They say you can't argue with success, and the Zen Master's numbers speak for themselves. Yet, I believe it's high time for a change in philosophy. Watching last year's NBA Finals slugfest between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics, it was crystal clear that the Lakers won because of defense and rebounding, not offensive precision.
The triangle wasn't good enough, and the Lakers were fortunate to come out on top. (It hurts me to say this, but it's the truth.)
I'm not recommending Phil scrap the triangle. Not only would that be an unforgivable insult to venerable coach Tex Winter, the architect of the offense, but it does also remains a useful weapon.
However, it shouldn't be the only weapon. James Bond never saved the world with just a handgun.
What exactly is the triangle?
Although delving into the triangle's complexity is another article for another day, maybe I should provide a little background on the offense, demystify it before I explain why it's not some mythically perfect basketball set.
Simply put, the triangle offense is predicated on providing optimal spacing for your skilled scorers, allowing them to maximize opportunities to put the ball in the bucket.
Furthermore, the beauty of the triangle resides in its fluidity. It presents myriad ways to attack a defense, depending on what the opponent decides to take away. Within the triangle every move has a counter, every cut a rotation, and it's up to smart offensive players to make the right reads.
Theoretically, the triangle is supposed to work under any circumstances, against anybody. But it's not that straightforward. In reality, the triangle is reliant upon elite peri...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
