Ahmet Dedeoğlu
06-13-2008, 03:06 AM
Take it from Tex, the 'triangle' wins titles
By Fran Fraschilla
Special to ESPN.com
There is a book in my library, published in 1962, titled: "The Best of Basketball From Scholastic Coach". There is a chapter in this book written by former Kansas State coach Tex Winter about "The Triangular Sideline Series".
Yes, the same Tex Winter who has been the offensive architect of Phil Jackson's nine NBA titles. And yes, the chapter focuses on the "Triangle Offense."
CoachSpeak Interested in the X's and O's of college basketball, but don't understand the terminology? Read ESPN's Fran Fraschilla's introduction to Hoops 101 ([Only Registered Users Can See Links]) on ESPN.com for a crash course in the basics of basketball.
Actually, when it comes to the Triangle, it was Winter's college coach at Southern Cal, Sam Barry, who planted the early ideas in his player's mind about the offense. And, it was at Kansas State, a place Winter where won eight Big 8 titles, where the Triangle first flourished.
Today, because of the recent success of the Bulls and the Lakers, the Triangle (or Triple Post) has gained favor with many college coaches. And it can be found in both the men's and women's games.
Both Geno Auriemma's Connecticut Lady Huskies and Pat Summitt's Tennessee Lady Vols have won NCAA championships because of Winter's innovation. And, as recent as last year, Indiana's Final Four run was helped, in part, by some elements of the "triangle" in the Hoosiers' offense.
Basically, the Triangle consists of a three-man triangle on one side of the court and a "two man game" on the other side of the court. Unlike set plays, there is a freedom of movement in the offense. There are a wide variety of cuts, depending on how the defense plays. Winter would describe this as "read and react".
Unlike a freelance motion offense, there is a structure requiring precise court spacing and cutting. Every player must know each position on the floor. And, while there is no way that we can show all of the many options in the Triangle, this week's lesson plan will look at basic movements of the Triangle Offense.
Setting Up the Triangle
The Triangle Offense starts in a 1-2-2 set with the players spaced about 15 feet apart. This spacing spreads the defense, thereby discouraging doubleteams, and allows for short, crisp passing that will reduce the risk of interceptions.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
There are a number of different ways of getting into the Triangle Offense:
Here, the point guard (1) passes to small forward (3), and then makes an inside cut toward the corner.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Here, the point guard (1) passes to small forward (3), and then makes an outside cut.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
The Triangle Offense also allows guards to get into the low post. Again, there are several ways to get into this offensive look.
For example, as the point guard (1) passes to small forward (3), the center (5) pops out to the corner, allowing the off guard (2) to move into low post.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
There is also a dribble entry option, as the point guard (1) dribbles to the spot previously occupied by the small forward (3), who moves down to the corner -- creating a "triangle" with the center (5).
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Running the Triangle Offense
Once the "triangle" is set up -- in this case with the point guard (1) having cut to the corner -- a "line of deployment" has been created between the ball (3), the post (5) and the basket. In order for the center's man to stay between him and the basket, he must play behind him -- as long as the post player (5) stays on the "line".
Once this happens, it's clear how the "triangle" opens up a clear passing lane for the small forward (3), with an easy angle to pass into the post, or "post feed" the center.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Look at the two diagrams below. For the post defender (X5) to prevent the pass into the post, or center, (5), he must play on either side of him, or "front him". If he plays in front of the post man, he loses position between the center and the basket, leaving the option open for a lob pass or quick pass to either side.
Any one of these entry passes into the post leads to an easy basket.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Trust me when I tell you that that we could be diagramming plays all day if we wanted to show you the magnitude of entry passes and options. Unlike many offenses, there are a myriad ways to get into the "triangle spots". Thus, it makes it very, very difficult for defenses to prepare for and disrupt the Triangle Offense.
Proper spacing allows for several great opportunities to feed the post, create 1-on-1 situations, as well as, chances for every player in the "triangle" to help the other get open.
Here are some other options the "triangle" creates off the "post feed".
The Post Split: As the small forward (3) passes to the post man (5), he screens for the point guard (1) as they "split" off the post.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
The Screen Away: The small forward (3) passes to the post and then screens away for the power forward (4), who is looking for short jumper, as the point guard (1) makes back door cut along baseline.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Pass To The Corner: This option starts with the small forward (3) passing to point guard (1) in the corner, and then making a "shuffle cut" off the post man. The point (1) will pass it back to the small forward (3) if he is open.
If the small forward is covered, the center (5) will set a screen on the ball for the point (1), and then rolls to the basket.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
There are also plenty of weakside options within the Triangle Offense. See if you can identify some of these variation of the "triangle" while watching a team like Indiana this season.
Back Door Lob: If the center is not open, the power forward will flash to ball. If the defense overplays the power forward (4), it's up to the point guard (1) to look for a backdoor lob pass to the power forward.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Pinch Post: Another option is the pass back to the off guard, and a pass to the "pinch post" or weak side elbow area. This happens when the off guard (2) cuts around the power forward (4) for a handoff, or the point guard (1) comes off the double screen from the center (5) and small forward (3).
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Screen and Roll: On the pass back to the off guard (2), the power forward (4) steps up to screen on the ball.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Back Door for 2: This option presents itself when the off guard is overplayed. The power forward (4) will then flash to receive a pass from the small forward (3) and, on the catch, the off guard (2) makes backdoor cut to basket.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
As in every offense we've showed you, the execution of the fundamentals of passing, dribbling and shooting are paramount to success. There is no genius to the X's and O's and good coaches recognize this.
