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Triangle offense

The Triangle offense is a basketball offensive system that organizes players into a three-man sideline triangle formation—typically involving a post player, wing, and corner—paired with a two-man alignment on the opposite side, emphasizing equal spacing (about 15 feet apart), continuous ball and player movement, and read-and-react principles to exploit defensive reactions and generate high-percentage scoring opportunities through passes, cuts, and post feeds.^[1]^[2] Developed in the mid-20th century, the offense traces its roots to University of Southern California coach Sam Barry in the 1920s and 1930s, who introduced foundational concepts of spacing and balance, but it was refined and popularized by Tex Winter beginning in the 1940s during his playing and coaching days.^[3] Winter, influenced by mentors like Phil Woolpert and Pete Newell, implemented and evolved the system at Kansas State University from 1954 to 1968, where it contributed to eight Big Eight Conference titles, nine top-10 national finishes, and four NCAA tournament appearances, as detailed in his 1962 book The Triple-Post Offense.^[2] The offense's core philosophy prioritizes team-oriented play and "equal opportunity" for all five players, reacting dynamically to defensive shifts rather than relying on rigid plays, which allows it to accommodate star talents while empowering role players through purposeful cuts, screens, and ball reversal.^[2] The Triangle offense achieved its greatest prominence in the National Basketball Association (NBA) under Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson, who hired Winter as an assistant and integrated the system with the Chicago Bulls from 1987 to 1998, securing six NBA championships (1991–1993, 1996–1998) featuring Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and role contributors like John Paxson and Steve Kerr.^[2] Jackson later employed it with the Los Angeles Lakers from 1999 to 2011, winning five more titles (2000–2002, 2009–2010) with Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Pau Gasol, demonstrating its adaptability to dominant big men and perimeter scorers.^[2] Winter's induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011 recognized his foundational role, and the system's influence extended to college basketball, with adaptations by coaches like Geno Auriemma at UConn and Pat Summitt at Tennessee, as well as brief NBA revivals, such as Jackson's tenure as New York Knicks president from 2014 to 2017.^[1] Despite challenges in modern pace-and-space eras favoring three-point shooting, the Triangle remains a benchmark for disciplined, reactive offenses that prioritize fundamentals over isolation plays.^[4]

History and Development

Origins with Tex Winter

Tex Winter, born in 1922, began shaping his offensive philosophy during his playing days at the University of Southern California in the late 1940s, where he adapted early triple-post concepts introduced by Hall of Fame coach Sam Barry, emphasizing balanced player positioning and post play.^[2] After serving as an assistant at USC and other programs post-World War II, Winter became head coach at [Kansas State University](/page/Kansas State University) in 1954 at age 32, leading the Wildcats to a 261-118 record over 15 seasons, including eight Big Seven/Eight Conference titles and two Final Four appearances in 1958 and 1964.^[5] During the 1950s, as a student of the game, he studied influential college offenses like the shuffle offense while working as a ball boy for Loyola University under coaches Phil Woolpert and Pete Newell, incorporating elements of multi-option screening and cutting to promote team equality over individual dominance.^[2] In the early 1960s at Kansas State, Winter refined and implemented these ideas into the triangle offense, publishing his seminal book The Triple-Post Offense in 1962, which detailed the sideline triangle formation as a direct response to rigid man-to-man defenses prevalent in college basketball.^[2]^[6] This system positioned three players in a triangular shape on one side of the court—typically a post player, wing, and corner—while the other two filled opposite spots, creating spacing for reads and passes that exploited defensive overcommitments without relying on a single playmaker.^[2] Winter's experiments emphasized continuous motion and five-player involvement, evolving from shuffle-cut principles to a more fluid structure that allowed for post feeds, perimeter swings, and cuts based on real-time defensive adjustments.^[2] Winter employed the triangle offense during his tenure as head coach at the University of Washington from 1968 to 1971, where his Huskies posted a 45-35 overall record in the competitive Pac-8 Conference.^[5] In the 1970-71 season, the team finished 15-13, showing improvement in offensive efficiency through tactical adjustments like varying entry points to counter zone looks and enhancing post isolation options against man defenses.^[5] These early college applications demonstrated the offense's adaptability, as Winter tweaked spacing and timing to fit roster strengths, resulting in higher shooting percentages from balanced possessions despite modest win totals.^[2] Central to Winter's approach was a philosophy balancing rigid structure with player improvisation, viewing the triangle as a framework for reactive decision-making rather than scripted plays. He advocated for "equal opportunity" among teammates, where ball movement and purposeful cuts—driven by defensive reactions—fostered unselfish play and multiple scoring threats. "It was a system based on ball movement and player movement with purpose. The reaction was to what the defense does," Winter explained, highlighting how the offense empowered players to read and exploit gaps without isolating stars.^[2] In the 1980s, as Winter shifted toward consulting roles, his coaching tree extended through workshops and mentorships, influencing a generation of educators to prioritize this blend of discipline and creativity in offensive design.^[2]

