Can the Triangle offense work for the Wolves?

[Wolves2011]

I think it means he wants the offense to flow through all five players. He doesn't want the PG get into an isolation one-on-one game while the other four guys stand around and watch. He wants team basketball. It doesn't mean that Flynn or Sessions can't drive to the basket if the have an open lane.

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"Rambis says point guards in the triangle are supposed to score "on the backside of the offense," after a rotation, when they get the ball back after putting the ball into motion. Creating off the dribble is generally frowned upon."

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Flynn's greatest strength is driving to the hoop and getting a layup and creating.

Thats an important reason why Kahn took Flynn over other available picks. Rambis "FROWNS" on player doing what Flynn does best.

That applies doubly to Sessions, since Sessions isn't as good of an outside shooter as Flynn.

[Not sure about Rubio, I've heard he doesn't have a great outside shot, so I hope he can drive the hoop. If so, it would apply to him also.]

It also says, PG offensive options are secondary and tertiary options. If we did trade for Chris Paul who is a great offensive player, he would get a chance to score after the primary offensive options on the strong side.

Even if the point guard was your best scorer, he is automatically the 4th or 5th option on offense.

Thats, what that paragraph tells me....

[C.lupus]

I never said you weren't a good reader, but anyways...

I'm just giving you my interpretation based on that quote and the context of his other quotes. I just don't think it is something to be that concerned about, but that's just me.

He has said:
- he wants the players to learn how to play a style of team basketball that requires ball movement, reading, and reacting.
- he is intentionally holding Flynn back right now to teach him how to be a better team player and PG and that he will release the reins once Flynn learns (I don't think this is a bad thing)
- this "flow offense" will only be used aboout 20% of the time (I don't think this offense necessarily delegates the PG to the fourth or fifth option as I think the primary option is whoever is open, but, even if it did, it's only 20% of the time so Flynn and Sessions should still get their share of looks.)*
- the identity of the team will be one of an up-tempo, running team, which should enhance Flynn's and Sessions' games (he is being forced to run this offense more right now because he is without his top two rebounders so they can't get a running game going).

Anyway, that's my take and opinion. You are certainly free to have a differing one.

*sorry for the terrible run-on sentence

[Wolves2011]

I never said you weren't a good reader, but anyways...

I'm just giving you my interpretation based on that quote and the context of his other quotes. I just don't think it is something to be that concerned about, but that's just me.

He has said:
- he wants the players to learn how to play a style of team basketball that requires ball movement, reading, and reacting.
- he is intentionally holding Flynn back right now to teach him how to be a better team player and PG and that he will release the reins once Flynn learns (I don't think this is a bad thing)
- this "flow offense" will only be used aboout 20% of the time (I don't think this offense necessarily delegates the PG to the fourth or fifth option as I think the primary option is whoever is open, but, even if it did, it's only 20% of the time so Flynn and Sessions should still get their share of looks.)*
- the identity of the team will be one of an up-tempo, running team, which should enhance Flynn's and Sessions' games (he is being forced to run this offense more right now because he is without his top two rebounders so they can't get a running game going).

Anyway, that's my take and opinion. You are certainly free to have a differing one.

*sorry for the terrible run-on sentence

I also look at how Flynn and Sessions are playing.

I would term Flynn a "good" passer based on his college stats (I look more at ast/to ratio than raw assists numbers) and Sessions a "very good" passer.

In college Flynn's asst to turnover ratio was about 2X, now its less than 1X.

Last season Sessions asst to turnover ratio was about 3X, now its a less than 2X.

If these guys can "just operate" as you are implying their assist numbers would be much better.

As for scoring Flynn is "free lancing" more and being criticized for it.

Sessions is trying to do what Rambis wants him to do, his stats "per 36 minutes" has gone from 16 ppg and 7.5 ast/gm to 10 ppg and 5 ast/gm.

Compare Flynn's play from summer league, when he was allowed to "free lance" to now. It has taken a step back.

If we have to wait for 2 years to see results with this offense, as some have implied, we will have built our team around an offensive philosophy that might not work.

I haven't been posting on this site for a long time, but I can tell you that I'm very patient with young teams as long as I see growth by individual players - their development and by the team itself. If a team goes from winning 20 games to 25 games, but the point differential went from 10 ppg to 2 ppg, that would be improvement. If players became more efficiently offensively and defensively etc....

We'll see how this all shakes out. But I don't like how Rambis is using PG in particular.

If Rambis offense means we have to trade jefferson, who I believe is currently by far our best player, to me thats "major marks" against this offense as well, no matter what its called.

Somethings not working.

[Krapinsky]

I would term Flynn a "good" passer based on his college stats (I look more at ast/to ratio than raw assists numbers) and Sessions a "very good" passer.

Is this on a scale of "gnarly" to "super duper"? Because if not, then I have no idea what the hell you are talking about.

[Wolves2011]

I would term Flynn a "good" passer based on his college stats (I look more at ast/to ratio than raw assists numbers) and Sessions a "very good" passer.

Is this on a scale of "gnarly" to "super duper"? Because if not, then I have no idea what the hell you are talking about.

bottom line, both Flynn and Sessions, scoring and passing have been hurt by the offense the wolves are playing - whatever you want to call it....

[Krapinsky]

I would term Flynn a "good" passer based on his college stats (I look more at ast/to ratio than raw assists numbers) and Sessions a "very good" passer.

Is this on a scale of "gnarly" to "super duper"? Because if not, then I have no idea what the hell you are talking about.

bottom line, both Flynn and Sessions, scoring and passing have been hurt by the offense the wolves are playing - whatever you want to call it....

I would argue Rambis' offense is merely decreasing their opportunities to score and pass, but if run correctly, it should make them more efficient scorers and passers. Right now, our ball movement just isn't very good, so instead of getting multiple touches in the half court, Johnny and Ramon are only getting one touch. This isn't their fault or the offenses fault. This is more the fault of the surrounding players since the point guard brings the ball up and sets the reaction offense into motion only never see the ball return.

[Wolves2011]

Flynn is a rookie, but Sessions was an extremely efficient player last season. He is less efficients than he was last year..... his production per minute is lower for scoring and assists.

[Esohny]

This thread is super gnarly.

[Breakdown777]

If the Triangle (I'm still calling it that, I'm nobodies monkey) is a pass oriented offense that focuses on a team game where all 5 men are involved, it's no wonder this team is much worse offensively than predicted. Currently, at any given time, we only have 2 above average players on the court (AL, Love, Flynn, Sessions). When the rest of the team sucks, the 5 man game drops overall production as well as individual production. Maybe instead of blaming the triangle, I should blame the players on the team who aren't top 4? I'm still blaming the triangle becuase with the current state of this team, it would make more sense to run isolation plays for the only decent talent on the team.

All that aside, I'm excited to see the offense develop. Hopefully after half a season we will look like a much better team (but right now i'm not really banking on it).