Triangle Offense

What it is

• The Triangle Offense (formally, the Sideline Triangle Offense) was developed by Tex Winter, first at Kansas State in the 1950s and later perfected with Phil Jackson's Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.

Why it matters

• Winter called it the triple-post offense because it creates three-man triangles on the floor that cycle the ball through a defined geometric structure.
• Phil Jackson won 11 NBA championships running the Triangle with Michael Jordan/Scottie Pippen and Shaquille O'Neal/Kobe Bryant.
• It remains the most decorated offensive system in NBA history.

How it works

• Side 2: Post - Ball in the post creates scoring opportunities and forces defensive decisions. - Post reads: score, kick to corner, kick to wing, hi-lo with weak-side player.
• The ball at the wing is the most common Triangle position.
• Reads from the wing: post entry, reversal to the top, drive, back-cut, dribble handoff with corner player.
• Ball in the post creates scoring opportunities and forces defensive decisions.
• Post reads: score, kick to corner, kick to wing, hi-lo with weak-side player.

Reads and counters

• The corner is the most underrated position in the Triangle.
• Drive baseline — the corner player attacks the baseline when the post defender sinks. This generates layups constantly when the post has drawn help.
• Skip pass to weak side — the corner can swing quickly to the weak side for a three-pointer when the defense over-commits to the triangle side.
• Corner to post pass — if the defender on the post player's backside is aggressive, the corner can skip the ball to the post player from below.

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