Knicks: Phil Jackson Explains Use Of Triangle Offense
Why does Phil Jackson value the triangle offense? The New York Knicks’ team president explained his infatuation with the system to confidant Charley Rosen.
The New York Knicks and the the triangle offense will be linked until the day Phil Jackson departs. Though some have there reservations, Jackson has maintained that the system can flourish in the modern NBA.
Accusations of how dated a system it is have been combatted by many who analyze basketball beyond the numbers.
The modern NBA is one of isolation basketball and up-tempo offense. There are obvious exceptions to that rule, and the teams that run motion offenses tend to be the most efficient in the Association.
According to Jackson’s confidant, Charley Rosen of Today’s Fastbreak, The Zen Master believes that the NBA has become far too interested in isolation basketball.
"”The prevalent game plan in the NBA today is to keep the offenses very simple. Most coaches just want their players to go out there and bust it. They’ll run something for this guy or that guy off a double-screen or a high screen-roll, but their offenses are not formatted.“That’s all most players want to do anyway. It goes back to AAU ball where the kids play ON teams but not WITH teams.”"
Whether you’re a fan or critic of the triangle offense, no one can deny that Jackson is spot-on with that evaluation.
The Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs dominated the NBA during the 2015-16 regular season. Golden State won an all-time record 73 games, while the Spurs finished at 67-15.
The Cleveland Cavaliers admittedly won the NBA championship with a heavy dosage of ISO-ball, but they also had LeBron James.
The Warriors, meanwhile, won the 2015 NBA championship and reached the 2016 NBA Finals by playing as a team.
The common thread with both of those teams is a blend of committed defense and team-oriented offense. Executing in isolation remains a necessary strength, but it rarely leads to success when it’s the primary form of execution.
Thus, Jackson’s value for Tex Winter’s patented triangle offense.
"“What the triangle does is to format what players are supposed to do. Basic basketball is all it is. And it’s a lot simpler than some critics believe. When the Spurs’ early offense doesn’t turn up something positive, they frequently go right into actions that are incorporated in the triangle offense, so it’s not mystery ball and, it’s not outdated by any means.”"
It also doesn’t hurt that Jackson won 11 championships—more than any other coach in NBA history—while running the triangle offense.
Jeff Hornacek has been hired to lead the Knicks into the future as head coach. One of the goals on the agenda is to modernize the triangle offense, which isn’t as tall of a task as it may seem.
The entire intention of the triangle offense is to space the floor and create easy scoring opportunities—and that will never go out of style.
The most recent incarnation of the Triangle Offense relied upon big men who could set screens, post up, and pass. Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol filled those roles with Jackson’s Los Angeles Lakers.
Kristaps Porzingis and Joakim Noah project to do so with the Knicks.
Porzingis is an all-around offensive machine who can score from anywhere on the floor, including the post. Noah is an all-time passer amongst centers who averaged 5.4 assists per game in 2013-14 and 4.7 in 2014-15.
With Carmelo Anthony spotting up and Derrick Rose slashing off of screens, the triangle offense could run like a well-oiled machine in 2016-17.
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Many have been critical of the system, but if Jackson’s 11 championship rings say anything, it’s that the triangle offense has worked in multiple eras.
Why quit on it now?