Triangle offense
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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 USC, and his system was later refined by former Kansas State University head basketball coach and current Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Tex Winter, who played for Barry in the late 1940s.
The triangle offense differs from other offensive philosophies in basketball in that the offensive players are much more spread out than normal. There are many options designed within the offense for the purpose of getting the ball to the center, who is positioned in the low post. Quick passes and cuts toward the corner baseline by the guards are featured prominently in the offense as well. Also, players are instructed to move to certain spots on the floor and know where the rest of their teammates are on the floor at all times. Often the defense dictates which cuts and/or passes will be made by the offense by the way they choose to defend the triangle.
Critics of the triangle offense say that it is too difficult and time-consuming to learn. However the Chicago Bulls, led by head coach Phil Jackson with help from assistant coach Winter, won six NBA titles in the 1990s playing in the triangle, and the Lakers won three championships while Jackson and Winter were Lakers coaches and used the offense. NBA greats such as Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Shaquille O'Neal had never won NBA championships before their teams adopted the triangle system.
External link
- Diagrams involving the triangle offense at ESPN.com (http://espn.go.com/ncb/2003/0128/1499926.html)