Popularization in the NBA

Phil Jackson introduced the triangle offense to the NBA as head coach of the Chicago Bulls in 1989, drawing on his prior exposure to the system during his playing days and collaborating closely with assistant coach Tex Winter, who had joined the Bulls staff in 1985.^[7]^[8] Winter, the offense's primary architect, served as a key advisor, helping Jackson adapt the read-and-react principles to professional play, emphasizing ball movement and spacing to counter the league's physical defenses of the era.^[9] This marked the system's transition from college basketball to the pros, where it initially faced resistance due to its departure from isolation-heavy styles prevalent in the NBA.^[10] In the early 1990s, implementing the triangle presented significant challenges, particularly in aligning it with Michael Jordan's dominant, ball-dominant approach, which Jordan initially dismissed as ineffective for championship contention.^[11] Jackson and Winter spent extensive time adjusting the system, encouraging Jordan to trust the offense's options while preserving his role as the primary scorer in clutch moments, leading to gradual buy-in after the Bulls' playoff exits in 1989 and 1990.^[10] These adaptations proved transformative, powering the Bulls to six NBA championships between 1991 and 1998, including two three-peats, as the offense maximized the talents of Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and supporting players through disciplined execution and defensive reads.^[12]^[13] Jackson expanded the triangle to the Los Angeles Lakers upon his hiring in 1999, tailoring it to accommodate Shaquille O'Neal's interior dominance and Kobe Bryant's perimeter versatility by focusing passes into the post while creating cutting lanes for Bryant.^[14]^[15] Assistant coach Kurt Rambis, who became familiar with the system as an assistant under Jackson with the Lakers, contributed to its installation and player development, helping integrate veterans into the scheme despite initial tensions between O'Neal and Bryant.^[16] This version of the triangle facilitated five Lakers championships under Jackson from 2000 to 2010, including another three-peat from 2000 to 2002, underscoring the offense's adaptability and role in 11 total titles across both franchises.^[12]^[17]

Core Principles

Spacing and Player Movement

The triangle formation serves as the foundational structure in the triangle offense, positioning a post player at the low block, a wing player on the strong side elbow, and a corner player to complete the sides of the triangle. This setup creates immediate passing options and exploits defensive alignments by forming a geometric shape that emphasizes balance and connectivity among the three primary positions. The post player anchors the low block to draw defensive attention, while the wing and corner players occupy perimeter spots to stretch the defense horizontally. According to coaching analyses derived from Tex Winter's principles, this formation ensures that the offense begins with a strong-side focus, allowing for quick ball reversal to the weak side if needed.^[18]^[19] Spacing is a critical rule in the triangle offense, requiring players to maintain approximately 15-18 feet between each other to prevent defensive packing and open driving lanes. This distance, emphasized by Tex Winter as essential for fluidity, positions players in a 4-out-1-in alignment initially, with four perimeter players spread across the floor and one in the post. Constant weak-side movement complements this spacing, as the off-ball players on the opposite side of the ball continually relocate to avoid congestion and maintain floor balance. For instance, the weak-side forward might flash to the high post or corner to fill open areas, ensuring no defender can sag without consequence. Such spacing not only disrupts help defense but also facilitates rapid ball movement, as players are always in position to receive passes without crowding.^[18]^[19] Player movement in the triangle offense revolves around dynamic actions like backdoor cuts, flare screens, and pin-down screens to generate scoring opportunities. Backdoor cuts occur when a perimeter player, overplayed by a defender, flashes baseline toward the basket for a quick pass from the wing or guard. Flare screens involve a screener setting up off the ball to free a shooter curling away from the defender, often from the weak side to the wing. Pin-down screens, typically set by the post or corner player, release perimeter shooters by screening their defenders toward the baseline. These movements are illustrated in initial setups such as the 4-out-1-in, where the guard initiates with a dribble entry to the wing, prompting a baseline cut by the corner player or a high-low pass to the post. In practice, these actions create seamless transitions, with the weak-side player often using a back screen or down screen to relocate and provide outlet options.^[18]^[19] The triangle offense balances structured positioning along the sides of the triangle with freedom in player decision-making, avoiding fixed plays in favor of read-and-react principles. The "sides of the triangle"—connecting the post, wing, and corner—provide a rigid framework for initial alignment, ensuring reliable passing angles, while off-ball players have autonomy to cut or screen based on defensive positioning. For example, movement along the line of deployment—a straight path from the wing through the post to the basket—forces defenders to align behind the ball, opening passing lanes for post feeds or kick-outs to the corner. This interplay allows the offense to adapt fluidly, where constant relocation creates multiple passing options and exploits gaps without predetermined sequences. Such dynamics ultimately inform defensive reads, enabling players to react to overhelps or denials.^[18]^[19]

