The Triangle Offense Post Options by Adam Spinella
So we’ve gone over the initial action, spots to fill and ways to form the Triangle Offense. One thing you’ll find about the Triangle is that the offense is never broken. If the pattern is broken, all that needs to happen is a Triangle to be formed and the Triangle will re-form. The moment of truth is when the point guard passes to the wing and decides to initiate the normal Triangle offense post options. If that happens, all the decisions then fall upon the wing to decide what to do with the ball.
The first look should always be into the post. Once the ball gets there, it triggers a series of actions by the other four players without the ball. Each coach can add their own wrinkles into the movements, but the key with all of them is that if the ball is passed out of the post, the offense can quickly be re-formed.
Here are a few of the “post options” that Phil Jackson and other Triangle Offense teams have run:
Double Clear:
The first and most common option is a double clear. Both the strong-side corner and strong-side wing will cut to the opposite side of the court. While 5 can look to hit either with a handoff or a quick pass, the goal is to isolate 5 in the post. 3 comes to the strong side to fill. As you can imagine, if the ball is passed out, 3 and 5 then would become the two-man side, while the triangle would be re-formed between 1, 2 and 4.
Double Clear Pin:
With the same principles in mind from Double Clear, this time 2 looks to set a screen on 4 as he cuts across. 4 can either flash to the free throw line or look to get to the rim. Again, the triangle can easily be re-formed once 1 and 2 clear to the opposite side. This is just a common set that Phil Jackson will run when he has two effective post players.
2 Double:
A common way to get shooters open (particularly if there are not two guards on the strong side), the strong-side wing will cut to set a stagger for the pinch post opposite. This is more of a scenario-based option: there needs to be a three-point shooter in the pinch post worth running it for. Additionally, it is a great way to hide the second post from the strong side. Instead of sending him thru the lane (where his defender can easily double team the post), make him a screener as part of a stagger to get a shooter open.
Strong Corner:
If the post isolation does not suit you right away (or you want an effective counter so it does not become mundane for the defense), Having the 1 and 2 screen for each other on the strong side is a viable option. If it can create a shot to kick the ball out, great. If not, both the 1 and 2 can run thru just like it were Double Clear after they have traded spots. The key is for 3 not to clutter the play by automatically cutting after the ball goes into the post.
These are just a few of the common and effective post options within the Triangle. Since it is an offense predicated on post touches (even if it is a guard working in the post), it is vital that there is movement taking place around the post.
Coach Adam Spinella is entering his first season as an Assistant Coach at Culver Academies in Culver, IN. Spinella spent the three years prior as a Student Assistant Coach at Division III Dickinson College. The Dickinson Men’s Team advanced to two NCAA Tournaments and accumulated an overall record of 59-26 (.694) during the three-year span, with the 2013-2014 season ending in the Division III Elite Eight. A native of Bow, New Hampshire, Spinella has a keen interest in X’s and O’s, particularly in professional basketball, and skill development.
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