there is heavy pressure on everybody, the center can release the pressure by cutting to the high post for a pass by the ball-handling guard. That would also create space for possible cuts.
, with help from assistant coach Tex Winter
, has utilized the triangle offense to great success. The Chicago Bulls
under Jackson won six NBA
titles in the 1990s playing in the triangle. His first 3 title-winning teams in Chicago featured Hall of Famers Michael Jordan
and Scottie Pippen
. Jackson's later 3 titles with the Bulls came with Jordan, Pippen, and fellow Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman
. Jackson's Los Angeles Lakers
later won five championships employing the triangle. His first 3 Lakers championship squads fielded superstars Shaquille O'Neal
and Kobe Bryant
, while his last 2 title teams saw him pair Bryant with fellow All-Star Pau Gasol
. Jackson coached the Bulls from 1989-1998. He next served as the head coach of the Lakers twice, from 1999-2004, and then from 2005-2011.
When Jackson became the head coach of the Chicago Bulls before the start of the 1989-1990 NBA season, he and Winter originally installed the triangle offense in an attempt to subvert the Jordan Rules
strategy employed by their Eastern Conference rivals, the Detroit Pistons
. The "Jordan Rules" was a defensive strategy which consisted of solely targeting Michael Jordan. Jordan had already established himself as an elite NBA superstar by single-handedly turning Chicago into a playoff contender. However, by sharing responsibility rather than shouldering it, he continued to blossom as a great all-around basketball player. More importantly, the Bulls also improved notably as a team, finishing with a 55-27 record. The Bulls fell to the Pistons in 7 games in the 1990 Eastern Conference Finals. The following year, however, Chicago finished the 1990-1991 NBA season with a then-franchise best 61-21 record, good for first place in the East, then swept the archrival Pistons 4-0 in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals. The Bulls then defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals
, 4 games to 1. Michael Jordan won his second NBA Most Valuable Player Award
that season and finally won his first championship.
The triangle offense was also used effectively by the Bulls during the 1995-96 season. Jordan, back at the helm for the team in his first full season since coming out of retirement, won his 4th NBA MVP award (He won his 5th MVP 2 years later). He also finished the season as the league's leading scorer, the 8th time he had achieved this honor (He won 2 more scoring titles in 1997 and 1998, bringing his final total to 10 scoring titles and 6 championships). Chicago functioned almost perfectly as a team as well. Behind the playmaking abilities of Jordan and Scottie Pippen, coupled with Dennis Rodman's defense and rebounding, the Bulls recorded an NBA-record 72-10 season en route to what was then their 4th NBA championship. Jackson won his first (and only) NBA Coach of the Year Award
for his efforts during his team's record-breaking season. Overall, the Bulls won 6 NBA titles during the 1990s, and are considered to be one of the NBA's greatest dynasties.
Jackson installed the triangle offense again when he started coaching the Lakers in the 1999-2000 season, with Winter serving as an assistant on his staff. This time, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant served as the focal points of L.A.'s offense. O'Neal won the NBA MVP Award in 2000, and Bryant rose to prominence as one of the NBA's newest stars. The Lakers became an elite NBA team during Jackson's first term as their coach, making 4 NBA Finals appearances in 5 years and winning 3 straight NBA titles from 2000-2002. At the end of the 2004 Finals, which resulted in losing to the Detroit Pistons, his contract was not renewed. He did, however, come back to the Lakers as head coach starting in the 2005-2006 season. Despite the presence of Bryant as the centerpiece of the team, the Lakers couldn't get past the first round of the playoffs in 2006 or 2007. But when L.A. acquired versatile forward Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies
via trade in the middle of the 2008 season, their fortunes were soon reversed for the better. With Bryant and Gasol running the triangle offense, the Lakers made the NBA Finals 3 straight times, capturing championships in 2009 & 2010. In the process, Jackson surpassed Red Auerbach
's record of most titles won by an NBA coach.
When Phil Jackson retired as a head coach at the end of the 2010-2011 season, he had amassed 11 NBA titles: 6 with the Bulls, 5 with the Lakers. In addition, he finished his career with over 1000 victories over the course of his Hall of Fame coaching career, regular season and playoff games combined. Tex Winter earned induction into the Hall of Fame in 2011 for his contributions to basketball involving the triangle offense. He was an assistant on the first 9 of Jackson's 11 championship teams.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
. Its basic ideas were initially established by Hall of Fame
Basketball Hall of Fame
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, honors exceptional basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide...
coach Sam Barry
Sam Barry
Justin McCarthy "Sam" Barry was an American collegiate athletic coach who achieved significant accomplishments in three major sports. He remains one of only three coaches to lead teams to both the Final Four and the College World Series.-Early career:Barry was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota...
at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. His system was later refined by former Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
head basketball coach Tex Winter
Tex Winter
Morice Fredrick "Tex" Winter is a Hall-of-Fame American basketball coach, and innovator of the triangle offense.-Early life:...
