WBB: The Triangle and this year's team - Printable Version

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WBB: The Triangle and this year's team - 81alum - 01-21-2013

I was intrigued by something Chiney said to the media after the USC win, as reported in Palo Alto online.  She was describing what happened after our lead was cut to 5 and Tara called a time out.

Quote:"After one timeout we went back to a triangle, where we're more comfortable," said Ogwumike, who was two points and three rebounds shy of matching her career highs. "I had turned the ball over, which is not good when a team is making a run at you. We already have one loss in the conference. We're not trying to get another."

So the triangle was what Tara called when the game was on the line.  I have begun to recognize the characteristic movement of the triangle which I saw quite often yesterday, but I found a well done video by Sports Science explaining how and why it works.  If you are still learning the game like me I found it quite helpful:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ7QMNUFqMw

As the Sports Science people explain it, the triangle works becauses passes are faster than players, and the 15' spacing punishes double teams since there is insufficient time to leave a double team to cover the open player. 

But as I thought it through--the triangle then would absolutely demand that all 5 offensive players be able to take and make their shots from whereever they are in the formation.  If even one player is known to the opponents as being reluctant or incapable of shooting, then the triangle would accomplish...nothing, since they could simply ignore that player to double up as needed elsewhere, breaking the advantage of the spacing and the passing.  What good does it do to use the formation to get a player open if that player won't shoot?

I think VG said something like this a while ago, but now it is soaking in.  That offense is well suited to an inside-out game where you have a great inside presence like Chiney complemented by great outside shooting.  But if you don't have great outside shooting, then strategies that emphasize dribble drives would work better.  Getting people like Amber open for mid range jump shots or cuts to the basket would work better.

Do I have that right?

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Re: WBB: The Triangle and this year's team - Viking_Guy - 01-21-2013

Good find 81A.

Yep, the point I was trying to make - the defense at least has to honor the threat of all of the players on the floor for the triangle (or most other offenses, for that matter) to work.  When players hesitate either with the pass or the shot, their defender can cover the extra space and get out to them.

That's why even though Sara's not shooting really well, I appreciate that she hits her spot on the play and shoots - the double screen at the foul line play against SC was great.

But you also want the defenders to respect the drive - otherwise, they have no hesitation in getting up on players to deny the quick passes that make the triangle work.  That's why the great teams running the triangle had strong complementary players to the primary scoring threats (Jordan had Pippen, and compensated for a non-stellar post presence with dead-eye outside shooters like Steve Kerr; Kobe had Shaq, or Gasol, or a host of designated shooters and slashers).

That's why I was happy with Ruef actually taking the ball to the basket when she does, and want Jos to complement her refound shot with stronger finishing around the basket - more offensive options for the opposition to defend.

The video also showed why outside shooting is so important - if you can't hit from outside 16', you don't get the benefit of stretching the defense out beyond the distance at which recovery is simple and fast.  And the importance of crisp and quick passes for the same reason - cutting down on the amount of time the defense has to adjust.

VG

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