The Triangle Offense

[Sheeeeed]

Not sure we can assume that Shaw would be 100% committed to the triangle (not a staple of the Pacers).
Rambis tried the triangle in Minny and failed miserably.
I would think Shaw would be wise to start off with traditional sets... then maybe he could slowly implement some of the Tex Winter concepts.

Apparently during past interviews he told teams he was going to in fact run the triangle.

[Sheeeeed]

One thing of note that should put this whole idea to rest that it takes too long to learn the triangle. I believe Gino Auriemma runs the triangle offense at UCONN. If those college girls can learn it in within a year, in a league where rosters are completely turned over every year, then I think our guys could too.

I think I read somewhere Pat Summitt also ran the triangle at TENN. Thats a combined 26 championships won using the triangle, I think. Sounds good to me.

Woman spend all 4 years in school, the turnover isn't as big as you're making it out to be.

[Warspite]

If you rely want to see the triangle in its truest form watch some Bulls games from the 94 season. Yes its UGLY to watch.

If you dont have a Kobe/MJ type slasher it becomes an offense which at best can get you an open 20ft jump shot.

I just dont think you will see the triangle again because theres realy only 1 guy who teaches it and hes no longer coaching. Phil didnt run the triangle in the CBA. It was Tex Winters who was brought in to teach it. If anything Phil is a Holtzman guy and would run something closer to the 70s knicks offense.

[Vicissitudes]

The Pistons doesn't have the personell to run the triangle offense. This system will miserably fail if you don't have talented players in the squad. Jordan? Bryant? LeBron? Ya'll need to forget it because we're not getting someone in that league.

The Princeton offense is a grind offense. You need all 5 to be in constant movement, setting picks, be able to handle the ball, make smart cuts, high basketball I.Q. and atleast average skill of all those things. This offense is most used by teams who are undersized. If we had a team of Knight, Mayo, Singler/Middleton, Millsap and Monroe then this offense should work. You don't need athleticism with this offense, you need smart players who are capable of making smart decisions because the offense creates tons of defensive switches which leads to open jumpshots and easy feeds under the basket.

What I want to see the next coach taking advantage of is Monroe's creativity. I would have loved seeing Moose receiving the ball at the highpost and create offense right there, because hes a playmaker that infact makes good decisions with the ball. (His turnovers are mostly when backing up the post and dribbling too much.) Most times I've seen him get the ball there, good things happen. High-low offense could work wonders for this team.

[Pharaoh]

I find it funny that the biggest knock on the Triangle is that it "takes too long to learn"

Well, umm... anything worth something takes time!

And if you do what you've always done you'll get what you've always got! We suck! We have sucked for a long time now! We will continue to suck unless some serious changes are made!

Phil Jackson getting Brian Shaw a head coaching job is one big change! Does anyone expect Phil to then walk away and leave his "protege" in Detroit all on his own? Or would a hand picked group of assistant coaches be here to support Shaw? Would Phil not be there for advice when needed?

The Triangle offense, as coached by Tex Winter and Phil Jackson won 11 championships. Yes they had amazing players on those teams... but 2 players do not make a championship team (Stockton and Malone won nothing!)

For the life of me I don't see how anyone could oppose us hiring Shaw, using the Triangle and acquiring players that would excel in the Triangle.

I will admit that it's possible some players simply don't "get" the Triangle and can't function within it... but let's not pretend those guys will be here for the next decade... contracts expire at some point!

BTW, I appreciate the discussion in this thread... some quality posts in here by many!

[Vicissitudes]

I find it funny that the biggest knock on the Triangle is that it "takes too long to learn"

Well, umm... anything worth something takes time!

And if you do what you've always done you'll get what you've always got! We suck! We have sucked for a long time now! We will continue to suck unless some serious changes are made!

Phil Jackson getting Brian Shaw a head coaching job is one big change! Does anyone expect Phil to then walk away and leave his "protege" in Detroit all on his own? Or would a hand picked group of assistant coaches be here to support Shaw? Would Phil not be there for advice when needed?

The Triangle offense, as coached by Tex Winter and Phil Jackson won 11 championships. Yes they had amazing players on those teams... but 2 players do not make a championship team (Stockton and Malone won nothing!)

For the life of me I don't see how anyone could oppose us hiring Shaw, using the Triangle and acquiring players that would excel in the Triangle.

I will admit that it's possible some players simply don't "get" the Triangle and can't function within it... but let's not pretend those guys will be here for the next decade... contracts expire at some point!

BTW, I appreciate the discussion in this thread... some quality posts in here by many!

I have a hard time understanding why alot of people think that Brian Shaw needs Phil Jackson to be successful. Heck, we don't really even need Phil Jackson here. He's only here to give counsel to Joe Dumars about the next coach, nothing more. He's not even paid by doing this. If ever Shaw becomes successful, 90% of the credit goes to him, the rest would go to Jackson and Vogel. Just because you have Michael Jordans genes doesn't mean you'll be like Mike. People need to stop d*ckriding Phil on this board. I don't remember a time Piston fans cheered for his teams.