, who played for Barry in the late 1940s. Winter also served as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
in the 1980s and 1990s, and was also an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the 2000s.
The system's most important feature is the sideline triangle created between the center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
, who stands at the low post; the forward at the wing, and the guard at the corner
Basketball court
In basketball, the basketball court is the playing surface, consisting of a rectangular floor with tiles at either end. In professional or organized basketball, especially when played indoors, it is usually made out of a wood, often maple, and highly polished...
. The team's other guard stands at the top of the key
Key (basketball)
The key, officially referred to as the free throw lane by the National Basketball Association and the National Collegiate Athletic Association , the restricted area by the international governing body FIBA, and colloquially as the shaded lane and the paint, is an area in a basketball court...
and the weak-side forward is on the weak-side high post — together forming the "two-man game."
The goal of the offense is to fill those five spots, which creates good spacing between players and allows each one to pass to four teammates. Every pass and cut has a purpose and everything is dictated by the defense.
Strategy
The offense starts when a guard passes to the wing and cuts to the strong-side corner. The triangle is created from a post player on the strong-side block, the strong-side corner, and the extended strong-side wing, who gains possession on the first pass. The desired initial option in the offense is to pass to the strong-side post player on the block who is in good scoring position. From there the player has the options of looking to score or pass to one of the perimeter players who are exchanging from strong-side corner and wing, a dive cut down the lane, or the opposite wing flashing to the top of the key which initiates another common option known as the "pinch post."If a pass to the block is not possible, the second option is either to pass to the weak-side guard who flashes top of the key from the weak-side wing position or passing to the strong-side corner. If the ball is passed to the corner the options are either shoot, pass to the strong-side block, or pick and pop with the wing. If it is passed to the weak-side guard it initiates the "pinch post" option. There are two options. The first and most common is to pass to the weak-side forward who flashes to the elbow (corner of the key at the free throw line) to receive the pass. When he does the options are a rub handoff, back door cut by guard without the ball, post up of the guard on a smaller player, or face up and attack. The second option is a pick and roll with the forward. The advantage to the first option is there are so many weapons to attack the defense it opens up a lot of freedom and ability to score effectively. The advantage on the second option is that the player who has the ball and uses the screen now has the entire side of the floor to work with to go one on one. Meanwhile, on the other side, the wing sets a screen for the corner guard on the triangle split. If the hand-off is not available, the forward or the guard can pass to the corner guard coming off the screen. If the defense overplays or expects the split, both the wing and the corner guard can back cut to the basket. During all of this time the original strong-side block player is able to establish position for an easy shot while the defender is lured by all of the movement and cutting by the other players.
If the strong-side wing-to-guard pass is not possible, the third option is for the weak-side forward to flash to the strong-side elbow, take the pass, and cut to the basket on the trademark backdoor play of the offense. Meanwhile, the wing and corner guard exchange on a down screen. The forward with the ball can pass to the cutting guard or to the corner guard coming off the wing's screen. If nothing's available, he can shoot the basketball himself.
The offense also has a variety of options if there's heavy pressure from the defense. If the initial wing-pass by the guard isn't available, the triangle can be created on the other side by passing to the other guard, who then passes to the weak-side forward (who then becomes the strong-side wing). The guard, who initially had the ball, then cuts to the other corner. The center or the pressured wing can flash to the opposite post. If the guard-to-guard pass is not available, the weak-side forward can make a similar flash cut that was mentioned earlier. That also creates many cutting opportunities. If there is heavy pressure on everybody, the center can release the pressure by cutting to the high post for a pass by the ball-handling guard. That would also create space for possible cuts.
In the NBA
Head coach Phil JacksonPhil Jackson
Philip Douglas "Phil" Jackson is a retired American professional basketball coach and player. Jackson is widely considered one of the greatest coaches in the history of the National Basketball Association . His reputation was established as head coach of the Chicago Bulls from 1989 through 1998;...
, with help from assistant coach Tex Winter
Tex Winter
Morice Fredrick "Tex" Winter is a Hall-of-Fame American basketball coach, and innovator of the triangle offense.-Early life:...
, has utilized the triangle offense to great success. The Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
under Jackson won six NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
titles in the 1990s playing in the triangle. His first 3 title-winning teams in Chicago featured Hall of Famers Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
and Scottie Pippen
Scottie Pippen
Scottie Maurice Pippen is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association . He is most remembered for his time with the Chicago Bulls, with whom he was instrumental in six NBA Championships and their record 1995–96 season of 72 wins...
. Jackson's later 3 titles with the Bulls came with Jordan, Pippen, and fellow Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman
Dennis Rodman
Dennis Keith Rodman is a retired American Hall of Fame professional basketball player of the National Basketball Association's Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks. Born in Trenton, New Jersey, he was nicknamed "Dennis the Menace" and "The...
