The Death of the Triangle Offense?

OK, it's not like it is going to happen. I have a feeling that Coach Jackson is about as stubborn as King George. When things are not going all that well, you stick with the plan that just doesn't work as good as it used to.

There is a reason why no other team in the NBA uses the Triangle offense. Some teams have used variations of it at times only to abandon the offense. Well, if it has won 9 championships and it is such a good offense, why doesn't everyone use it.

Well, for one thing, all the years Coach Jackson didn't win championships, all the other teams used offenses that were not the Traingle. Moreover, when Coach Jackson did not have "The Best Players in the World," he did not win. Coaches and Triangle offenses do not win championships, players do.

MJ and Scottie and a team of complimentary players that made for great team chemistry won over and over. The minute MJ left to go play baseball, oops, no championship. The minute he comes back................

Shaq and Kobe and a squad of complementary players that create good team chemistry wins three championships. Shaq leaves and the Triangle offense wins.......squat. Shaq returns in a new city, with a new coach, a new sidekick who plays at a level close to Kobe, a new OFFENSE, and he is back in the finals.

What has happened hear? Well for one thing, after years of watching the Triangle offense, coaches are better at defending it. It is a very predictable, repetitious offense. A few years ago, the NBA gave them a gift called the zone defense. The Triangle, that is supposed to be good at creating spacing, is the victum of the opposing teams sagging and zoning. If you can't hit the three when your Triangle offense is now all clogged up with defenders, you are in trouble. Again, it is back to players and shooting.

Is the Triangle dead? No! Coach Jackson will continue to use it. He doesn't really no how to do anything else. Every other teams will move forward without it. The problem is that it takes most players a season or two to master it. We have already seen the fans of this website talk about only tweeking the Lakers lineup because it takes so long for new players to fit into the offense. Moreover, a mid-season trade to bolster the lineup for a stretch run can't happen, or if it does, often produces mixed results. Just look at Jim Jackson. He has been instant offense and a stud everywhere he has played, until he became a Laker mid season.

Other teams just do not want to put together their lineups with one arm tied behind their backs because of the offense they are running. And History proves that the best players with the best team chemistry wins Championships.

For me, the best reason to never run the Triangle again is because it is extremely boring to watch. It is kind of like watching the Raiders lineup up and run "student body right" every time they snap the ball.

I truely believe that Coach Jackson is a great coach. And the ZenMaster knows how to handle big time players and give confidence to the younger ones who need it. And if Jackson had the right players he could win with several different offenses. Will he ever realize that the Triangle is an offense whose time is past? He needs to. How many of you would trade the walk the ball up the floor and toss it to the high post Triangle Lakers for the fast breaking, quick striking, Showtime Lakers. If you are looking for a show and to have fun, it's no contest. Both teams won Championships. But that was then and this is now. I'm JamFan, and that's my opinion. Whats yours?

JamFan