Triangle Game
What to Discover or Recall:
The Triangle Game is a powerful inside game with wing shooters. Since a lot of inside screening takes place, it is best run with physically strong players. The inside players should be good, but do not have to be dominating, since most of their shots will come off screens. Players must be well schooled in the fundamentals of setting and using screens. Placing good shooters on the wings will spread the defense, allowing the inside screening game to take place. A smaller player can be deployed inside to create mismatches if so desired. Triangle Game is easy to teach and learn.
Schematic Sequence
| Continuity | Base screen | Post Options | Specials |
Basic Continuity
To initiate action O3 screens across for O5, and then pops out to the top of the circle off of O4's down screen. O1 can shoot the ball, pass to O5 posting up, or pass to O3 stepping out to top of circle. When O1 makes a reversal pass out to O3 and O3 passes to O2 on wing, O4 sets a baseline screen for O5. O3 after passing to O2 and sets a down screen for O4. Wing O2 has options of shooting if open, feeding O5 posting up or passing to O4 popping out off O3's down screen. The Triangle game's pick the picker continuity continues when O2 makes a reversal pass out to O4.
Back Screen Option
After setting a base screen for O5 or on any wing to wing skip passes, O3 has the option of stepping up and setting a back screen for a lob pass to O4.
Skip Pass Option
Wings have option of making a skip pass to the opposite wing at any time. When O1 makes a skip pass to O2, post O5 can either post up strong or set a base screen for O3. O3 can set a high back screen for O4 or O4 can down screens for O3, isolating O5 in the low post area.
Back Door Option
Back Cut Against Overplay. On the reversal pass to O3, when wing O2 is overplayed by defender X2, O4 flashes to the free throw line looking for pass from O3. O4 then feeds O2 on back cut to basket.
Back Cut Option
Weakside Post Lob. If O4's flash to free throw line is overplayed and denied by defender X4, O4 back cuts to basket looking for an over the top, lob pass from O3.
Proper Execution of Baseline Screen
"It's not what you run, but how you run it that counts." The success of any offense is dependent on precise execution. In the execution of the Triangle Offense, it is not important for the screener sets a solid baseline screen, it is equally important for the receiver to set up the screen.
Basic Reads & Counters. What if the....
Click on desired entry below to view illustrated counter option.
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Defender plays on the LOWSIDE of the post? Click Here
Defender plays on the TOPSIDE of the post? Click Here
Defense SWITCHES on the base screen? Click Here
Smaller defender is MISMATCHED INSIDE against post.
Bigger defender MISMATCHED OUTSIDE against quicker ball handler.
Defenders ANTICIPATE the switch and zone? Click Here
Defender FRONTS the post? Click Here
Read: Post Defender X5 Plays Low
Counter: Go Top (Over)
When defender X5 plays low to the baseline side of O5, O5 takes X5 low to set up O3's screen and then breaks over the screen for shot or strong post up.
Read: Post Defender X5 Plays High
Counter: Go Base (Under)
When defender X5 plays to the high side of O5, O5 takes X5 high to set up O3's screen and then breaks under the screen for shot or strong post up.
Read: Defensive players SWITCH on the screen.
Mismatch Inside - Screen & Pop
When the defense switches on the base screen, O3 breaks up to the free throw line and O1 looks to feed post O5 posting up against the smaller defender X3.
Outside Mismatch
Against the defensive switch, when O3 has a definite advantage over bigger X5, O5 clears out allowing O3 to go one on one against X5 from the free throw line. If/when O3's shot is not available, post can then dive to the basket to exploit smaller X1.
Defensive players "SHOW & RECOVER"
Counter: Screener Slips & Cuts to Basket
When defensive players X2 and X5 anticipate switching or "Show & Recover" on the base screen, screen O3 should fake the screen and slip (cut away) to basket for shot.
Read: Defender Fronts Post
Counter: Post Lob Option
Lob Pass. When the defense X5 assumes a full front denial position on the post, the post should force the defense out away from the basket, seal off the defender, and give the passer a target with the baseline hand. Passer should make a pass just over the top of the fronting defensive player.
Ball Reversal Option. Against the post front, the O1 also has the option of making a reversal pass to O3 breaking up to the free throw line for a better passing angle into the post.
Post Isolation - Basic Reads & Counters
For the Post Isolation to be effective, physical size alone is not enough, players posting up must be well schooled in the basic post moves. In addition, both the passer and post player must be cognizant of the location of defensive player.
Long time coach and present Laker assistant, Tex Winter, has not only brought the importance of court spacing along with the Triangle Post offense into the game, but he has also coined the phase "line of deployment" which assists players and coaches in "reading" and countering defensive post deployment.
Click on the desired read to view illustrated counter option
What if the defender plays on the HIGH SIDE of the post? Power Lay-up
What if the defender plays on the BASELINE SIDE of the post? Baby Hook
What if the defender plays on the BEHIND of the post? Face-Up
What if the defender FRONTS the post? Lob
What if the defense DOUBLE TEAMS the post? Trap Release
READ: Defender plays on the HIGH SIDE of the post.
