If the current pace and space/small ball/3 point shooting NBA is just a trend, what's after it?

[giordunk]

high post bigs and off the ball movement is the only place i can see the pendulum swinging.

I can't see anyone being developed as a back to the basket player in an AAU system.

Exactly... I just don't see any skilled low post scoring coming out any time soon. We have those guys in the league right now and their names are Al Jefferson and Brook Lopez. Even by some off chance that a kid coming out of high school or college has the post proficiency of Al Jefferson... So what? Al Jefferson is a great low post scorer but not enough to warrant being the focal point of a contender. We need someone with the physical gifts of Shaq to really warrant a "hey let's go with this low post guy"

Jahlil Okafor is the closest thing we have now to a low post, back to basket prospect, we'll see how he does.

[HeartBreakKid]

high post bigs and off the ball movement is the only place i can see the pendulum swinging.

I can't see anyone being developed as a back to the basket player in an AAU system.

Exactly... I just don't see any skilled low post scoring coming out any time soon. We have those guys in the league right now and their names are Al Jefferson and Brook Lopez. Even by some off chance that a kid coming out of high school or college has the post proficiency of Al Jefferson... So what? Al Jefferson is a great low post scorer but not enough to warrant being the focal point of a contender. We need someone with the physical gifts of Shaq to really warrant a "hey let's go with this low post guy"

Jahlil Okafor is the closest thing we have now to a low post, back to basket prospect, we'll see how he does.

Cousins plays in the low post quite often and he is certainly quite effective. Vucevic and Zbo all play down low as well and lead their teams in scoring.

[rzzzzz]

To me it has to be a true move towards positionless basketball, where all 5 players on the court can dribble, pass, and shoot. Think about how many point guards in this past draft were 6'5+, and obviously a lot of talented big men are able to handle the rock, make a pass, and stretch the floor with a jump shot. I feel like the future NBA will look more and more like a pickup game with all 5 guys being able to run plays and do things that were traditionally relegated to a position.

kind of like Denny Crum and the Doctors of Dunkenstein? except I think they were all close to 6'7".

i don't know. i think trends follow talent, not the other way around. if Wilt or Shaq were a rookies right now, they would still be a force. Magic didn't shoot like Curry, but he would find a way to apply his talents regardless. Guards would still be able to pass to Walton and cut to the rim, while the Skywalker would just slash along the baseline.

[Laimbeer]

The three pointer was intended to be a specialist/home run type of play with only a relative handful of players able to make it with any regularity. It wasn't part of the flow of the offense since the defense didn't have to respect too many guys out there.

The rules have been outpaced by the development of shooters at all positions. The three pointer is an essential lifeblood of offense now, and that won't change until the distance is increased.

[RealRapsFan]

Trends are trends until new trends take place. At which point they were niches.

But if we look at the NBA, size has still always mattered... and despite GSW success, its not like teams weren't still "big".

Memphis, SAS, LAC, OKC, Houston vs Atlanta, GSW (who still started Bogut), Cleveland (who still traded for/started Mozgov)

Its not like contenders are "small" simply because GSW played small for the majority of the finals.

There is, without much question, a desire for range at the 4 to help spread the floor... and sometimes that means shorter players. But thats as much a function of the same scarcity that has always existed in the NBA. Tall players are hard to come by.

But then again, neither are the diverse players that successfully small teams tend to have. LeBron, Green and Milsap aren't exactly commonly available in the NBA. Perhaps short (for PF or sometimes C), but also strong, often long, can pass, and can shoot.

I think we'll find, and in not to long, that going small will be situational rather than a common practice.

Most of the teams you listed may not fit small but kind of fit the 'pace and space' philosophy - players like Diaw, Serge Ibaka, Terrence Jones, Paul Millsap, Draymond Green are all reflections of the current trends in the league, where at least one of the bigs serves a perimeter function, and most of those teams have a capable small ball lineup.

Sure, but thats kind of the point. Pace and Space =/= small. It seems as if people have treating it as interchangeable. When really they are just late to the party realizing what a PF who effectively stretches the floor does for a team

A PF that offers space is pretty constant (at least for contenders). You can go back to the teams like the Lakers/Spurs with Horry, Rasheed Wallace, Dirk, Antoine walker on the Heat (2006), Keith Van Horn on the Nets... and whoever you want to call the PF on the Heat run 2010 - 14 (LeBron/Bosh/Battier), Rashard Lewis on Orlando. Even the Celtics had Garnett.. .and while he slowed down on his 3s as he aged, he still had a lot of range.

[meekrab]

It's a similar thing, but more versatile bigs that can play as a 'small ball' 4 but actually be a legit PF.

Guys like Nikola Mirotic, Trey Lyles, Ben Simmons come to mind. Guys who have guards games but big man size. Best of both worlds - small-ball without the compromises.

I agree, but you forgot to mention the guy that could arguably be the best player in the NBA next season that fits this description exactly.

LeBron James?

[prophet_of_rage]

It's a similar thing, but more versatile bigs that can play as a 'small ball' 4 but actually be a legit PF.

Guys like Nikola Mirotic, Trey Lyles, Ben Simmons come to mind. Guys who have guards games but big man size. Best of both worlds - small-ball without the compromises.

I agree, but you forgot to mention the guy that could arguably be the best player in the NBA next season that fits this description exactly.

LeBron James?

Anthony Davis


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[young_frogger]

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