Defensive Reads and Options

The Triangle offense operates on a "read and react" philosophy, where players make real-time decisions based on defensive alignments rather than following rigid plays, allowing the offense to adapt fluidly to various coverages. This approach emphasizes quick processing of defensive movements, with primary options including post entries when the defense sags, wing isolations if help rotates away, or skip passes to exploit overcommits on the strong side. Spacing serves as the foundational enabler for these reads, ensuring players are positioned to capitalize on openings without congestion.^[20]^[18] Specific reads are tailored to common defensive schemes. Against double-teams on the post player, the offensive player kicks the ball out to an open perimeter teammate, often triggering a reverse pass or cut to maintain momentum and prevent stagnation. In man-to-man coverage, drives and kick-outs become prominent, where a wing player penetrates if the defender goes under a screen, forcing help defense and creating kick-out opportunities for three-point shots or drives from the weak side. For zone defenses, perimeter overloads are employed, with players flashing to the high post or weak side to stretch the zone and open baseline cuts for layups or mid-range jumpers. These reads prioritize exploiting help rotations, ensuring the offense remains unpredictable.^[21]^[22]^[18] Decision trees branch based on defensive reactions and player positions, fostering layered options throughout the possession. For the point guard, if the defense collapses on a drive, the ball reverses to the wing for a potential isolation or screen usage; if overplayed, the point initiates a backdoor cut or handoff. Wing players follow a sequence starting with post feeds, progressing to skip passes if denied, or using down screens if the defender fights over; overplay prompts flare cuts to the corner. Post players assess trapping immediately upon entry—if doubled, they pivot and outlet to cutters; if fronted, they seal for rebounds while flashing high to draw defenders away. These branching choices ensure continuous flow, with the entire possession resetting after each read to probe new vulnerabilities.^[20]^[21]^[22] The system underscores five-player involvement to avoid isolation plays, integrating all positions through simultaneous cuts, screens, and passes that keep multiple threats alive. This collective dynamic extends to offensive rebounding, where post and wing players crash the boards after shots, using the structure's motion to position for second-chance opportunities without disrupting the primary reads. By design, the offense demands unselfish decision-making, where individual scoring emerges from team exploitation of defensive weaknesses rather than forced one-on-one matchups.^[18]^[21]^[20]