COUNTER: Power Lay-up Option
When the defender X5 assumes a 3/4 pass denial position on the top side (above the line of deployment) of the post, the post should cheat up the lane, seal off the defender, and give the passer a target with the baseline hand. Passer should lead the post to the basket for power lay up. Post should maintain defensive seal until pass is overhead.
Corner Feed option.
When the defense assumes a 3/4 pass denial position on the top side of the post, the wing O3 has option of passing the ball to the corner for a better passing angle into the post.
READ: Defender plays on the BASELINE SIDE of the post.
COUNTER: Baby Hook Option
When the defender X5 assumes a 3/4 pass denial position on the baseline side (below the line of deployment) of the post, the post should cheat down the lane, seal off the defender, and present the passer a target with the top hand. Passer should lead the post to the basket for baby hook. The baby hook should be executed with a quick, long, lead step into the middle with the foot pointing toward sideline or corner. Shooting arm should be kept straight using a flipping wrist motion. Shooter should be end up facing the basket on follow through.
Point Feed option.
When the defense assumes a 3/4 pass denial position on the baseline side of the post, like with the post front, the wing has option of reversing the ball to the top of the circle for a better passing angle into the post.
READ: Defender plays BEHIND the post.
COUNTER: Turn & Face (Triple Threat)
When the defense X5 plays behind the post, the post should seal off the defender with a strong low, knees flexed stance, and give the passer a target with both hands. Upon receiving the pass, the post should make a strong pivot and face the basket assuming a triple threat position (drive, shoot or pass). Unless the defensive post is an extremely good shot blocker, the defensive player is at a big disadvantage.
Triple Threat Shot Options
Jump Shot. Defender has hands down.
Pump Fake and Drive. Defender anticipates and challenges shot.
Step Back. One dribble drive step toward basket then a quick step back to create separation from the defense.
READ: Defender FRONTS the post.
COUNTER: Post Lob Option
When the defense X5 assumes a full front denial position on the post, the post should force the defense out away from the basket, seal off the defender, and give the passer a target with the baseline hand. Passer should make a pass just over the top of the fronting defensive player.
Ball Reversal option.
Against the post front, the wing also has option of reversing the ball to the top of the circle for a better passing angle into the post.
READ: Defenders DOUBLE TEAMS the post.
COUNTER 1: Pressure Release to Elbow
One of the best ways to counter the post double team is by attacking it before with quick moves before the trap can be set.
When the defense double teams by bringing a player across along the baseline on the low side, the post has option countering by releasing up to the elbow.
COUNTER 2: Pressure Release to Short Corner
When the defense double teams by bringing a player down from the top, the post has option of releasing to short corner on baseline.
Crunch Time Specials
The Triangle Game action affords coaches with numerous quick hitting options. Here are a couple of proven options that can be deployed after a timeout or as the shot clock winds down.
Stagger Pop
O4 fakes the down screen action and pops out receiving a pass from O1. O5 and O2 set a staggered double screen for O3. O4 looks to feed O3 breaking out off O5's and O2's staggered double screen.
If O3 is not open for a good shot, the triangle game continuity continues with O2 screening for O5 and O4 down screening for O2.
Double Base Cross Screen
O3 sets a base cross screen for O5.
If O5 is not open on O3's base cross screen, O5 and O3 set stagger base screens for wing O2. Wing O1 looks to feed O2 breaking to the basket off O5's and O3's screens.
When O2 is not open on basket cut or posting up, O5 sets a back screen for O4 as O3 steps out to opposite wing. O1 looks to make a lob pass to O4 coming off O5's back screen. If the lob option is not open, the basic triangle game continuity continues.
Point One-On-One Isolation
This variation is usually ran for the top scorer. O3 sets a base screen for O5 and then pops up to the top of the circle off O4's down screen. O1 passes to O3 as O4 and O5 clear out to short corners.
O4 and O5 set back screens for shooters O1 and O2. O3 goes one on one against X3. O3 has options driving to the basket or making a kick out pass to three point shooters in corners.
Single Double Screen
Wing O1 passes out to O3 and then cuts to the basket as O2 moves down and sets a double screen with O4. If O1 breaks off O2's and O4's double screen, O2 then continues and curls off O5's screen. O3 looks to feed O1 or O2.
If/when O1 goes off O5's single screen, O2 then pops off O4's screen. O3 looks to feed O1 or O2.
When defender X1 anticipates the baseline screen and plays to the outside or goes over the screen, O4 breaks high for feed from O3. O4 looks to feed shooter O1 on quick back cut to basket. If O1 does not receive a pass from O4 on back cut, O1 continues out off O2's down screen for shot. If X1 and X5 should switch on O1's back cut, O4 looks to feed O5 rolling to basket against smaller defender X1.
Side Screen
O5 initiates side screen action by stepping out and setting a screen for wing O1.
O4 can also initiate side screen action by stepping out and setting a screen on O1's defender.
Side Screen Reads & Counters - View Click Here
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