Can Carmelo Anthony Follow Superstar Blueprint in NY Knicks Triangle Offense?
The triangle offense did great things for superstars of the past like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Now, Carmelo Anthony hopes to be the next in line.
The New York Knicks are looking for a franchise-wide turnaround this season, and President Phil Jackson's influence is the main agent of change. Already, he's brought a sense of calm to the typically tumultuous organization by installing a widely respected (if untested) head coach in Derek Fisher and somehow convincing owner James Dolan to spend more time music-making than meddling.
The most intriguing of Jackson's many influences—as far as Anthony is concerned—is the introduction of the triangle offense.
On its face, a scoring system predicated on ball movement, positional flexibility and unselfishness would seem to cut against much of what we know about Melo's offensive predilections. Isolation attacks are last resorts in the triple-post offense—not top options.
In every season of his Knicks tenure, Anthony has used isolation sets more often than any other play type, per Synergy Sports (subscription required). He's always been far more effective in those situations than most players, and it's only fair to note that the Knicks' biggest problems since Melo arrived have not been on offense.
Nonetheless, isolation sets are still less efficient (both in general and for Anthony in particular) than most other play types—which you can see when comparing Melo's overall offensive output against his isolation plays.
Regular viewers of New York's contests over the past three years would also acknowledge it frequently failed to add flow and pace to an otherwise stagnant attack.
We could forgive Anthony for resisting the triangle. He could rightly point to others as the source of New York's recent struggles and argue that taking shots away from him (especially after his last two terrific individual seasons) isn't the way to fix the Knicks.
But Anthony isn't complaining.
Just the opposite, actually, per Ian Begley of ESPN.com: "I'm going to be all over the floor in the triangle," Anthony said. "It makes it hard to guard, it keeps all eyes off of you. I'm looking forward to it, I've been saying it all summer. I can't wait."
History says Melo is right to be excited.
Proven Success
Jackson and the triangle offense he favors have never turned anyone into a superstar. Instead, they take already existing superstars and push them to another level—both individually and in terms of team success.
Michael Jordan was the first.
Though Tex Winter, the real architect of the modern triangle, had been with the Chicago Bulls since 1985, Jordan didn't play in that system until Jackson showed up for the 1989-90 season. In an effort to save Jordan from the routine beatings administered by the Bulls' nemesis, the Detroit Pistons, he installed a system that turned MJ into a moving target.
Instead of isolations, Jordan got the ball in spots all over the floor, frequently on the move. He was much harder to flatten when his positions and angles of attack became less predictable.
It took the Bulls until the 1990-91 season for the ultimate payoff—a championship—but Anthony would do well to note that in that 1989-90 season, Jordan's usage, effective field-goal percentage and shots per game all increased over the previous year.
| 1988-89 | 32.1 | .546 | 22.2 | 32.5 |
| 1989-90 | 33.7 | .550 | 24.0 | 33.6 |
Clearly, the triangle doesn't rob superstars of scoring chances. Basically, it substitutes high-percentage opportunities for low-percentage ones.
Jackson brought the triangle to the Los Angeles Lakers next, and all he did there was win three rings in his first three seasons—due largely to Bryant's increased effectiveness in the system. In his first triangle season, Bryant's volume and efficiency increased across the board, as did his contributions in non-scoring areas.
| 1998-99 | 25.3 | .482 | 15.6 | 19.9 | 3.8 | 5.3 |
| 1999-00 | 26.8 | .488 | 17.9 | 22.5 | 4.9 | 6.3 |
You might attribute those developments to other factors; having a prime Shaquille O'Neal on the roster never hurt anybody's productivity, and Bryant's natural aging curve meant he was bound to get better in his fourth season at age 21.
The undeniable fact, though, is this: Both Jordan and Bryant took their games and teams to new levels shortly after the implementation of Jackson's triangle offense.
History Repeating?
Anthony could be next but perhaps not for the reason you'd expect.
Yes, Melo should see more open shots and be harder to guard next season. He'll probably get a chance to showcase his underrated skills as a passer and spot-up shooter as well. Overall, he won't have to work as hard for his offense, but he'll still get copious chances to score—just as Jordan and Bryant did before him.
But the most important thing the triangle may do for Anthony and the Knicks is create a situation in which the supporting players are of more help to their superstar teammate.
"The real advantage of the Triangle is what it does for players with less ability. Most NBA sets are static; they require perimeter players to create their own shot, usually off the dribble. The Triangle’s relentless off-the-ball movement allows standing jump shooters to contribute within their own preexisting skill set. This is why it worked so well for John Paxson and Steve Kerr, and even for guys like Sasha Vujacic and Luke Walton. You don’t need four or five athletic scorers to make the Triangle work. Two is plenty, because it amplifies the value of role players.
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So when we hear Anthony say there are "six or seven" other Knicks already working on the triangle with him this summer, per Begley, that's more than a good sign for New York's offense. It's a symbol of exactly why the triangle could unlock a new level in Anthony's game: With role players becoming bigger threats because of a new offense, Anthony's job gets easier.
And if Anthony's production over the past few seasons is any indication, defenses should be terrified of anything that makes offense easier for him.
There are potential problems, of course.
Jackson not being on the sidelines to directly preach triangle principles is one. The troubling unsuitability of many players on the roster is another.
Jackson told Klosterman: "The problem with the triangle is that you have to teach the most basic, basic skills: footwork. Where you stand on the floor. And if you have the kind of player who wants to attack and score every time he touches the ball, he will hurt this offense."
Amar'e Stoudemire and J.R. Smith, two Knicks who figure to play huge roles this season, sound exactly like the types of players who could ruin the triangle with their shoot-first mentalities. Andrea Bargnani might not fit in any system.
So if we see Anthony deviating from the triangle's principles this year, we probably shouldn't be so quick to assume he's being selfish. Instead, he might just be reacting to an offense already derailed by selfish teammates.
The Stakes
It won't be easy, but if Melo embraces the triangle (and his supporting players pull their weight), he and the Knicks could enjoy serious success. More than that, Anthony could answer some of the main concerns that have dogged him throughout his career.
He can prove his willingness to be part of a system, that winning matters more than the glory of individual achievement.
He can change the narrative about him, silence critics and justify his decision to stay with the Knicks over alternatives that offered, it seemed, better chances of immediate success.
The knock on Anthony has always been that for all of his obvious individual talents, his particular style of play put a ceiling on team achievement because it precluded the kind of reliable, consistent system necessary for playoff success.
He's got that system now—one that has led to tons of postseason wins—and the pressure's on.
Because nobody wants to be remembered as the one superstar who couldn't win big in the triangle.
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