By Fran Fraschilla
Special to ESPN.com
There is a book in my library, published in 1962, titled: "The Best of Basketball From Scholastic Coach". There is a chapter in this book written by former Kansas State coach Tex Winter about "The Triangular Sideline Series".
Yes, the same Tex Winter who has been the offensive architect of Phil Jackson's nine NBA titles. And yes, the chapter focuses on the "Triangle Offense."
CoachSpeak Interested in the X's and O's of college basketball, but don't understand the terminology? Read ESPN's Fran Fraschilla's introduction to Hoops 101 ([Only Registered Users Can See Links]) on ESPN.com for a crash course in the basics of basketball.
Actually, when it comes to the Triangle, it was Winter's college coach at Southern Cal, Sam Barry, who planted the early ideas in his player's mind about the offense. And, it was at Kansas State, a place Winter where won eight Big 8 titles, where the Triangle first flourished.
Today, because of the recent success of the Bulls and the Lakers, the Triangle (or Triple Post) has gained favor with many college coaches. And it can be found in both the men's and women's games.
Both Geno Auriemma's Connecticut Lady Huskies and Pat Summitt's Tennessee Lady Vols have won NCAA championships because of Winter's innovation. And, as recent as last year, Indiana's Final Four run was helped, in part, by some elements of the "triangle" in the Hoosiers' offense.
Basically, the Triangle consists of a three-man triangle on one side of the court and a "two man game" on the other side of the court. Unlike set plays, there is a freedom of movement in the offense. There are a wide variety of cuts, depending on how the defense plays. Winter would describe this as "read and react".
Unlike a freelance motion offense, there is a structure requiring precise court spacing and cutting. Every player must know each position on the floor. And, while there is no way that we can show all of the many options in the Triangle, this week's lesson plan will look at basic movements of the Triangle Offense.
Setting Up the Triangle
The Triangle Offense starts in a 1-2-2 set with the players spaced about 15 feet apart. This spacing spreads the defense, thereby discouraging doubleteams, and allows for short, crisp passing that will reduce the risk of interceptions.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
There are a number of different ways of getting into the Triangle Offense:
Here, the point guard (1) passes to small forward (3), and then makes an inside cut toward the corner.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Here, the point guard (1) passes to small forward (3), and then makes an outside cut.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
The Triangle Offense also allows guards to get into the low post. Again, there are several ways to get into this offensive look.
For example, as the point guard (1) passes to small forward (3), the center (5) pops out to the corner, allowing the off guard (2) to move into low post.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
There is also a dribble entry option, as the point guard (1) dribbles to the spot previously occupied by the small forward (3), who moves down to the corner -- creating a "triangle" with the center (5).
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Running the Triangle Offense
Once the "triangle" is set up -- in this case with the point guard (1) having cut to the corner -- a "line of deployment" has been created between the ball (3), the post (5) and the basket. In order for the center's man to stay between him and the basket, he must play behind him -- as long as the post player (5) stays on the "line".
Once this happens, it's clear how the "triangle" opens up a clear passing lane for the small forward (3), with an easy angle to pass into the post, or "post feed" the center.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Look at the two diagrams below. For the post defender (X5) to prevent the pass into the post, or center, (5), he must play on either side of him, or "front him". If he plays in front of the post man, he loses position between the center and the basket, leaving the option open for a lob pass or quick pass to either side.
Any one of these entry passes into the post leads to an easy basket.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Trust me when I tell you that that we could be diagramming plays all day if we wanted to show you the magnitude of entry passes and options. Unlike many offenses, there are a myriad ways to get into the "triangle spots". Thus, it makes it very, very difficult for defenses to prepare for and disrupt the Triangle Offense.
Proper spacing allows for several great opportunities to feed the post, create 1-on-1 situations, as well as, chances for every player in the "triangle" to help the other get open.
Here are some other options the "triangle" creates off the "post feed".
The Post Split: As the small forward (3) passes to the post man (5), he screens for the point guard (1) as they "split" off the post.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
The Screen Away: The small forward (3) passes to the post and then screens away for the power forward (4), who is looking for short jumper, as the point guard (1) makes back door cut along baseline.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Pass To The Corner: This option starts with the small forward (3) passing to point guard (1) in the corner, and then making a "shuffle cut" off the post man. The point (1) will pass it back to the small forward (3) if he is open.
If the small forward is covered, the center (5) will set a screen on the ball for the point (1), and then rolls to the basket.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
There are also plenty of weakside options within the Triangle Offense. See if you can identify some of these variation of the "triangle" while watching a team like Indiana this season.
Back Door Lob: If the center is not open, the power forward will flash to ball. If the defense overplays the power forward (4), it's up to the point guard (1) to look for a backdoor lob pass to the power forward.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Pinch Post: Another option is the pass back to the off guard, and a pass to the "pinch post" or weak side elbow area. This happens when the off guard (2) cuts around the power forward (4) for a handoff, or the point guard (1) comes off the double screen from the center (5) and small forward (3).
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Screen and Roll: On the pass back to the off guard (2), the power forward (4) steps up to screen on the ball.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
Back Door for 2: This option presents itself when the off guard is overplayed. The power forward (4) will then flash to receive a pass from the small forward (3) and, on the catch, the off guard (2) makes backdoor cut to basket.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links]
As in every offense we've showed you, the execution of the fundamentals of passing, dribbling and shooting are paramount to success. There is no genius to the X's and O's and good coaches recognize this.