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Home , Princeton offense, Small ball (basketball), Triangle offense

Coaches Win Practice, Players Win Games

Embracing the in the NBA’s Era

David Kenah It’s no secret to anyone that watched the NBA playoffs this year – the league continues to embrace a new style of play. Almost every team in the playoffs went small at some in their respective playoff series. While small ball used to be commonly known as having a traditional playing alongside a stretch 4-man, or pick & pop player, it has continued to evolve into the idea of simply playing four traditional smalls around one traditional center. The thought process behind this style of play is mainly to space the floor and play spread pick & roll basketball. Spread pick & roll is a simple offense that is virtually un-guardable verse some of the best players in the game; Elite guards (see: ) combined in a pick & roll with skilled bigs (see: Draymond Green) and 3 other offensive players spaced behind the 3-point line ready to shoot or attack a closeout. It’s come to dominate the game of basketball at the pro level. While this strategy can result in great success for the most talented teams, it can be tougher to execute effectively with lesser talented teams. NBA defenses are so well trained in pick & roll defense and isolation defense that it’s become much too easy to defend most teams, leading to stagnant possessions and contested jump shots far too often. In this small ball evolution, many teams have overlooked traditional basketball actions within their offense: chin cuts, backdoor cuts, split actions, flare screens, etc. Coaches at all levels know these common basketball actions, but many at the pro level have become so dependent on the pick & roll that they’ve overlooked incorporating them into their overall offensive system. In his book The Smart Take from the Strong, told coaches that he doesn’t think there is enough creative thinking going on – “not enough of them are thinking of new ideas, new ways to do things to help their teams.” Basketball’s evolution to its current state makes this the perfect time to fully embrace the Princeton offense and its small ball concepts in the NBA. To be clear, the Princeton offense has made successful appearances in the NBA in recent years. After retiring from in 1996, Pete Carril worked with the to help develop a hybrid version of the offense that could adapt to the NBA game, mainly adjusting for the 24-second and adjusting for the need at the time to play 2 traditional big men. Byron Scott then had success using the offense with the Nets, and Eddie Jordan with the Wizards. This hybrid version still incorporated the well-known 2-guard front, and still used the center position as a focal point of the offense, moving from the low post box to box and the high post elbow to elbow (as shown in Diagrams 1 & 2). But the restrictions of having to put a traditional power forward on the wing made it hard to fully embrace the concepts of the Princeton offense.

Diagram 1 – Princeton “Low Post” set Diagram 2 – Princeton “Chin” set

The offense in its purest form incorporates 4 players playing around 1 center. When executed with ball movement and player movement it is very difficult to defend against. At Princeton, Pete Carril’s teams were able to flow into their offense, much like ’s championship teams flowed into the triangle. Because of the previous limitations on offensive positions, it was difficult to translate that pure flow of the Princeton. Today’s versatility in style of play has eliminated these limitations. Four position-less players playing around one center can give teams the ability to flow into offense using Princeton concepts and actions, while still allowing them to include the spread pick & roll style that has become so popular in today’s game.

**For diagraming purposes, offensive positions are labeled 1 through 5. But within the concepts of “Low Post Flow,” all positions 1 through 4 are interchangeable.

LOW POST (FLOW)

Many of today’s NBA teams flow right into pick & rolls. The wing players run to the corners to keep the floor spaced, while the bigs set early drags for the (as shown in Diagram 3). Using a Princeton style offense would incorporate a different philosophy. Flowing into Princeton’s “Low Post” set Diagram 3 – Common NBA Double Drag would allow the center to run to the rim and find early post position on the strong-side . And while the structure of “Low Post” is defined as 2 guards setting up lane line extended while 2 forwards set up on the wings (as shown in Diagram 4), opening up the offense to four position-less smalls makes it a much more Diagram 4 – “Low Post” set suitable early offense for the NBA and it’s 24-second shot clock. Guards can now play the forward spots, while forwards can play the guard spots, making all of them position-less. The ability for any small to push the ball in transition, while the others fill any of the spots around the perimeter would eliminate the need to stay organized in respective guard & forward spots, allowing a quicker, and much more fluid entry into “Low Post.” The point to wing entry pass, followed by a cut to the weak side corner, initiates the “Low Post” set and gets the desired spacing – the ball on the wing with 4 smalls spaced behind the 3-point line and a center on the strong side block (as shown in Diagrams 5 & 6). The offense can be initiated on either side of the floor, as long as the

Diagram 5 – “Low Post” entry pass Diagram 6 – “Low Post” entry pass center follows the ball to the strong side box. Other initiations can also achieve the desired spacing, for instance, a primary ball-handler pushing the ball up the wing, eliminating the need for an entry pass and cut (as shown in Diagram 7). Regardless of the action, the goal of “Low Post Flow’s” entry is to get the ball on the wing and space around – one small on the wing with the ball, one Diagram 7 – “Low Post” dribble entry at the top of the , one on the weak side wing, and one in the weak side corner. From there, the spacing allows for multiple reads and options that all stay within the structure of the Princeton offense. Once “Low Post” is initiated with an entry, the first option is always to look at the center for a first side post up. This “Low Post Power” option not only allows the center to be a 1 on 1 scoring option, but also a passer out of the post, with various cutting actions and split actions occurring around him. Reads and options in “Low Post Power” include A) the post-feeding small can cut, while the other smalls spaced around the

