2010-11 NBA Offense Smack Down: Lakers Triangle vs. Clippers... uh, offense 

@emouch1 The origin of the Triangle is the Triple Post Offense that Sam Barry ran at USC - when Tex Winter was a player. The triple post, in turn, has its origins in Doc Meanwell's offense at the University of Wisconsin - Madison in the 20's. All of these coaches went to Europe and taught their principles, which is how Gomelsky and Nikolic learned the game. It gives structure to playing bball the right way - which is why it is brilliant!!!!!!!!!!

@kornerguy STAY TUNED! It's uploading now, on our brand spanking new channel: heatBreakdown - where we will breakdown every Miami Heat game. Coach Nick

@arshdeep8 Thanks! Make sure to stay tuned for our latest: Jazz vs. Heat on our brand new channel heatBreakdown - uploading now! COach Nick

I like how it's a triangle offense. Until Bryant touches the ball.

@icemaen34 Thanks. Stay tuned for much more. And don't forget about HeatBreakdown - our latest channel and we're top 100 most subscribed this month for all of youtube! Coach Nick

@HARDisTHEword Have you seen our latest breakdown of Melo's first game as a Knick? We are getting ready to launch our Point Guard Extravaganza where you will decide who the best PG in the NBA is.

@jhualexc Awesome, thanks! Make sure to spread the bballbreakdown word! We have a goal to get 2,000 subscribers by the end of the year - not easy, but possible with help from everybody! Coach Nick

Going through our archives, I found this great breakdown on the Lakers running the triangle offense, and then comparing it to the mess that was Vinny's Clipper offense. MUST WATCH! #YOUIN

@beatsrus I just finished cutting up Heat vs Jazz, so I can do a little there. Stay tuned for a new channel devoted exclusively to the Heat's games! Thanks, Coach Nick

I love your videos. They're so informative and evidence based. I appreciate you spending time to find clips that reinforces your point. I look forward to them every time and am always excited to see one.

@lvelazq1 would u believe I started to breakdown footage from bulls vs mavs in November of 95 today? However, thru 3 qrtrs there was almost no good examples of the triangle. So I've gotta find a better game. I remember it being a ballet, having gone to every home game during that year. They did more complicated sets, for sure. And when you really watch MJ, u realize Kobe isn't even in the discussion. And Pippen was just superb.

@startstatic00 Thanks! Welcome to the most popular online channel devoted to basketball fundamentals. Definitely check out our more recent posts of the 2011 NBA Playoffs. Coach Nick

@christiankash Thanks! Nerds are much more interesting, wouldn't you say? Stay tuned for our Point Guard Extravaganza where you will decide who is the best point guard in the NBA! Coach Nick

@jounin9988 Yes, yes, and yes. Spoelstra is not long for this job, I fear. Stay tuned for our breakdown of the Jazz vs. Heat - uploading now to our new channel: heatBreakdown.

I feel smarter in basketball when I watch your videos. My best subscription yet.

@KobeBryantFootWork Thanks! Stay tuned for our PG Extravaganza coming up this week!

The key for the Lakers triangle offense is having a big guy like Gasol who can really play good European style basketball hitting mid range shots and he can also run the floor. It also doesn't hurt that they have one of the best finishers ever in Kobe.

Awesome breakdown, keep up the good work.

@7788057 Thanks!I hope you've seen our other more recent breakdowns of the NBA Finals - lots more to come all summer long. Coach Nick

@musicfreak21100 Thanks for the comment. I have no idea what you're trying to say, but the passion (or all caps, at least) is there.

Coach, I think it'll be interesting to compare both teams' offences again? Both teams are playing pretty good offence. Great videos and insight btw, love them, keep it up!

dude. that was one of the best bbal analysises (wtf am i saying?) i ever watched or read. beautiful breakdown.

VDN cannot be called out enough. Great vid as almost always.

really cool breakdown i thoroughly enjoyed that one thing i thought you could have mentioned was the fact that you need the personnel to run the right systems

thanks Coach,this is great!