Tactical Execution

Basic Formations and Sets

The Triangle offense begins with the primary 4-5-3-2-1 alignment in the half court, where the point guard (1) initiates play from the top, the wing (2) receives the entry pass on the strong side, the post player (5) occupies the low block, the weak-side wing (3) positions at the opposite elbow or top, and the corner player (4) fills the weak-side corner to maintain spacing of 15-18 feet between players.^[20] This setup forms the foundational sideline triangle on the strong side—comprising the corner (4), wing (2), and post (5)—while the weak side features a two-man game between the weak wing (3) and point (1) for complementary actions.^[21] Transitions from inbounds plays or after misses typically involve a quick weave or blind-pig action, where the inbound passer (often 1 or 3) feeds the wing (2) while cutting baseline, resetting the 4-5-3-2-1 structure within seconds to exploit fast breaks or defensive recoveries.^[18] Entry passes from this alignment prioritize read-and-react options to establish the strong-side triangle, such as the point guard (1) passing to the wing (2) followed by an inside cut to the corner (4), or a high-post flash where the weak-side wing (3) cuts to the elbow for a reception before relaying to the low post (5).^[20] Alternatively, a wing flash entry sees the post player (5) or weak wing (3) flashing high to receive from the inbounder, creating immediate post-up threats or reversal opportunities, with the strong-side triangle visualized as a right-angled formation: wing at the vertex, post at the baseline angle, and corner extending the hypotenuse for cuts like the "slice" or "UCLA" screen.^[21] Baseline entries from the sideline emphasize quick passes to the corner (4) or post (5), while sideline entries from the top favor dribble penetration by 1 to the wing spot, sliding 2 to the corner to preserve the triangle's geometry.^[18] Half-court setup rules enforce continuity and balance, mandating ball reversal—typically from the wing (2) to the weak-side wing (3) at the top of the key—after initial options fail, ensuring weak-side involvement through flashes, backdoor cuts, or spot-ups within 7-10 seconds to prevent stagnation.^[21] This timing aligns with the offense's emphasis on player movement, where failed strong-side reads prompt immediate weak-side activation to stretch defenses.^[20] Adjustments for personnel adapt the 4-5-3-2-1 to lineup strengths, favoring tall post players (5) in low-block dominance for high-low passes in traditional setups, while guard-heavy lineups shift 1 or 3 to post duties, relocating 5 to the corner and incorporating more dribble weaves or baseline entries for perimeter creation.^[18] In such cases, sideline entries become more dynamic, with guards (1 and 2) handling primary ball reversal to exploit mismatches without disrupting the core triangle formation.^[20]

Key Plays and Variations

The Triangle offense relies on signature plays that leverage player reads and movement to create high-percentage scoring opportunities. The pinch post flash is a core entry action where a weak-side player rapidly cuts to the high post or elbow, drawing defenders and enabling passes to the low post or triggering backdoor cuts like the blind pig for layups.^[18] This play exploits fronted post defenses by providing immediate inside options or kicking out to shooters. Similarly, the UCLA cut occurs when the ball handler passes to the wing and cuts baseline off a high-post screen, aiming for a give-and-go layup or clearing to the corner if the pass is unavailable, thus maintaining offensive flow.^[20] The dribble handoff series initiates perimeter action, with the guard handing off to a wing player who can curl for a mid-range shot, drive to the rim, or reverse the ball for open three-point attempts, often following a flash or weave motion.^[22] Variations of the triangle adapt to defensive pressures while preserving its foundational structure. Against full-court presses, the quick triangle uses dribble entries or inside cuts to rapidly form the sideline triangle, bypassing traps with purposeful spacing and weak-side flashes to counter overplays.^[23] For added versatility, pick-and-roll integrations incorporate screens in the two-man game, such as a high-post roll or corner pick, allowing the roller to dive for lobs while the screener pops for mid-range or three-point shots.^[18] The offense's scoring emphasizes an inside-out progression, starting with post feeds for close-range efficiency before progressing to mid-range pull-ups and perimeter threes based on defensive rotations. This approach generates balanced outputs.^[22] Common errors include over-dribbling, which stalls ball movement and compresses spacing, and neglecting the weak side, reducing the system's multi-option reads.^[20] Coaching cues focus on enforcing 15-18 feet of spacing, demanding hard and immediate cuts, and drilling defensive recognition to ensure players prioritize passes over dribbles and involve all five positions.^[23]

