Los Angeles Lakers: Grading Mike Brown's New Offense vs the Triangle Offense

The Los Angeles Lakers have been learning and experimenting with a new offense under head coach Mike Brown for six games with mixed results.

This season, the Lakers are averaging 92.5 points per game with a 3-3 record. Last year, the Lakers averaged 112.8 points per game under the triangle with a 6-0 record.

Citing point differences is too simplistic when comparing Mike Brown's new offense to the triangle offense. After all, one of Kobe Bryant's favorite quotes from legendary triangle offense guru Tex Winter suggests that it doesn't matter what offensive system you run, so long as you run it well.

Six games into the new offense and still within the learning curve, let's see how Mike Brown's redesigned offense compares to the triangle.

6. Floor Spacing

The triangle offense is predicated on floor spacing and player movement. Balance and creating at least two passing options from any point on the floor are key.

When run well, the triangle offense will send defenses scrambling across the floor through effective spacing and passing.

Mike Brown has been using corner spacing in his offense with a high post. Guard/small forward in the corner, open for a three-pointer or sent to clear out to leave an isolation for the man in the post.

While corner spacing and feeding the post is a form of triangle spacing, Mike Brown's offense can't compare to the legendary flow created from floor spacing under the triangle offense.

Advantage: Triangle

5. Offensive Transition

The triangle has historically been a slow-moving offense. The point guard brings the ball up the floor, known as the "initiator," and delivers the first pass that starts the triangle about six to eight seconds into the shot clock.

Mike Brown has installed a beat-the-shot-clock option, imploring the bigs to run the floor on a make or miss to get easy looks on the other end.

The triangle requires waiting for players to set up.

Mike Brown wants the Lakers to push the ball and stretch the floor.

While personnel might be an issue (veteran, aging roster) in running the break, getting fast break points any way you can beats the alternative of no fast break.

Advantage: Mike Brown

4. Point Guard Play

As referenced in the last slide, the point guard is known as the "initiator" in the triangle offense. Make the required pass, run through the rotation and wait to be the fifth option in the order of looks across the floor.

In Mike Brown's offense—and most other offenses outside of the triangle—point guards are given freedom to make plays for their teammates off screens or dribble drives.

Derek Fisher recently noted this difference, saying he enjoys playing in Mike Brown's offense rather than the triangle offense for this reason.

Again, personnel might be an issue with more freedom given to the point guards. Derek Fisher and Steve Blake are often considered the worst PG tandem in the league based on statistics.

However, under Mike Brown's system, the Lakers point guards will definitely improve their numbers using a system that allows more flexibility for playmaking/scoring.

Fish and Blake's down years last season were more a product of their environment than anything else. The Lakers were the only team in the league to run the triangle (Sorry, Minnesota).

Advantage: Mike Brown

3. Three-Point Shooting

The triangle offense is all about spacing. Players are always positioned outside the three-point line, ready for a pass or chain of passes to get the ball and knock one down.

Mike Brown's corner spacing offers a three-point threat on the floor. However, the player is usually run off if the ball is sent into the post to allow for an isolation.

With more three-point options under the triangle, it makes sense an offense based on spacing gets the nod here.

Advantage: Triangle

2. Lakers Frontcourt

Under the triangle, players are interchangeable. Any one can play in the post so long as they make the right reads. The post is treated as a fulcrum.

Mike Brown treats the post as his focus. Using a twin tower offense he mastered during his time in San Antonio, Mike Brown has been running one big up at the high post outside the three-point line and the other down on the block.

Bigs get better isolation under Mike Brown's system. Plus, Pau Gasol, Josh McRoberts and Troy Murphy are better suited facing the basket in the high post than down on the block.

Advantage: Mike Brown

1. Role of Kobe Bryant

The flow of the triangle offense would routinely become disrupted whenever Kobe dominated possession and played his one-on-one game.

Phil Jackson referred to it as "screwing up" the offense. "Kobe Ball," we all called it.

Now, Mike Brown has embraced the Mamba's superior one-on-one ability and designed his offense and created sets that give Kobe Bryant single coverage in his "sweet spots."

Kobe Bryant was an alternative to the triangle. No. 24 is now a featured aspect of Mike Brown's offense.

Advantage: Mike Brown

Overall

Primarily known for his defense, Mike Brown has installed an offensive system that looks for fast breaks, focuses on the frontcourt and gives Kobe Bryant the ball at his favorite spots on the floor.

The triangle, meanwhile, was all about rotations and spacing.

The Lakers are still learning the new offense, indicative of their 92.5 points per game output to start the season. But with more time and practice, the Lakers are sure to improve their offensive production.

The start to the post-triangle era certainly looks promising under Mike Brown.

Mike Brown Over Triangle: 4-2