Cavs are running variations of the Triangle offense

• hoops23

  

  http://realcavsfans.com/showthread.php?t=28280
  
  Great breakdown by one of the guys on RCF...
  
  Personally, I love it. Shaq has thrived in a triangle system during his career..
  

  NaySmith;744986 wrote:Cavs Play the “Triangle” with Shaq
  
  Here’s the next offensive set. (For the previous one, see http://www.realcavsfans.com/showthread.php?p=737357#post737357). I call it a “triangle” as it does appear that the Cavs are playing that, with Shaq in the post and Mo and LeBron running a couple of variations. With a resurgent Shaq, the Cavs seem to be running this more.
  
  Variation 1. Corner 3 pointer from Mo (and in Mo’s absence, Boobie)?
  Variation 2. Dunk by LeBron
  
  The sets take advantage of:
  - Shaq’s low-post presence, size, and passing skills (and familiarity with triangles, I might add)?
  - Mo’s shooting, and the threat of his outside shooting (and now Boobie’s)
  - LeBron’s quickness and the threat of his outside shooting?
  
  Secondarily, it also poses the threats of?
  - Andy flashing into the lane or getting an offensive rebound?
  - Delonte hitting an outside shot
  
  Shown here are how they ran both variations back-to-back in the last Raptors game.
  
  Here’s Variation 1
  
  1. Start of the Play - Establishing Positions
  Shaq gets into position in the low post. With Mo and LeBron, together the three form a strong-side triangle. The other Cavs spread out. The spacing here is textbook. LeBron at the corner, Mo walking into 3-pt range, Andy and Delonte on the weak side.
  
  
  
  2. The Entry Pass
  The entry pass into the low post can be a difficult pass to pull off, especially in today’s game. Here the Cavs make it look easy. Credit to Shaq for getting his man totally behind him without a threat of coming over to steal it. Many teams single-cover Shaq a lot -- with LeBron on the floor many opponents would be averse to doubling Shaq lest they leave Bron open. The other Raptors choose to stay home on their men.
  
  
  
  3. Ball in the Post
  Shaq gets the ball in the post and starts to threaten to power into the lane. LeBron moves out of the corner. Mo stays at the 3-pt line to possibly receive a pass back from Shaq. A good view of the multiple threats that the Cavs can pose at this point in the set.
  
  
  
  4. Loosening Up the D
  The strong side tests the commitment of the defense, and the defense starts yielding. Mo’s man (Calderon) starts to sag to possibly double, and so does Andy’s man (Bosh) LeBron moves closer inside Shaq’s field of vision. Bron’s man (Hedo), here partly seen, threatens to double Shaq.
  
  
  
  5. Screen and Dive
  Look how quickly LeBron moves to screen Mo’s man. In the previous frame Bron was still near the sideline. Mo dives into the corner. Shaq looks over Hedo to see Mo get into position.
  
  
  
  6. Pass and Shoot
  Shaq swings the ball to Mo, who is already in shooting form here. Calderon is scrambling to close out, but he’s too late. (Credit Mo for being able to release his jumper quickly, something the Cavs surely miss, among other things.)
  
  
  
  7. Add Three Points
  Ball’s in the net. Andy and Delonte had moved in for a possible offensive rebound, which would not be needed here.
  
  
  
  Next: Variation 2, ending with a dunk by LeBron

• wes_mantooth

  

  ^^^longest post ever.
  
  I really don't like basketball or sports in general, so I have no idea what those pictures are showing.
• Lovejoy1984

  

  What's going to be great is if the Cavs win the Title, folks are going to say they couldn't do it, without stealing something from the Lakers.
• devil1197

  HighRoller74 wrote: What's going to be great is if the Cavs win the Title, folks are going to say they couldn't do it, without stealing something from the Lakers.

  Like any Cleveland fan will care two shits.
• Wooball

  

  HighRoller74 wrote: What's going to be great is if the Cavs win the Title, folks are going to say they couldn't do it, without stealing something from the Lakers.

  
  Do people say the Lakers couldn't have won titles without stealing something from the Bulls?
• I drain 3's

  I love how Andy literally did not move till the 5th picture lol.
• pkebker

  Still not a lot of movement...which has been the complaint for the Cavs offense for years.
• Lovejoy1984

  

  Wooball wrote:

  HighRoller74 wrote: What's going to be great is if the Cavs win the Title, folks are going to say they couldn't do it, without stealing something from the Lakers.

  
  Do people say the Lakers couldn't have won titles without stealing something from the Bulls?

  Nope, but a title is the last thing that Kobe fans have to say he's better than Lebron, so if he gets that title, the excuses will be flying. But like Devil said, I know that I, just like any other Cleveland Cavs fan won't care. Just getting that excuse out there for them now
• Skyhook79

  

  HighRoller74 wrote: What's going to be great is if the Cavs win the Title, folks are going to say they couldn't do it, without stealing something from the Lakers.

  I'm pretty sure that bridge won't be crossed.
• pkebker

  Skyhook79 wrote:

  HighRoller74 wrote: What's going to be great is if the Cavs win the Title, folks are going to say they couldn't do it, without stealing something from the Lakers.

  I'm pretty sure that bridge won't be crossed.

  Because the Lakers have looked so much better than the Cavs?
• wildcats20

  

  Wooball wrote:

  HighRoller74 wrote: What's going to be great is if the Cavs win the Title, folks are going to say they couldn't do it, without stealing something from the Lakers.

  
  Do people say the Lakers couldn't have won titles without stealing something from the Bulls?

  The only thing the Lakers "stole" from the Bulls was Phil and Tex Winter; you know the architects of the Triangle O as we know it.
  
  But, this really isn't news to me. I ran a variation of the Triangle with my 8th graders. And that is NOT the Lakers' Triangle O, it is just a variation of a scheme called "Triangle Offense."
• hoops23

  

  Yeah this isn't the full fledged "Triangle O" It's a variation, like I mentioned in my thread title
• wildcats20

  

  What I mean is this is just a standard issue Triangle O. Which is actually an improvement from the "get the hell out of Bron's way" offense Mike Brown likes to employ.
• hoops23

  

  A lot of this has to do with having Shaq. He's obviously got the right skill set to play out of the Triangle as he was very successful in it at LA..
  
  It's also great to see because this opens up the 3 point shooting of Mo and LeBron, while giving LeBron lanes to cut through as well.
• wildcats20

  

  Yeah, I definitely think this is a good thing for the Cavs.
• Sonofanump

  Why does this matter? The Indy Colts spread is a form of the Wing-T, big deal.
• hoops23

  

  I love how you can't talk about the x's and o's of sports without some random jackass coming into a thread...
• Sonofanump

  Somehow I clicked into a private conversation?
  All offensives are derived from another offense, it's not like the Cavs owe something to Phil or Tex.
• hoops23

  

  Sonofanump wrote: Somehow I clicked into a private conversation?
  All offensives are derived from another offense, it's not like the Cavs owe something to Phil or Tex.

  Obviously.
  
  For the record, I don't think you're a jackass.. I think you're a pleasant person.
  
  Good talk.