Implementations and Impact

Chicago Bulls Dynasty

The Chicago Bulls' adoption of the triangle offense under head coach Phil Jackson and assistant Tex Winter from 1989 onward transformed the team into a dynasty, culminating in six NBA championships between 1991 and 1998. This era featured the seamless integration of superstars Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and later Dennis Rodman, whose skills aligned with the system's emphasis on read-and-react principles and collective ball movement. The 1995-96 season exemplified this synergy, as the Bulls set an NBA record with 72 regular-season wins while employing the triangle to achieve an offensive rating of 115.2 points per 100 possessions, the highest in league history at the time.^[24]^[25] Tactically, the triangle offense leveraged Jordan's scoring prowess through wing positioning, where he exploited defensive reads to generate mid-range jumpers and drives, evolving from a ball-dominant isolation player to a facilitator who averaged 30.5 points per game across the six title seasons while boosting team assists. Pippen's versatility proved essential, often playing point-forward roles in the triangle to maintain spacing, handle secondary ball-handling duties, and deliver precise passes, which Jackson credited for amplifying the system's fluidity and pressuring defenses across multiple positions. Post entries to big men like Horace Grant in the early 1990s and Toni Kukoč later provided reliable interior scoring options, with Grant anchoring the low post during the first three-peat and Kukoč emerging as a Sixth Man of the Year in 1996 for his efficient exploitation of double-teams on Jordan and Pippen. Rodman's addition in 1995 further enhanced the scheme by enabling quick outlet passes from rebounds, allowing the offense to transition seamlessly into triangle sets and contributing to the team's defensive rating of 101.8 in the record-breaking 1995-96 campaign.^[26]^[27]^[25]^[28] The triangle's implementation was pivotal to the Bulls' championship dominance, enabling varying scoring outputs—such as 110.0 in 1990-91 and 96.7 in 1997-98—while fostering elite defensive efficiency through coordinated rotations and rebounding. This balance propelled the Bulls to three-peats in 1991-93 and 1996-98, with the offense's adaptability countering varied playoff defenses and maximizing the roster's talents without over-reliance on any single player. However, following Jordan's retirement in 1998, the system faltered amid roster upheaval; the 1999-2000 Bulls managed just 17 wins, struggling to execute the triangle's complexities without star leadership, which exposed its demands for high basketball IQ and led to a temporary decline in the franchise's competitiveness.

Los Angeles Lakers Success

The Los Angeles Lakers achieved remarkable success with the triangle offense under head coach Phil Jackson from 1999 to 2011, securing five NBA championships that highlighted the system's adaptability to dominant post players and versatile wings. Jackson, who joined the Lakers in 1999, implemented the triangle to harness the talents of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, leading to a three-peat from 2000 to 2002. This era emphasized low-post entries to exploit O'Neal's physical dominance, creating high-efficiency scoring opportunities through structured spacing and player reads. The offense's principles allowed for fluid transitions from post feeds to perimeter options, enabling the Lakers to maintain control against varied defenses.^[17] In the 1999-2004 period, O'Neal's low-post presence defined the triangle's execution, with entries often initiated from the strong-side corner or high post to draw double-teams and open passing lanes. During the 2000 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, O'Neal averaged 38.0 points and 16.7 rebounds per game, earning Finals MVP honors while shooting 61.0% from the field, as the triangle facilitated isolation matchups and quick kick-outs. Bryant's role on the wing involved reading defensive rotations, using the system's spacing to execute fadeaways and mid-range pull-ups, particularly off O'Neal's gravity; Phil Jackson noted Bryant's high basketball IQ allowed seamless adaptation, often outperforming expectations in ball movement and scoring versatility. Role players like Derek Fisher complemented this by providing steady perimeter shooting and floor spacing, averaging 8.2 points per game in the 2000 playoffs with efficient catch-and-shoot opportunities created by the triangle's flow.^[29]^[30] The Lakers' offensive performance underscored the triangle's efficiency during this dynasty, with playoff offensive ratings consistently above 108 points per 100 possessions, peaking at 110.1 in 2000—the highest in the postseason. This system enabled shooting efficiencies exceeding 50% effective field goal percentage in key series, driven by O'Neal's interior dominance (over 55% FG in Finals appearances) and Bryant's opportunistic reads, which minimized turnovers and maximized paint touches. Across the three championships, the Lakers shot 47.8% from the field in the playoffs, converting triangle options into balanced scoring that overwhelmed opponents like the Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings.^[31]^[32] The triangle's success extended to the 2008-2010 era after O'Neal's departure, with Pau Gasol integrating as a skilled post facilitator alongside Bryant, leading to back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. Gasol's passing from the low block and high-post pivots adapted the offense for more perimeter involvement, allowing Bryant to operate as the primary initiator while Gasol averaged 19.6 points and 11.1 rebounds in the 2010 playoffs. The Lakers maintained high efficiency, posting a regular-season offensive rating of 112.8 in 2008-09, with playoff field goal percentages around 47% supported by the triangle's emphasis on post-ups and wing isolations. This iteration relied on defensive reads to counter aggressive traps, briefly referencing options like pinch-post passes to exploit mismatches.^[33]^[34] By 2011, the triangle's effectiveness waned due to personnel mismatches and Jackson's retirement, as aging stars like Bryant faced injuries and the roster lacked ideal post threats for sustained entries. The Lakers' 2011 playoff exit in the second round highlighted stalled execution, with offensive rating dropping below league averages amid poor spacing and turnover issues, marking the system's decline without its architect.

Global and Modern Influence

International Adaptations

The triangle offense has seen limited adoption in European basketball since the 2000s, with coaches adapting its core principles of spacing, player movement, and read-and-react options to FIBA rules, including the uniform three-point arc at 6.75 meters, which is longer than the NBA's previous corner distance and encourages greater emphasis on perimeter shooting to exploit defensive rotations.^[35] In Spain, coach Txus Vidorreta has been a key proponent, implementing the system with La Laguna Tenerife (CB 1939 Canarias) in the Basketball Champions League, where it has enabled fluid ball movement and high-efficiency scoring through sideline triangles and post entries tailored to smaller European big men who rely more on shooting than traditional post dominance.^[36] Vidorreta's approach integrates the offense's foundational elements—such as constant cuts and passing angles—with FIBA's faster pace, allowing teams to transition quickly while maintaining structured half-court sets.^[37] In the 2019 FIBA World Cup, the Philippines under Tim Cone used the triangle offense, averaging 75.6 points per game and shooting 25.2% from three, though they finished 31st. In 2024, Cone's triangle offense enabled Gilas Pilipinas to defeat host Latvia 89-80 in FIBA Olympic Qualifying, showcasing its ongoing international viability.^[38] Challenges in international adoption stem from cultural preferences for high-tempo, pick-and-roll heavy styles in leagues like the EuroLeague, where the triangle's methodical pace can clash with shorter shot clocks and faster transitions, requiring hybrids that blend its spacing with European flair. Successes appear in structured teams like Real Madrid, whose hybrid offenses under coaches such as Pablo Laso featured constant off-ball screens and ball reversal to dominate EuroLeague play, winning titles in 2015 and 2018 by averaging around 84 points per game through adaptive perimeter emphasis suited to FIBA's dimensions.

Criticisms and Evolutions

The triangle offense has drawn criticism for its potential predictability, especially in clutch situations and late-game scenarios, where defenses can anticipate patterns after repeated exposure. This issue was evident during the Los Angeles Lakers' implementation in the early 2010s, particularly in the 2012-13 season under coach Mike D'Antoni, who attempted a hybrid version but struggled with execution amid injuries and mismatched personnel, leading to a 45-37 regular season record and a first-round playoff exit despite a talented roster including Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, and Pau Gasol.^[39] The system's reliance on scripted reads and continuity plays allowed opponents to disrupt flow in high-stakes moments, contributing to the Lakers' postseason failures and reinforcing perceptions of rigidity in pressure-packed games.^[40] Another key limitation is the offense's demand for elite passers and high basketball IQ across the roster, making it challenging for teams lacking such personnel. Players must master complex reads and unselfish ball movement without a dominant ball-handler dictating play, which has proven difficult for non-star rotations and led to stalled possessions when execution falters.^[41] Furthermore, the triangle struggles against contemporary switch defenses that fluidly rotate to maintain coverage, undermining the system's emphasis on fixed spacing and post entries by preventing favorable mismatches.^[42] In response to these challenges, the triangle has evolved through hybrid integrations with other systems, notably by coaches adapting it to faster-paced modern basketball. Steve Kerr, drawing from his time under Phil Jackson, incorporated triangle principles into the Golden State Warriors' motion offense starting in 2015, blending high-post actions and spacing reads with pick-and-roll sequences and off-ball screens inspired by the San Antonio Spurs' system.^[43] This hybrid approach added dynamic elements like increased pick-and-roll usage—often involving Stephen Curry and Draymond Green—to exploit switches and create three-point opportunities, enhancing adaptability while retaining the triangle's core emphasis on ball sharing.^[44] Modern examples illustrate these evolutions in non-NBA contexts. At Butler University, coach Brad Stevens employed motion principles during the 2010-11 NCAA finals run, using read-and-react spacing to maximize efficiency with a balanced roster en route to the championship game against UConn. Statistically, the triangle drove exceptional efficiency in the 1990s, with the Chicago Bulls achieving an offensive rating (ORtg) of 115.2 during their record 72-win 1995-96 season, reflecting superior scoring per possession through balanced attack. However, its influence has waned in the pace-and-space era of the 2010s and 2020s, where league-wide ORtg has risen to over 115 amid faster tempos and three-point emphasis; structured continuity offenses like the triangle have declined in usage as teams prioritize isolation and transition plays.^[42]

