The Lakers’ Triangle Offense
The Los Angeles Lakers seem to be one of the only teams that can run the triangle offense successfully. The triangle is an interesting set because there seems to be two basic motions, and then that’s it. There is a lot of freelancing off of these two motions, as players are simply asked to maintain the principles of the triangle. A system like this really relies on the players being able to play every spot on the court, understanding spacing principles, and most importantly, being able to read defenses.
Before we look at some of the freelance stuff in the triangle, let’s look at the two basic options:
The basic set up for a triangle is your standard two guard offensive front except that the 4-man (usually Lamar Odom) is in the backcourt with the point guard. The point guard gets it to the 2-man (usually Kobe Bryant), and then dives to the corner.
Now this dive after the ball entry is probably the one constant in the triangle. Whenever the ball gets entered the point guard always dives either to the ballside corner or the weakside corner. In fact, the Lakers do some interesting things off of this dive (more on that later).
Back to the option. Now that the 2 has the basketball, the 5 comes to the high post to create the triangle. You can do a lot of things off of this. Pass to the corner and cut through, PNR with the high post, anything. Here is what it looks like live:
Here, Sasha Vujacic makes the pass to Ron Artest and cuts to the corner. Artest, gets it back to Vujacic and then cuts to the basket.
The above clip is a good example of the freelancing that goes into the triangle. Here, you see the first option getting run through where Artest gets the ball as Steve Blake flashes to the corner. Artest gives it back to Blake and flashes through (exactly the same way he did in the first clip), however he isn’t open, so he doesn’t get the basketball. The offense seamlessly turns into a pick and roll with Steve Blake and Pau.
If the 2-man isn’t open on the wing, you see the Lakers get into their second option. Here is what it looks like:
If the PG can’t hit the 2-man, he swings it back to the 4-man, who is sharing the backcourt with him (one of the reasons why he is there). As the PG swings the ball, he again flashes towards the ballside corner as the 3-man shows to the basketball. The 4-man gets the ball into the 3-man, and as this is happening, the 2-man gets a screen from the center and flashes anywhere from the elbow to the block. This forms your triangle. Here is it live:
In the above clip, Fisher swings it to Odom who gets the basketball to Kobe. As this is happening, Ron Artest flashes to the midpost and gets a really nice seal. It’s a terrible pass and a turnover, but that seal by Artest is what the triangle tries to get you as an offense.
Here is what happens when Artest gets a good pass in the post like this. With the good floor spacing, he is able to work down low and get the easy basket. Now the man coming across and posting is usually Kobe Bryant. This second option/motion is how the Lakers are able to get the ball into Kobe rather easily:
This is a variation of the second option we looked at above, but the basic motions remain the same and as the ball gets to Odom on the wing, Kobe comes across and posts.
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We talked a little bit about the dive after the ball entry, and how you can do some interesting things off of it. There are two different things the Lakers like to do in terms of variations of dives.
Basically, what happens here is Fisher enters the ball as if he is running option 1, however instead of flashing to the corner he flashes to the paint under the basket. The 2-man quickly gets it back out to the 4-man and then sets the second screen in a double screen for Fisher who uses the double to get the basketball. Fisher can easily spot up for the three or let his natural movement take him to the middle of the paint.
The second variation of the dive is something the Lakers run to get ISO opportunities, as they use screens set by the dive man.
Here, Odom swings the ball and then starts through as if he is diving towards the ballside corner (on the opposite side of Kobe). Instead, he sets a quick screen for Kobe, who gets the basketball and then works one on one.
Here, Fisher gets the ball into the post, and instead of diving through he sets a screen on Odom’s man. Odom gets the ball on the move where he is able to attack the rim.
The beauty of these quick little options is that it forces the defense to pay attention at all times. The defender covering the dive man can’t just assume the dive is going to happen, because if he falls asleep, the Lakers can take advantage.
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Besides these quick hitters, the Phil Jackson simply asks his players to freelance using the triangle as a base.
In the above clip, the Lakers set up their triangle and then enter the basketball into the post. Artest (the man in the corner) then sets a little brush screen so Fisher can flash to the corner and get the open jumper.
Here, you see the same basic motion. However, instead of setting the screen, Artest slips it and gets the ball on the cut.
The above clip shows another quick hitter that the Lakers like to run. Here, Pau looks like he is going to be the high post man in the triangle, but quickly cuts backdoor for the lob. He gets the ball and hits the shot, but the beauty of this is that the Lakers still have their triangle set up if Pau isn’t open.
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The triangle just doesn’t set up quick hitters or offense that stays on one side. The basic principles and motions of the triangle allow for a nice offense that goes side to side while maintaining floor balance:
Now, Kobe takes a terrible shot in the above clip, but that isn’t what you should pay attention to. What you should pay attention to is how easily the ball moves side to side, while the Lakers keep their floor balance. Look at how easily the Lakers are able to get their triangle set up on each side of the court as the ball moves.
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With a triangle offense that relies on players reading the defense and freelancing, things tend to freeze-up and the offense may breakdown from time to time. Phil Jackson knows this, and this is why it is good to have Kobe Bryant (or, you know, Michael Jordan) on your basketball team.
When things break down on the offensive end, the Lakers simply get the ball to Kobe and let him work:
Here, the Lakers freeze up and nobody is really sure what to do after the ball goes to Artest. Kobe recognizes this and flashes to the basketball. Once he gets it, the Lakers clear out and let him go one on one.
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What I showed to you is a lot of the basic principles and motions of the triangle and a few of the sets the Lakers like to run off of it, but it isn’t even close to everything. What makes this offense so hard to teach, and conversely defend, is that Phil Jackson’s team is playing keeping the principles of the triangle in mind. It’s not like other sets or offenses where you defenses can see one part of an offense and know what is coming next. Players are asked to read and react defenses and play accordingly.
