Many NBA experts would attest that the six championships that the Chicago Bulls won in the NBA in the 1990s would not be possible without the vaunted triangle offense. It was the basketball gameplay that would likewise bring a series of wins to the Lakers when Phil Jackson moved to Los Angeles. But what exactly is it? Bulls basketball enthusiast Richard Ohlhaber helps break down this infamous strategy below.
Firstly, it must be established that the triangle offense was the brainchild of the late and now basketball Hall of Famer Morice Fredrick “Tex” Winter. He developed the offensive strategy that was initiated by Sam Barry years before. Winter promptly utilized his realized version of the offense alongside Phil Jackson throughout his stint with the Bulls.
The triangle offense is premised on good floor spacing and a series of actions prompted by the decision of the player holding the ball as soon as the half-court offense begins. It is beautiful to watch as it boasts of continuity and fluidity, resulting in crisp passes and good shot selection.
Central to this spacing is what is called the sideline triangle on one side of the floor and a waiting two-man game on the weakside. This commences with a player posting on the block, with two players in the perimeter (positioned in the corner and the wing, hence the triangle). The weakside offense is made up of a guard on top and a player on the post. In other words, two players are located on the post and three on the perimeter.
Running the triangle requires high basketball IQ and a commitment to filling in any vacant spot as soon as the play develops. When run properly, this creates havoc in the opponent’s defensive tactics as it involves constant player movement until the so-called path of least resistance is found. Moreover, it does not require the point guard to declare set plays that the opponent may quickly read, explains Richard Ohlhaber.
Chicago native Richard Ohlhaber likes boating, playing golf, and football. He is also a huge supporter of Chicago Bulls basketball. For more basketball-related reads, go to this blog.
Richard Ohlhaber 