Triangle Offense Top of Key Series - How the Bulls Countered Elite Defenses

When Phil Jackson talks about the Triangle Offense, he refers to the "2 pass", which is the second pass of the offense. Depending on where the 2 pass goes, different offensive actions will be triggered.
This video focuses on the 2 pass going to the top of the key, and there are a wide array of possible actions, even from just that option. We take a look at the 20 times the Bulls made this pass in Game 1 of the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals, where the Bulls defeated the Indiana Pacers and Reggie Miller.
From isolations to flare screens, this offense has everything necessary to punish a defense - no matter what the defense is doing. It's a symphony of basketball players all being on the same page, and working together to achieve the common goal of winning.
Michael Jordan was the greatest player in the NBA for years before he finally won a championship, so it's worth looking into the offense that helped him reach that point, in depth.
If you enjoy this video, please be sure to comment, like, and subscribe for more content!
Music: Formative Behavior (and other artists)
open.spotify.com/artist/5aMSr...
Follow on Twitter: / drawing_defense

[@MrYusu-jg2if]

To those who say it wouldnt be effective in todays game is 😂. Kobe said it best when ask if it would work on todays game. He calmly said " If you have the right people to teach it."

[@ClayHales]

The triangle was nice. Instead of a bunch of set plays it was a series of reads and reactions to the defense, and it's fluid. In some of the examples it's kind of wild that the one that took the shot at the end wasn't the only good option to score. The way it freed up Jordan from double teams was remarkable. And it was just fun to watch. Something that isn't usually mentioned with the triangle is how it always has a defender on outlet passes off missed shots.

[@nsp74]

this was also utilized by Filipino coach Tim cone in PBA (Philippine basketball association). And he became the winningest coach in PBA history. this is perfect for Tatum and brown of Celtics too.MJ and Pip have are the same position with JT and JB

[@nitongpelingon8374]

this is a very successful offense not only in NBA but also in Philippine professional basketball. Thye winningest coach in philippine basketbal association coach tim cone used this play for decades

[@johannmuller7710]

Thanks, great stuff. One of the best videos I've seen on the triangle offense, good explanation and description of the player's options and decisions.

[@juneyulo27]

Great analysis.. I love to know more about the Triangle. Your output is easy to understand. Well thank you!

[@DrawingTheDefense]

Thanks June!

[@samarthbhatnagar347]

Yeah. Great analysis 👍

[@samarthbhatnagar347]

Corner series still used

[@pesky19]

great video on one of the most well thought out offenses ever

[@DrawingTheDefense]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@ayporras]

Thank you for the analysis , quite impressive

[@DrawingTheDefense]

Thanks Kevin!

[@customjones]

Love the video analysis!! Great job!!

[@LuckyLuca2]

I just found your channel and it looks amazing! I can't wait to watch all your videos!

[@DrawingTheDefense]

Thank you!!

[@sillywilly0169]

Great video! Great guy.

[@samarthbhatnagar347]

Great analysis of triangle options

[@DrawingTheDefense]

Thank you Samarth! Hopefully someday soon I will continue this series and do the corner, low post, and blind pig options

[@billybannon7348]

This really gives appreciate to TEAM play 👏

[@cremephoto]

I appreciate the video, breakdown, perhaps a suggestion is dumping the music- this is too vital for the distraction- love the 📐

[@tawadrosal-yunani]

Nice one.

[@DrawingTheDefense]

Thanks man!

[@ericfhernandez]

Lol, no love for Luc Longley (hint - that’s not Bill Wennington). That said great analysis!

[@DrawingTheDefense]

Haha 😂 my bad bro good catch!

[@happylifegodislife9942]

Steve. Kerr are still using the triangle offense method in this era version

[@heb597]

i wonder if it could compete with today's 3 point heavy offenses and zone defenses

[@thestrengthreport7517]

Of course it can. Look at Kobe and the Lakers. The early to mid 2000’s were heavily zoned. Also pop introduced aspects of the triangle in the spurs offense during their last few championship runs. Which was during the modern 3 point era.

[@timmyshore3755]

howdy this gave me a woody. 👍

[@DrawingTheDefense]

Lmao nice brother!

[@glencampbell5783]

i like how you chose to use mostly garbage clankers instead of makes.

[@DrawingTheDefense]

Sometimes you invest a bunch of time into garbage clankers and then realize it halfway through and say fuck it lol.

[@ap6160]

The music is very distracting

[@96tolife]

Luc Longley, not Bill Wennington.

[@mateenfoster4595]

Ive mastered the triangle in 2k. I dont have money for myteam badges so I just win off of fundamental team basketball.

[@DrawingTheDefense]

Great work!

[@johead8516]

I love the triangle but it’s freaking complicated.. Pao Gasol was on the Lakers team that runs the triangle and he was explaining that it took him 2 years to learn and 3 years to running it without thinking about it

[@randysandberg5615]

If Rodman could learn it, how difficult is it?

[@johead8516]

Dennis Rodman is one of the most brilliant high IQ players that ever lived

[@alexap429]

This system a Triangle offense gave Coach Phil Jackson a 11 championship ring but now a days i dont understand why triangle offense were not use now a days this offense you cant find in the nba anymore....

[@JqlenB]

Clippers started implementing it this season

[@troyhall4039]

Because people care more about stats and scoring than team ball

[@RafsanS15]

it need the right person to teach and implement it.

[@YaO_MeaN]

Rules changed bruv it's not as easy to score against zone compared to man to man.

[@samarthbhatnagar347]

@@YaO_MeaN no not because of zone, cause they do not have perfect knowledge like tex winter or Stanford women coach to help adapt players

[@meekmeads]

Luc Longley!

[@CTthatdude]

You think this offense can work in the sped up nba currently or would you tweak it?

[@DrawingTheDefense]

A lot of people say that the triangle offense can’t exist in the modern nba, because it doesn’t. I disagree and think that’s a coincidence. It’s just a difficult offense to execute and requires a lot of chemistry which is hard to come by with so much roster movement in the modern nba, but I can’t see why it wouldn’t work if executed correctly

[@YaO_MeaN]

@@DrawingTheDefense I think it's not as viable because zone there's no ilegal defense to force the commitment/double team

[@samarthbhatnagar347]

@@YaO_MeaN can work

[@giveadont]

@@DrawingTheDefense Modern teams run a few plays out of the triangle. Bball breakdown mentions a few in this video, for example: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYPFdJ2lq9h2paM

[@gm2407]

I think it would work, most teams still run sets from it like blind pig. All you are trying to do is get open lay ups, free throws and three pointers, so the triangle in principle will be able to get those things. It is more that the Bulls ended up with post ups, isolations and mid range jumpers because that is what the defence gave up. With modern zone defence and players switching off screens you are going to get looks for players cutting and popping off of the triangle sets. It is all about reading what the defence gives you and making the decision fast enough.

[@mikechoi1577]

To be honest the only knicks games I watched were againist Bron but could it be this didnt work will Melo knicks because of their defensive identity?

[@kahntul-ay2500]

This method is now redundant. This has been replaced with the so-called stand around and wait for the catch and shoot and get paid mega millions..

[@samarthbhatnagar347]

There is no coach willing to teach triangle, you can modify it like gsw to get threes of screening actions on weakside and pinch post but most teams just want to breakdown the defense using pick and roll and get the threes that way.

[@gm2407]

​@@samarthbhatnagar347Pick and roll will always be useful.

[@randysandberg5615]

The triangle is not rocket science. ANY offense works when you have Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman.