Initiating the Triangle Offense

The initiation of the Triangle is one of the most important aspects of the system, if not the most important. If the offense does not set up in time and rhythm is not established, then everything else will fall apart. Unlike most other offenses that feature one PG, this system has a two-guard front. Both guards are instructed to initiate the Triangle and be good ball handlers. Naturally, if the defensive pressure is low, initiation is easy and no time is lost setting up the spacing of the offense. When the team encounters high pressure defenses, the job of initiation obviously becomes more difficult. As always, the Triangle features counters and wrinkles that are specifically created to catch the defense off balance. The following diagrams will illustrate the most common situations in the early seconds of the shot clock, before halfcourt offense is started.

Diagram 1

If we assume that the other team had just scored, O4 would inbound the ball to either O1 or O2. In this case, O1 gets the ball and becomes the lead guard. The off-guard, O2, stays on the same lateral plane and maintains comfortable spacing with O1. Their goal is to reach their two spots in the initial alignment of the offense, about 15 feet apart and six feet behind the NBA three-point line. Meanwhile, O4 runs on the wing and reaches his own spot in the offense. O5 and O3 run to the low post and wing respectively. This diagram does not feature any defensive pressure by the opposing team, so this would be the most comfortable way of setting up the offense.

Diagram 2

If the team faces defensive pressure, then the two guards have to work together to establish space for each other and keep the ball moving forward. Since the defense aims to stop the ball, it is important for the ball handler not to pick up the dribble and be caught near the sideline where the amount of available passing lanes decreases. So as soon as pressure is felt, O1 and O2 have to exchange positions in order to keep the ball near the middle of the court. Here, O1 gets the pass and is immediately pressured by D1. O2 needs to recognize the pressure and make a quick diagonal cut to the other side of the floor in order to create space for O1. At the same time, O1 dribbles to O2’s original side while still moving forward. If the ball is stopped again by the defense, then O1 changes direction and moves back to his original side dribbling forward, while O2 creates space. This movement can be executed about three times before O1 and O2 reach their actual goal, their two guard spots of the initial alignment. As soon as they have taken up their spots, the halfcourt offense starts. This series of movements has to be executed precisely and in rhythm. If the chemistry between the two guards is not optimal, time is lost and the offense loses valuable seconds.

Diagram 3

The whole point of having a two-guard front is to give the ball handler a teammate nearby to punish any quick double teams. While PG’s in other systems are usually isolated on an island in the middle of the court, the lead and off guards in the Triangle are always 15 to 18 feet apart and can pass the ball to each other easily. In this diagram, the ball is stopped early and O1 is doubled by D1 and D2. Given that he is only a short distance away from O1 and on the other side of the court, O2 is ready to catch a precise lob pass and advance the ball.

Diagram 4

If there is hard pressure on the inbound pass, the two guards can screen for each other and free themselves up for a possible pass. In this instance, O2 sets a screen for O1. If there is still no opening, O3 and O5 can flash for a precise pass by O4.