| Continuity | Back Screen | Skip Pass | Back Cuts | Specials | Base Screen | Post Moves |

The Triangle Game is a powerful inside game with wing shooters. Since a lot of inside screening takes place, it is best run with physically strong players. The inside players should be good, but do not have to be dominating, since most of their shots will come off screens. Players must be well schooled in the fundamentals of setting and using screens. Placing good shooters on the wings will spread the defense, allowing the inside screening game to take place. A smaller player can be deployed inside to create mismatches if so desired. Triangle Game is easy to teach and learn.

Basic Continuity:

To initiate action O3 screens across for O5, and then pops out to the top of the circle off of O4's down screen. O1 can shoot the ball, pass to O5 posting up, or pass to O3 stepping out to top of circle. When O1 makes a reversal pass out to O3 and O3 passes to O2 on wing, O4 sets a baseline screen for O5. O3 after passing to O2 and sets a down screen for O4. Wing O2 has options of shooting if open, feeding O5 posting up or passing to O4 popping out off O3's down screen. The Triangle game's pick the picker continuity continues when O2 makes a reversal pass out to O4.

Back Screen Option After setting a base screen for O5 or on any wing to wing skip passes, O3 has the option of stepping up and setting a back screen for a lob pass to O4.

Skip Pass Option Wings have option of making a skip pass to the opposite wing at any time. When O1 makes a skip pass to O2, post O5 can either post up strong or set a base screen for O3. O3 can set a high back screen for O4 or O4 can down screens for O3, isolating O5 in the low post area.

Back Door Option Back Cut Against Overplay. On the reversal pass to O3, when wing O2 is overplayed by defender X2, O4 flashes to the free throw line looking for pass from O3. O4 then feeds O2 on back cut to basket.

Back Cut Option Weakside Post Lob. If O4's flash to free throw line is overplayed and denied by defender X4, O4 backcuts to basket looking for an over the top, lob pass from O3.

Crunch Time Specials

The Triangle Game action affords coaches with numerous quick hitting options. Here are a couple of proven options that can be deployed after a timeout or as the shot clock winds down.

Stagger Pop Stagger Double Base Cross Screen Point One-on-One Isolation Single Double Side Screen

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Proper Execution of Baseline Screen

"It's not what you run, but how you run it that counts." The success of any offense is dependant on precise execution. In the Base Cross Offense, it is not important for the screener sets a solid baseline screen, it is equally important for the receiver to set up the screen.

Basic Reads and Counters. What if the.... Defender plays on the LOWSIDE of the post? Defender plays on the TOPSIDE of the post? Defense SWITCHES on the base screen? Defenders ANTICIPATE the switch and zone.

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Post Isolation- Basic Reads & Counters

For the Post Isolation to be effective, physical size alone is not enough, players posting up must be well schooled in the basic post moves. In addition, both the passer and post player must be cognizant of the location of defensive player.

Long time coach and present Laker assistant, Tex Winter, has not only brought the importance of court spacing along with the Triangle Post offense into the game, but he has also coined the phase "line of deployment" which assists players and coaches in "reading" and countering defensive post deployment.

Defensive Reads: What if the .... Post defender assumes TOP SIDE denial (Power Layup). Post defender assumes BASELINE denial (Baby Hook). Defender FRONTS the post (Lob). Defender plays BEHIND the post (Triple Threat). ADVANCE MOVES (Jump Hook & Drop Step).

© 2004 Ernie Woods, HoopTactics

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