@TheKorsOne Thanks! We will have a "Teaching The Triangle Offense" video out this summer. Coach NIck

@Xenoliths Thanks! I've got some Bulls games from then so I will definitely do it when I get the chance. Awesome idea. Coach Nick

@penguincontact Thanks! Stay tuned tomorrow for real time tweets @bballSource and a breakdown right after the Celtics Lakers game! Coach Nick

Very clear analysis. Thanks.

Awesome video, would be cool to see some breakdowns of other teams offence :D

@ChrisPaulbasketball3 Thanks! As a high school, I gotta go up against the flex a lot. Stay tuned for a new channel devoted to my team... and don't forget about HeatBreakdown, if you can stay in the kitchen

Just finished a weekend tournament, wish I watched this last week

@mistermojo420 No Joke!!! We just launched it! Stay tuned for Celtics vs. Heat from last night. It'll be uploading shortly! Coach Nick

@Doeb44 Yes! The Rockets are long overdue for a breakdown. I'll see if I can't get their next game... Coach Nick

As a Knicks fan who is watching the transition between Woodsons offense to the triangle they are running in summer league, all I can say is...Nick is the truth.

@DrDDDuke Thanks! I've already had another request for some European breakdowns. Let me scour the TV guide and see if I can't find some games to record... Don't forget about HeatBreakdown, where we'll be sure to have lots more Heat games!

@defghik Great question. I know with Kukoc they did things differently - I believe Kukoc penetrated from the wing a lot more, so they probably kept the center on the weakside more. I've gotta get some good games from back then - as soon as ESPN Classic airs one, I'll break it down. If all went well tonight with my recordings, I should be able to compare the Bulls offense from last year under Vinny to the new offense this year under Thibs. And I can even throw in Clippers from this year too.

@CZRonUTube I think: 1) If Kobe just ran the triangle offense all the time he'd score 50 of the easiest points he has ever scored per game. 2) If they ran a Kobe-centric offense, he'd score 40 and that's how many the Lakers would win!

@MrKneeyo My pleasure! Hopefully, you've checked out our more recent breakdowns! Great stuff happening in the playoffs.

This is super relevant to what the Kings are doing this year. They do the same stuff the Clippers do in this clip. In 2016.

"they get a terrible shot to go it...which only encourages this terrible mess" hahah gold quote

This video shows me I need so much to learn..

@bballbreakdown Utah has been so impressive. They finally cleared out their clogged up PF spot and got a legit big man for almost nothing. If only you had a channel dedicated to David Kahn's trading decisions. Great job Coach Nick. Keep em coming.

great video

@tim10888 Thanks so much! I'm glad you found us - don't forget to check out HeatBasketball on our other channel. We'll be uploading the Celtics vs. Heat in a few minutes. If you're a Heat fan, though, I'd suggest watching while covering your eyes ;) Coach Nick

Coach Nick is like a basketball politician coach.

@DrDDDuke I'm not a fan of the pick and roll, believe it or not. I don't like 4 bodies surrounding the ball like that. That said, the corner option of the triangle does it, as does the high post option - but the spacing is good and it's not out on top... As for defense of it - I have the screener's man play high on the hip and do a full hedge. If the dribbler moves toward half court in the slightest, we blitz him with both defenders. Where do you coach?

I started laughing when you put the spotlight on Marcus Camby haha

@Chromeo33 "opposite places in the standings" - meaning Lakers are 1st, Clippers are at the bottom... Stay tuned tomorrow for real time tweets @bballSource and a breakdown right after the Celtics Lakers game! Coach Nick

Tex Winter is a genius

Man the league has changed ☠️

thanks Coach. Clippers do have an offense, its just called the Clippers' offense. Love ur insight about the Triangle offense, great stuff.

nice video!