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[31]
Phil Jackson says Kobe easily adjusted to the triangle
May 15, 2025 · Jackson pointed out Kobe's basketball IQ as the reason why he easily adapted to the triangle offense.
[32]
2000 NBA Playoffs Team Offensive Rating Rankings | StatMuse
The Los Angeles Lakers had the best offensive rating by a team in the 2000 playoffs, with a 110.1 rating. ; 1. Lakers ; 2. Pacers ; 3. Trail Blazers ; 4. Bucks.Missing: 2000-2004 | Show results with:2000-2004
[33]
2000 NBA Playoffs Summary | Basketball-Reference.com
Checkout the Results, Statistics, Playoff Leaders, Per Game Stats, Advanced Stats and more for the 2000 NBA playoffs on Basketball-Reference.com.Kings vs. Lakers · Trail Blazers vs. Lakers · Suns vs. Lakers · 2001
[34]
Pau Gasol's legacy with the Lakers lives on - ESPN
Dec 24, 2014 · Gasol proved to be an ideal player for Phil Jackson's triangle offense, a smart, skilled and unselfish big man who was formidable on his own ...
[35]
2009 NBA Teams Offensive Rating - StatMuse
The Boston Celtics had a 110.5 offensive rating in 2008-09. ; 5. Lakers. 112.8. 2008-09 ; 6. Kings. 105.5. 2008-09.
[36]
[PDF] Official Basketball Rules 2024 - Basketball Equipment
Sep 5, 2024 · The central vertical line on their front surfaces, extended down to the floor, shall touch the point on the floor which lies 1,200 mm from ...
[37]
Basketball Champions League on X: "Phil Jackson, Tex Winter and ...
Oct 16, 2024 · Phil Jackson, Tex Winter and Txus Vidorreta: Three Masterminds of Triangle Offense #BasketballCL | @CB1939Canarias.
[38]
Three Masterminds of Triangle Offense #BasketballCL - Facebook
Oct 16, 2024 · La Laguna Tenerife plays the triangle offense to perfection. Phil Jackson, Tex Winter and Txus Vidorreta: Three Masterminds of Triangle Offense.
[39]
Ettore Messina Lele Molin: The CSKA Moscow Offensive System
The offensive system we adopted last year can sometimes appear ... Tex Winter's Triangle Offense Guide. 15 pages. WA Basketball High Performance ...
[40]
A Postmortem of the 2012-13 Los Angeles Lakers - Grantland
Apr 29, 2013 · On July 5, 2012, the Lakers changed the conversation about last season's failure by adding Steve Nash. ... triangle offense to the Princeton ...
[41]
Triangle Offense Has Its Defenders and Skeptics
Mar 17, 2014 · The triangle offense, which relies on precise spacing to spread out the defense, was at the core of numerous NBA championships won by the Chicago Bulls and the ...
[42]
NBA: Is The Triangle An Outdated Offensive Scheme? - FOX Sports
Jun 30, 2017 · What's problematic is there aren't enough players who are willing to run it without the ball in their hands. As a result, the triangle can't run ...<|separator|>
[43]
The Triangle Offense: Dead or alive? Let's analyze its past and present
May 18, 2020 · The triple post offense, the formal name of what has become known as “The Triangle”, was invented by Hall of Fame coach Sam Barry when he was at ...
[44]
How Steve Kerr revolutionized the Golden State Warriors' offense on ...
Oct 11, 2017 · He notes that the Warriors would be foolish to run the triangle exclusively; it wouldn't best utilize their outside shooters. No, Kerr says.Missing: 2015 | Show results with:2015
[45]
Steve Kerr's Hybrid Triangle Offense Will Unleash Stephen Curry
Aug 13, 2014 · The beauty of Kerr's proposed system is that it draws as much from the Triangle as it does the San Antonio Spurs' "motion weak" offense—which ...Missing: 2015 | Show results with:2015
[46]
How Tom Thibodeau made the Knicks a Top 10 Offense in the NBA
Feb 2, 2023 · The New York Knicks have a top-10 offense which is confusing. Here is a look at how their offense works and some potential pitfalls.