. Jackson's Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
later won five championships employing the triangle. His first 3 Lakers championship squads fielded superstars Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal , nicknamed "Shaq" , is a former American professional basketball player. Standing tall and weighing , he was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA...
and Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the top high school...
, while his last 2 title teams saw him pair Bryant with fellow All-Star Pau Gasol
Pau Gasol
Pau Gasol Sáez is a Spanish professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . He was born to Marisa Sáez and Agustí Gasol, and he spent his childhood in Spain...
. Jackson coached the Bulls from 1989-1998. He next served as the head coach of the Lakers twice, from 1999-2004, and then from 2005-2011.
When Jackson became the head coach of the Chicago Bulls before the start of the 1989-1990 NBA season, he and Winter originally installed the triangle offense in an attempt to subvert the Jordan Rules
Jordan Rules
The Jordan Rules were a defensive strategy employed by the Detroit Pistons against Michael Jordan in order to limit his effectiveness on offense. Devised by head coach Chuck Daly in 1988, the Pistons' strategy was "to play him tough, to physically challenge him and to vary its defenses so as to...
strategy employed by their Eastern Conference rivals, the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
. The "Jordan Rules" was a defensive strategy which consisted of solely targeting Michael Jordan. Jordan had already established himself as an elite NBA superstar by single-handedly turning Chicago into a playoff contender. However, by sharing responsibility rather than shouldering it, he continued to blossom as a great all-around basketball player. More importantly, the Bulls also improved notably as a team, finishing with a 55-27 record. The Bulls fell to the Pistons in 7 games in the 1990 Eastern Conference Finals. The following year, however, Chicago finished the 1990-1991 NBA season with a then-franchise best 61-21 record, good for first place in the East, then swept the archrival Pistons 4-0 in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals. The Bulls then defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals
NBA Finals
The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
, 4 games to 1. Michael Jordan won his second NBA Most Valuable Player Award
NBA Most Valuable Player Award
The National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1955–56 NBA season. The winner receives the Maurice Podoloff Trophy, which is named in honor of the first commissioner of the NBA who served from 1946 until his retirement...
that season and finally won his first championship.
The triangle offense was also used effectively by the Bulls during the 1995-96 season. Jordan, back at the helm for the team in his first full season since coming out of retirement, won his 4th NBA MVP award (He won his 5th MVP 2 years later). He also finished the season as the league's leading scorer, the 8th time he had achieved this honor (He won 2 more scoring titles in 1997 and 1998, bringing his final total to 10 scoring titles and 6 championships). Chicago functioned almost perfectly as a team as well. Behind the playmaking abilities of Jordan and Scottie Pippen, coupled with Dennis Rodman's defense and rebounding, the Bulls recorded an NBA-record 72-10 season en route to what was then their 4th NBA championship. Jackson won his first (and only) NBA Coach of the Year Award
NBA Coach of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Coach of the Year is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1962–63 NBA season. The winner receives the Red Auerbach Trophy, which is named in honor of the head coach who led the Boston Celtics to nine NBA Championships from 1956 to 1966...
for his efforts during his team's record-breaking season. Overall, the Bulls won 6 NBA titles during the 1990s, and are considered to be one of the NBA's greatest dynasties.
Jackson installed the triangle offense again when he started coaching the Lakers in the 1999-2000 season, with Winter serving as an assistant on his staff. This time, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant served as the focal points of L.A.'s offense. O'Neal won the NBA MVP Award in 2000, and Bryant rose to prominence as one of the NBA's newest stars. The Lakers became an elite NBA team during Jackson's first term as their coach, making 4 NBA Finals appearances in 5 years and winning 3 straight NBA titles from 2000-2002. At the end of the 2004 Finals, which resulted in losing to the Detroit Pistons, his contract was not renewed. He did, however, come back to the Lakers as head coach starting in the 2005-2006 season. Despite the presence of Bryant as the centerpiece of the team, the Lakers couldn't get past the first round of the playoffs in 2006 or 2007. But when L.A. acquired versatile forward Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
via trade in the middle of the 2008 season, their fortunes were soon reversed for the better. With Bryant and Gasol running the triangle offense, the Lakers made the NBA Finals 3 straight times, capturing championships in 2009 & 2010. In the process, Jackson surpassed Red Auerbach
Red Auerbach
Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach was an American basketball coach of the Washington Capitols, the Tri-Cities Blackhawks and the Boston Celtics. After he retired from coaching, he served as president and front office executive of the Celtics until his death...
's record of most titles won by an NBA coach.
When Phil Jackson retired as a head coach at the end of the 2010-2011 season, he had amassed 11 NBA titles: 6 with the Bulls, 5 with the Lakers. In addition, he finished his career with over 1000 victories over the course of his Hall of Fame coaching career, regular season and playoff games combined. Tex Winter earned induction into the Hall of Fame in 2011 for his contributions to basketball involving the triangle offense. He was an assistant on the first 9 of Jackson's 11 championship teams.