I Wonder...

[Cheeze]

...If Cody and Frank could co-exist in some version of the Triangle Offense.

The triangle has, as its basic form, a post player on the low block and two shooters at 45 degree angles from him, spaced about 20' from the post. On the opposite side would be a guard and a second post player, positioned at the high post. The ideal is to create a triangle on both sides of the lane, with the two post players swapping high and low post positions. There's a LOT of variations of this offense, but the basic form here may fit Charlotte's new personnel.

The "Alfense" version was a corruption of the Triangle concept because Gerald Henderson was supposed to be one of the shooters and the Hornets didn't have a legit second post player that could hit a shot consistently. And Al is not the best passer. He CAN hit a shot from the high post on pretty much any arc, so there's hope. But for that offense to work, a second shooting post (Like Josh McRoberts) player is required.

With Al on the low post, MKG and Batum on the wing, opposite Kemba and Cody, the Triangle concept doesn't fit the personnel. MKG doesn't space to 20' and Al doesn't swing out of the low post effectively enough to cover that deficiency. A motion-based offense fits that grouping better.

But with Frank as the second shooter (instead of MKG) and Cody operating on the high post opposite, I wonder if the Triangle would work?

I think with Frank's presence it just might...so long as Al continues to pop from the high post and Cody finds a way to increase his effective shooting range to, at least, 20'. And if Frank and Cody both find the stroke from beyond the three point line, the concept really takes off.

Am I just dreaming or can this actually work?

[HornetJail]

I think that Cody/Frank is our future at C/PF. I really wish we had more defense than that, but it's too late now unless we want to draft another big man and wait three or four years for what we already had in Biz. That's not to say that Cody/Frank will not be a good duo if they pan out like we hope- I think they could be quite solid, we're just going to need a lot more punch from our backcourt.

[yosemiteben]

Do you think Biz gives more "punch" than Frank or Cody?

I figured you were about to refer to Vonleh, not Biz.

[HornetJail]

Do you think Biz gives more "punch" than Frank or Cody?

I figured you were about to refer to Vonleh, not Biz.

Defensively, hell yeah he does. Vonleh had the potential to be our best two-way player for sure but we don't know how that is going to play out. Our frontcourt is going to suck if Cody and Frank don't both pan out like we hope- Cho has gambled a lot on them.

[JDR720]

It could. that said, i think we draft another bigman and move cody to the bench.

[yosemiteben]

Do you think Biz gives more "punch" than Frank or Cody?

I figured you were about to refer to Vonleh, not Biz.

Defensively, hell yeah he does. Vonleh had the potential to be our best two-way player for sure but we don't know how that is going to play out. Our frontcourt is going to suck if Cody and Frank don't both pan out like we hope- Cho has gambled a lot on them.

I mean, you think we need "a lot more punch" defensively in our backcourt than Kemba (who when healthy is very good defensively), MKG (whose defense speaks for itself), and Batum (who is very good defensively and has great size)? Little confused by that.

[Hornet Mania]

It doesn't seem like the front office views Zeller as indispensable, based on the reports that they tried to move him to the Blazers before eventually caving because he had less value than Vonleh. It's all just my own speculation, but I consider Zeller the most likely rotation player to be traded.

I actually like Zeller's game, even with his limitations, but I have a hard time seeing him as a long-term piece after the FO tried to unload him before the draft and then acquired another stretch-4/5 shortly thereafter.

[Chapelchilla]

I think Cody at C and Frank at PF are the future plan. Probably let Al walk after the year and go with the young guys. I think they will pair up well and we can then finally play at a faster pace that will suit the Kemba-MKG-Batum front court.

[DY_nasty]

I think the Triangle Offense is the most exaggerated and romanticized system in sports. Even more than the West Coast Offense in football.

[Mystical Apples]

But with Frank as the second shooter (instead of MKG) and Cody operating on the high post opposite, I wonder if the Triangle would work?

I think with Frank's presence it just might...so long as Al continues to pop from the high post and Cody finds a way to increase his effective shooting range to, at least, 20'. And if Frank and Cody both find the stroke from beyond the three point line, the concept really takes off.

Am I just dreaming or can this actually work?

I like the thought process of the kind of versatility required that both Cody and Frank could have. For Charlotte though, it places several players in roles that reduces their strengths and, in general, places less emphasis on pnr guard play (a strength of this team) in favor of post playmaking. It also makes Frank a floor spacer but minimizes his ability to create mismatches in PnP. With Cody, Al, Frank, and a guard defense would be problematic.

I do think Cody and Frank with 2 wings and a PnR guard (or Batum) could do real damage in the future. Frank's ideal spot is starting the offense at 27ft with a PnP, the ball-handler turning the corner, a vacated lane, and with 2 wing shooters and a cutter.

[Braggins]

I honestly think we should be working on Kemba/Lin pick n rolls with MKG. If you look at the good offenses in the league they will run pick an rolls with all kinds of different combinations of players. We are one of the teams living in the past only ever doing pick and rolls with a PG and a PF/C. MKG has the range to pop and the strength to roll and finish. I like the idea of a high pnr with he and a PG, with Frank, Batum, Lamb/Lin, spotting up to space the floor. I'm not saying it should be our primary offense or anything, but there is no reason we shouldn't be adding actions like this to our offense. We can do the same thing with Batum in different lineups or use Batum/MKG/Lamb as the ball-handler and any of our other skilled offensive players as the screener. Its not something I expect with our coaching staff, but heres to hoping.

[yosemiteben]

I'm not sure I agree that all the good offenses in the league run PNRs with their wing players acting as the screener for other wing players or the PG. Curious to explore that more.

[Braggins]

It doesn't necessarily have to be wing/wing or PG/wing, but whenever I watch good offenses they run pick and rolls with plenty of different combinations. You'll even see guard/guard pick and pops in some of those systems, or even a PG setting a screen for a wing who is handling the ball.

[Cheeze]

But with Frank as the second shooter (instead of MKG) and Cody operating on the high post opposite, I wonder if the Triangle would work?

I think with Frank's presence it just might...so long as Al continues to pop from the high post and Cody finds a way to increase his effective shooting range to, at least, 20'. And if Frank and Cody both find the stroke from beyond the three point line, the concept really takes off.

Am I just dreaming or can this actually work?

I like the thought process of the kind of versatility required that both Cody and Frank could have. For Charlotte though, it places several players in roles that reduces their strengths and, in general, places less emphasis on pnr guard play (a strength of this team) in favor of post playmaking. It also makes Frank a floor spacer but minimizes his ability to create mismatches in PnP. With Cody, Al, Frank, and a guard defense would be problematic.

I do think Cody and Frank with 2 wings and a PnR guard (or Batum) could do real damage in the future. Frank's ideal spot is starting the offense at 27ft with a PnP, the ball-handler turning the corner, a vacated lane, and with 2 wing shooters and a cutter.

The Triangle would, indeed, make Frank into - effectively - a wing, which I'm perfectly fine with. He'll get the needed space in either the Triangle of the PnR. And I thought of the offense as a wrinkle, not as a base, mainly as a way to get two similar players operating in a mirror system that could someday morph into a tri-post offense.

Anyway, offseason doldrums got me to thinking of weird stuff.