Simplifying the Triangle Offensive.doc

8/14/2019 Simplifying the Triangle Offensive.doc

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Simplifying the Triangle Offensive

The following article was provided by Steve Mergelsberg, Assistant Basketball Coach,

Rutgers University !ewark, !ewark, !"#", U"S"A"

The si$plified high school Triangle retains the sa$e basic concepts as the Te% &interoriginal" Spacing is the first concern the players have to set up '( to ') feet apart to

prohibit the defence fro$ crowding an area and harrying the passing"

Basic Triangle

&e set up our Triangle *+(- on one side of the floor

and set up the two re$aining players in tande$ fashionon the other side"

Coaching point. The nu$bers in the diagra$ do notrepresent positions" They are $erely the players who

happen to be in those positions now"

/n short, we do not play with guards, forwards, and

centres" &e do not refer to the players as 's, 0s, +s, s,

or (s" They are '(s1 *Add up all the nu$bers and youget '(- 2our players have to learn all the positions"

Tandem Entry

3' has the ball and 30 $oves up the side to the free

throw line e%tended" Several things can happen at this

point. 3' can pass to 30 and cut off hi$ for a handoff"3' can pass to 30, cut over hi$, and then pick and roll

with hi$"

4n the Triangle side, $eanwhile, 3+ and 3 $ove into

the block *low post- area to set a double screen for 3("The latter will take his player behind the screen, then

pop out toward the tande$ side *5ust above the freethrow line- for the pass fro$ 30 *providing 30 did not

hand off to 3'-"

Switch Shoes

/f 3( does not get the ball *in 6iagra$ 0-, he continueshis route to the other side to for$ the Triangle with 3'

and 30"

3' has continued his cut *shown in 6iagra$ 0- and now

looks for a pass fro$ 30 and a 5u$p shot7 or 30 can

pass to 3' and slide the lane to play a two$an ga$e


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with 3', as that side of the floor will usually be open"

30 can also turn and face up with his defender for a

oneonone situation" 3 will glide up to the tande$post, while + pops to the top *as shown in 6iagra$ +-" /f

3' has the ball in the corner, 3( can duck into the laneand get a pass fro$ 3' for an easy layup or dishoff"

As you can see, the Triangle and tande$ are now onopposite sides of the floor" As we proceed, we are going

to start every entry with the Triangle and tande$ inthese positions"

Triangle Entry from Corner

3(, with ball, passes to 3 in the corner to start the

series, while 3+ steps up to pick for 3(, who cuts off 3+to the hoop, looking for a pass fro$ 3" /f 3( fails to getthis pass, he runs a route across the lane and curls

around 30 looking for the pass fro$ 3"

/f he still does not get the pass, he will drift to for$ the

Triangle on the left side with 30 and 3'" As 3( is runningthrough the lane, 3+ sets a pick for 3 and looks to play

a little pick and roll with hi$"

/f nothing $ateriali8es fro$ the Corner 9ntry, 3 willdribble to the top and 3+ will go to the low block to for$

the other half of the tande$"

:layers 3(, 30 and 3' will $ake up the Triangle on the

left side"

Triangle Entry from Post

3( passes to 3+ in the post, while 3 runs baseline,looking for a backdoor pass fro$ 3+" Meanwhile, 3' 5oins

30 in a doublescreen and 3 curls around it, looking forthe pass fro$ 3+"

/f 3 does not get the pass, he proceeds to the top tofor$ the Triangle with 30 and 3'"

3 0 then flares to the corner" 3( can cut off 3+ for ahandoff or play a two$an ga$e with 3+ as soon as 3

clears out" /f nothing happens, 3+ will dribble out and 3(will go to the post to for$ the tande$ side" 3+ can also

faceup and go oneonone with his defender"


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Triangle Options

Triangle Post Option

3( *with ball- passes to 3' $oving toward the$, as 3+

locks out his defender, and then steps into the lane forthe ;uick pass fro$ 3' and $akes a layup"

Tandem Backdoor Option.

30 steps toward the baseline, then 5absteps and co$esup court for a pass fro$ 3( at the Triangle elbow"

3' takes two or three steps to the left and cuts toward

the basket for the pass fro$ 30"

Tandem Screen-And-Shoot Option.

The players proceed as in 6iagra$ ( until 3, instead ofcurling around the doubletea$ *0'-, swerves into the

corner, looking for the skip pass fro$ 3+ and a 5u$p

shot"

Triangle Pop-And- Shoot Option.

:lay proceeds as shown in 6iagra$ 0 with 3' passing to

30 and then cutting over hi$ while 3( fakes a cut around

the + double screen and $oves into the near corner forthe long skip pass fro$ 30"

/f 3( fails to receive the pass, he can cut over the screen

and look for a pass fro$ 30 and a shot fro$ the freethrow line area, or he $ay cut under the doublescreen

and look for a pass under the basket for an easy layup"

The Triangle 4ffense gives the players a lot of freedo$ with which to use their talents to the

$a%i$u$" As the players beco$e fa$iliar with the offense, they will find a lot of

opportunities for dishoffs as the defence tries to ad5ust" 2ou can also have your tande$players e%change positions, back screen, or down screen" Above all, you $ust strive for top

flight e%ecution" 2ou will need the proper spacing, passing, changing speeds, and goodchanges of direction, to keep the defence working hard"

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Simplifying the Triangle Offensive.doc