The Most Progressive Teams in the NBA
In the ever-changing NBA, the teams that adapt to and embrace new strategies, statistics and trends are often ahead of those who stubbornly cling to tradition.
At the crest of the current wave that is washing over the league is a heightened valuation of shooting (particularly from deep), ball movement and the front-office strategies that go toward landing an abundance of those things on your roster.
While some teams die by traditional post-ups and 15-foot jumpers, the league's most progressive clubs are thriving by doing just the opposite.
But on-court progressivism isn't the only factor in question here. Other teams have shown forward thinking in their hiring practices, offseason activities and rebuilding strategies.
A general willingness to embrace new ideas both on and off the floor is what each organization in this slideshow holds in common.
San Antonio Spurs
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In addition to being perhaps the catalyst of the new ball-movement-centric offensive philosophy that so many NBA teams are striving toward, the San Antonio Spurs may be heading up another new trend.
When the Spurs hired assistant coach Becky Hammon in August 2014, they became the first team to hire a paid female assistant coach. The next summer, they gave her the reins of their summer league team, which went on to win the Las Vegas Summer League championship.
Speaking about her role as a breaker of barriers, Hammon told the Associated Press' Doug Feinberg (via NBA.com):
"I think anything is possible. Just because something's never been done doesn't mean it can't be done. Leadership has no gender. The point is, do you know basketball? Do you know what it takes to lead people?
If you have a daughter, or even a woman in your life, it is worth supporting because of the bigger picture, because of the opportunities it will lead to down the road for little girls. We're not asking the male to get up and leave his seat. We're just saying scoot over a little bit. Make a little room at the table for the ladies.
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The Spurs have made room for Hammon, and the decision appears to be paying dividends. "She's a coach, and she's good at it," San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich said, per ESPN.com. "That was her purpose at summer league, and she did a great job trying to make guys play the way we wanted them to play."
Golden State Warriors
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Few teams have embraced modern basketball as wholeheartedly as the Golden State Warriors have.
Outside shooting? The Warriors lead the league in both three-point attempts per game and three-point percentage. Ball movement? They lead in assists and are seventh in total passes per game.
And a general emphasis of skill over size has led the Warriors to have three of the top small-ball lineups in the NBA this season, according to Bleacher Report's Dan Favale.
The fast-moving, deep-shooting style of those lineups (and the traditional ones that the Warriors use) has created a viewing experience that's new and fun, an attitude that fans can share with the team.
For all his brilliant, basketball-specific decisions, coach Steve Kerr's most progressive attribute may be his departure from the rigid disciplinarian mold of coaches gone by. As SBNation's Ricky O'Donnell put it:
"But while it will become trendy to copy his tactics and his in-game adjustments, it's the atmosphere he created around the team that was most important. Kerr didn't just empower his players on the court, he let them act their age and enjoy themselves off of it. NBA basketball might be a big business, but Kerr and the Warriors found success with the human element as much as any game plan. Sometimes, you know it when you see it.
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It does indeed jump off the screen.
Portland Trail Blazers
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The Portland Trail Blazers are flipping the NBA's more traditional tank-and-rebuild strategy on its head. The old model—get as bad as you can and land a couple of top-five picks before trying to win again—still has value, but the Blazers are showing you can have a fresh start without sacrificing quality basketball for your fanbase.
In an episode of The Vertical Podcast with Woj, Portland coach Terry Stotts talked about recovering from the loss of four starters (Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum, LaMarcus Aldridge and Robin Lopez) over the summer.
Instead of using the losses as an excuse to embrace the tank, Portland acquired several young players in the same age range as the lone holdover, Damian Lillard. Al-Farouq Aminu, Mason Plumlee and Ed Davis are all 25 or 26 and had positive box plus-minuses last season. Noah Vonleh and Maurice Harkless hadn't produced as much on the floor but are younger still and have shown promise.
Adding young players, who can share things off the floor and were still net positives despite inexperience, has allowed the Blazers to stay in the playoff hunt when most people were certain they'd be in the lottery.
Utah Jazz
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As a product of the Spurs school of team-building, Utah Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey is showing that patience and the right approach to the NBA draft can change a team's fortunes.
In the weeks leading up to the 2015 draft, the Jazz had a firsthand look at more than 100 prospects. That kind of diligence has led to Lindsey's solid track record in the draft.
Rudy Gobert (picked 27th overall) leads the 2013 class, and Rodney Hood (a 23rd pick) leads the 2014 class in career win shares.
And Lindsey's most recent first-round pick, Trey Lyles at No. 12, looks like a steal too. The list of rookies who can claim to have matched his three-point percentage, rebounding percentage and three-point attempts as a rookie is short.
| 1 | Larry Bird* | 1979-80 | 23 | BOS | .406 | 16.0 | 143 |
| 2 | Trey Lyles | 2015-16 | 20 | UTA | .392 | 12.8 | 97 |
In addition to finding the right young players, the Jazz have shown a progressive attitude toward developing them as well.
Many individual NBA players spend time at P3, the renowned sports training and science facility in Santa Barbara, California. But the Jazz are committed to sending their entire roster there multiple times per year for examinations, testing and training to make the players better, safer athletes.
Boston Celtics
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Few great college coaches are able to make the leap to the pros successfully. Just ask Rick Pitino and John Calipari. But Brad Stevens has been just fine, thanks in large part to his ability to communicate.
The difference between talking to a college player and a professional player is obvious: experience. And while some college coaches enter the league accustomed to talking down (in a sense) to young players, Stevens did not.
His open, honest style at Butler has quickly endeared him to his Boston Celtics. SBNation's Paul Flannery put it this way:
"You can’t fool NBA players. By the time they reach the league they’ve seen coaches at all levels and the more they get around, the easier it is to identify the ones they want to play for. All players want minutes, shots and opportunities, but they also want direct, honest communication and a confidence that the coach is prepared to put them in a position to succeed. That’s where Stevens truly connects with his players.
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The confidence that Stevens inspires in his players is evident in the way they've performed this season. Still considered star-less by many (even though Isaiah Thomas made the All-Star Game), the Celtics are nevertheless in the mix for home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs.