[Pharaoh]

Gores must believe that we need Phil Jackson here... cause Phil Jackson is advising our GM!

IF I hire you to perform a role in my organisation I do so with the knowledge you are the right person for the job.

IF I then bring you a "free" advisor doesn't that tell you I no longer have complete confidence in you?

Personally I'd never bring you an advisor - I'd fire you because I didn't have complete faith in you!

I do agree that IF Shaw becomes a successful head coach 90% of the credit goes to him... and so it should!

Based on reports Shaw has not been hired in the past simply because he has stated he'd run the Triangle!

Teams want to win now... you read about 2 year plans and 5 year plans but those are generally BS. Teams want results and they want them yesterday! No one wants to build anything - they want it now!

Running the Triangle = patience...

Does Gores have it? Time will tell

[Piston Pete]

With Budenholzer going to Atlanta, and no deal yet for McMillan or Cheeks (or anyone else), it looks like we might be waiting for the Pacers season to end to sign Shaw.

If so, we need to start getting guys that fit into the triangle offense.

PG - Knight is a good fit for the triangle
SG - ???
SF - ???
PF - Monroe is a good fit for the triangle
C - Drummond is a good fit for the triangle


Could use another slasher, passer, and shooters.



Best slashers who might be realistic = Evans (FA), Shabazz (draft)

Best shooters who might be available = Shabazz (draft), KCP (draft), Crabbe (draft), Redick (FA), Korver (FA), Chndler (trade)

Best wing passers who might be available = MCW (draft), Saric (draft), Iggy (FA)

[rock digger]

Until we draft the next best SG of his era then I don't think the triangle offense is suited for us.

[Goldtop]

Until we draft the next best SG of his era then I don't think the triangle offense is suited for us.

Well Shabazz does hav a chance to be that. With the lack of great SGs today, if he meets the potential he had coming out of high school, he could definitely be the best in the league.

[rock digger]

The SG still has to be able to pass the ball. The offense is dedicated around making reads on offense and adjusting to how the defense defends you. For all the crap Kobe gets about ballhogging, he still averages around 5 assists per game throughout his career. Shabazz can't even manage one per game in college/high school. This is all discounting the fact that Shabazz has absolutely no chance of being the best SG of his era.

[Pharaoh]

Looks like the Draft has a lot to offer the Triangle... so with that in mind (and you knew this was coming):

#8 = Bazz - the go-to-guy on the perimeter, even as a rookie

#13 = M.C.W = defensive minded guard, great passer, potentially great PG

#20 = Saric = potential point-forward?

#22 = Crabbe = shooter

We get #13 from Dallas thanks to taking Marion off their hands so they can attempt to sign Dwight and CP3

We get #20 from Chicago by taking Richard Hamilton off their hands. Reinsdorff is so tight he not only doesn't want to pay the tax he also doesn't want to pay $1 mil to waive Rip... so he comes home and gives us a cap hit of $5 mil

We get #22 from Brooklyn by taking Kris Humphries off their hands in exchange for our 2 second round picks

Total salary we'd take on (all expiring!) = $26.4 mil (Marion has a 15% trade kicker so it would be more than that but just using rough numbers here)

We add approx $4 mil via #13, #20 and #22...

so already have $30.4 (trade kicker of 15% for Marion not included) committed

Our team salary for next season = 30,967,586

Assuming a $60 mil cap we couldn't get this done unless we amnesty CV-DNP! Obviously I would dump him!

Drummond/Humphries/Slava
Monroe/Marion/Jerebko
Saric/Singler/Middleton
Bazz/Stuckey/Crabbe/English
MCW/Knight

15 players....

Expirings of Marion, Humphries, Stuckey... bunch of young cats who should suit the Triangle... live and learn it for 2 years while almost everyone is super cheap...

Drummond, Monroe, Saric, Bazz, MCW, Knight, Crabbe, Singler, Middleton and a big man or 2 = potentially a great team capable of running the triangle AND when things break down you have Bazz to bail you out or you run the PnR with MCW and Monroe/Drummond

Obviously this would never happen... but long term this could be pathetic or amazing - depending on how players developed.

Instead, Joe is likely to draft Bazz at #8 and then sign some middle of the road free agents before taking us on the long drive to mediocre town where we will reside until we the fans go insane!

[Piston Pete]

#8 = Bazz - the go-to-guy on the perimeter, even as a rookie

#13 = M.C.W = defensive minded guard, great passer, potentially great PG

#20 = Saric = potential point-forward?

#22 = Crabbe = shooter

Not sure how realistic that would be, but I would kill for that draft. Seriously, nun and all, I'd I throw Bob Saget down a well.

[Pharaoh]

Bumped for AnnArborpiston

[Pharaoh]

Can I get a sticky until we name our Head Coach?

IF more reports/rumors suggest Shaw as HC then I'm guessing the Triangle will be coming up often