@chasna Pinch Post for sure... Forward across, any kind of weave across the top, any kind of back door from the high post to the wing cutter... Great question - the question is: is there a perfect offense and have I seen it. I think the perfect offense is what the Harlem Globetrotters used to do when they mixed entertainment with serious ball - around when Wilt played

Few years later, Lakers offense looking worse than the Clippers offense in the video :(

@basicrc thanks! I hope u check out our offensive breakdowns of the jazz and the spurs!Coach Nick

@hondah2o Thanks. Make sure to check in with HeatBreakdown as we'll break down tonight's game vs. Pacers - their first without Haslem - a guy they desperately need.

Apologies Coach, just saw the newest video on Lakers vs Clippers! I knew Clippers are a good coach away from winning big in the NBA but now I know why! Great video!

I completely agree with your analysis of the clipper's offense. I watched the last game vs the spurs and it literally was having the guard get the ball, a screen and roll, and then just one on one trying to score. Almost every play was one on one. Meanwhile, on the weak side, there's no movement at all and most of the time, players are even standing right next to each other. Their lucky griffin bails them out occasionally with an athletic rebound and putback

@dalmain77 I've been frustrated by the coaching issues for many, many seasons

@chuylupi Thanks! Baron has finally gotten into shape, so that helps. He wasn't helping much in the beginning of the season. Unfortunately, it appears the Clippers aren't gonna make the playoffs - it would take a titanic effort to get back to .500! Stay tuned tomorrow for real time tweets @bballSource and a breakdown right after the Celtics Lakers game! Coach Nick

the title is lit!

@stevenk87 Thanks! Don't forget to check out HeatBreakdown, as we'll do tonight's game vs. INdiana - and see how bad they look without their defensive stalwart Udonis Haslem - the only player that really plays defense well for them. Big loss. Oh yeah, and that Wade guy might not be playing either...

@MrBasiQ I really have a hard time understanding how he got hired again so quickly.

*sigh* the good old days

@cuadfromts I'll break them down soon enough and see - with coach Pete Carril helping them, I can't believe their offense is a problem at all.

i love this video because it shows how important a coach is and how amazing phil jackson is as a coach. I think why this is why the Heat are not a champion team and probably wont be for longer than people think

@93jeremy Awesome, thanks! Stay tuned for Heat vs. Jazz from the other night - Heat getting spanked again by the Celtics right now. It'll all be on our new channel: heatBreakdown!

@oliverjimmy3 Well, the triangle is flexible enough to run with whatever type of personnel you have. The Clippers thing can only work when you have 5 Hall of Famers out there...

how quickly the tables turned (thank you David Stern) bc the next season the smackdown was going the other way around!!

break down the utah offense coach nick. i'd like to make sense of all there off ball sceens.

@animefan8492 Love it - great idea. Compare Vinny's Bulls team from last year to this year's Clipper team. I gotta see if I still have any Bulls footage from last year! I get my game footage from the TV - right into my computer...

@oliverjimmy3 They tried doing the Triangle in Phoenix when Ainge was coach and Robert Horry played for him. Needless to say it didn't work, Horry threw a towel in Ainge's face (even though Horry might be the best citizen in the NBA) and when they asked him in LA what the difference was, he said it was the way the Lakers teach it. So YES - you need someone who knows how to implement it. I've shot an instructional video using my players - will release it soon! Coach Nick

@Reeferal @damnumalone Reefer explained it pretty well. Generally, you'd like to be 15-18 feet apart in any offense - but there are times when they get so bunched up that one defensive man can guard two offensive players. Spacing and balance are very important, but a ton of teams don't seem to get their players to do those things. A shame, and hard to watch from my standpoint.

Hey Coach Nick, can you break down the problem with the Houston Rockets Defense and maybe even the Offense if you have time, im honestly curious to understand the method of rick adleman.

@bballbreakdown hey coach! how about doing another one of the these LA breakdowns again. comparing vinny del negro's 'offense', to lakers... whatever they have now..

Great analysis, and this guy is hilarious while telling the truth.

I'd like to see a breakdown of san antonio's offense even though they're old they somehow get fastbreaks going and run a nice back court offense too

Love the Vids. Basketball is the sport in which coaching is so vital to success. Teams will fail/succeed based on this point alone. The talent is there on all teams, in NBA at least. It's putting it together that's the tough part. Take Michigan State for example, in the Final Four consistantly, not because of superior talent, but Izzo's coaching Thats why only the same handful of teams have a chance to win it all each year (NBA), cuz of the lack of coaching depth in the league right now.

@DrDDDuke And I'm not sure why coaches don't teach how to defend it more effectively. We work on it quite a bit on my team, and it's paid off at the high school level. Luckily, power pick and rolls haven't completely taken over the high school game yet.

@bballbreakdown i totally agree, i think that rafer alston was great for the orlando magic. during the finals he was not scared to attack the laker defence because he was too tricky for dfish. rashard lewis however looked completely spooked on offence, maybe he was tired having to guard pau gasol on defence. hedo turkgolu was another magic player i rated highly in the finals against the lakers

Dude you just enlighten tfk out me.

I was wondering, did the Bulls run the triangle differently in the early 90s compared to the late 90s? The roster was totally different with the exceptions of Jordan and Pippen. Great stuff here, I'm looking forward to the comparison between the Bulls and Lakers triangle.

@Slamwoo93 Yes, I would too. Stand by for the next time I can grab a Spurs game - I will show you what they do. GINOBILI!!!!

@milkandmeat hardinpants just made the comment that Rose is averaging more 2.5 more assists this year - clearly making him more efficient and better for the team...

wow coach nick been grinding since 9 yrs ago

@bballbreakdown you're right. but i think you'd need a good enough coach, at least. what other reason would there be for the triangle being one of the least implemented offensive strategies?

Coach, what about this years Clippers? Anything changed with Cris Paul's arrival? Another question: do you know the Read & React Offense? What do you think about it's options? Thank you!

@hardinpants That's worthy of writing an article comparing last year and this year - if i get the chance, I'll do it... I didn't see to much different from the Bulls offense, strangely enough, but obviously Thibs has them playing better as a team and their record certainly shows that.

i started laughing when he introduced the clipper's offense

hey coach what are your top 5 favorite plays to run in a game?

@chuylupi Actually, the Clippers are starting to run a real team offense - which is why they're playing so much better. I don't think it's Vinny Del Negro, though - he's got a new coach on his staff in Dean Demopolous and I think he could very well be the brainchild behind the Clipper's resurgence. Did you see our Heat vs. Clippers breakdown?

flex is not lame. yea its highschool but can be incorporated into multiple offenses

Hey coach your criticism of the Clippers 2010-11 offence was amusing!

@SneakerGiantCom Thanks so much. One of the reasons why I coach is because I didn't have a coach like me to break this stuff down. Check out our playoff breakdowns! Good stuff. Coach NIck

Definitely agree with you on the majority of these points. I only bother with watching games if it features coaches like Doc Rivers, Phil Jackson, Jerry Sloan etc. Teams that run legitimate basketball. The finals last year were the best series I've watched in a while. Too bad Ray Ray started missing a lot of good open jumpers.

@bballbreakdown : Where did I criticize him? I clearly said that coaches are valueable to the teams overall success. Izzo is the reason they are where they are and what they are. It's right there in my post. Quote "Take Michigan State for example, in the Final Four consistantly, not because of superior talent, but Izzo's coaching." But Izzo's Coaching....pretty clear. They go to the final four so consistently because of Izzo's coaching.

I would love to see a breakdown of the miami and utah match which went into an overtime loss for miami. I thought Miami had good offense but i would like to see your in depth breakdown

It's uninteresting is a understatement!! Whether it's coaching or the players the NBA game is tough to watch!!

Great stuff, Coach. I'm so glad the Bulls got rid of Del Negro and his painfully anemic offense. How did VDN get hired over Dwane Casey?