Diagram 8 – “Low Post Power” with cutters Diagram 9 – “Low Post Power” with cutters Diagram 10 – “LP Power” Drift Corner

perimeter fill in around. This is a common NBA action and allows teams to play right to a step up pick & roll out of the post (as shown in Diagrams 8 & 9). Or, B) The post- feeding small can choose to drift corner. If the post-feeder is being jammed up on a cut, or recognizes a quick post dig from his defender, he can drift corner, triggering a top pick-away from the small at the top of the key (as shown in Diagram 10). The top pick- away allows teams to play a split action on the weak side of the floor, making the center a passer out of the post, and keeps the floor spaced to play a high pick & roll as the secondary action. Lastly, C) the post-feeding small can play a split game with the small at the top of the key. With the floor spaced, the post feeder will set a split at the elbow and fill to the spot at the top of the key, again making the center a passer out of the post. If no scoring opportunity occurs from the split action, the next action is to play to the 2nd side of the floor with a back cut to the post, and a flare at the top of the key (as shown in Diagrams 11-13). The back cut and top flare are common Princeton actions, but within the limits of a 24-second shot clock it is crucial to keep these cuts and screens organized, as opposed to the randomness of a classic Princeton style offense.

Diagram 11 – “Low Post Power” Split Game Diagram 12 – “Low Post Power” Split Game Diagram 13 – “Low Post Power” Split Game

Diagram 14 – “LP Power” Split Game to 1-2-2 Diagram 15 – “1-2-2” Pick & Roll Diagram 16 – “1-2-2” Pin Down/Handoff

Every read and movement becomes a scoring opportunity – reading how the back cut is defended, and reading how the flare is defended. If no scoring opportunity arises, the back cut to top flare allows the spacing to pop the center to the top of the key and play right to a spread pick & roll game, known as “1-2-2” (as shown in Diagram 14). “1-2-2” allows teams to space the floor with all 5 players behind the 3 point line, and play many common NBA actions. The center can play directly to a pick & roll on either side of the floor (as shown Diagram 15) or the center can opt to dribble towards either wing while the wing player sets a pin down for the player in the corner (as shown in Diagram 16). These actions, as well as others out of the “1-2-2” set, allow teams to spread the floor and play to various common pick & roll options. If the post feed to the center “Power” option isn’t available, the small on the wing will look to play to the next action, “Low Post Swing.” This swing pass allows the ability to play to the 2nd side of the floor, and play various reads and actions. The center can follow the ball to the top and play “Swing Fist,” a high pick & roll Diagram 17 – “LP Swing Fist” (as shown in Diagram 17). Or, the center can flash to the elbow on the swing pass and play “Point” options. “Point” allows teams to play through the center at the elbow with the floor spaced (as shown in Diagram 18). Many NBA teams commonly play through bigs at the elbow, but playing through a big at the elbow with 4 Diagram 18 – “LP Swing Point” (options) smalls spaced behind the 3-point line is not as common. This spacing allows the center different opportunities to be a facilitator. After passing to the center, the feeder now makes a decision as to which direction to cut. The feeder can A) set a split screen to the weak side playing “Point Weak,” (as shown in Diagrams 19 & 20). He can B) set a split screen on the strong side, playing “Point Strong” (as shown in Diagram 21). Or, C) he can play “Point Middle” by cutting down the middle looking for a return pass, before playing back to the strong side for a pin down to handoff with the center. (as shown in Diagrams 22 & 23). All of these

Diagram 19 – “LP Swing Point Weak” Diagram 20 – “LP Swing Point Weak” Diagram 21 – “LP Swing Point Strong”

Diagram 22 – LP Swing Point Middle” Diagram 23 – LP Swing Point Middle” “Point” options allow for ball movement and organized screening actions, and allow the ability to play to a pick & roll as the secondary action. Continuing with the flow of an organized Princeton early offense must factor in denials. With the offense already initiated on the wing, if the first side post up isn’t available, and the swing pass to the top is being denied, the next option is to dribble at the top denial and send the top small back door. This “Low Post Across” read incorporates the common back cut into the offense, but again allows the ability to do it in an organized and efficient manner. If the back cut is defended properly, the small that dribbled across will advance the ball to the opposite side of the floor and play a stagger with the center and the back cutter, while a 2 man game occurs on what is now the strong side. The stagger will engage the defense on the weak side of the floor while the 2-man side pick & roll or dribble hand-off happens on the strong side. The stagger also gives the option to open the floor back up and play to a spread pick & roll (as shown in Diagrams 24-26).

Diagram 24 – “LP Across” Diagram 25 – “LP Across” Diagram 26 – “LP Across”

If the wing player dribbles across, looks for the backdoor, and can’t advance pass the ball to the opposite side of the floor because of another denial, he will stay within the flow of the offense and continue across to play “Low Post Across Dive,” triggering a back cut to post for the weak side wing and an advance pass to the next small on the perimeter. Instead of setting a stagger away, a single pin down is now set for the center to pop to the top of the key and play “1-2-2.” (as shown in Diagrams 27-29)

Diagram 27 – “LP Across Dive” Diagram 28 – “LP Across Dive” Diagram 29 – “LP Across Dive” to 1-2-2 All of these actions out of “Low Post Flow” can occur with or without any play calls. Organized Princeton reads allow teams to play multiple split actions through the center in the post, or through the center at the elbow. The reads allow organized back cut options with the floor spaced, and many times, with the defensive center away from the rim. The system does this all while including proper spacing for various pick & roll opportunities on the sides of the floor and at the top. While incorporating these concepts can allow the ability to flow into early offense, the entire “Low Post” system can include various actions that are much more conducive for half-court play, and much more deliberate – creating direct scoring opportunities for top scorers. The system can create different isolation situations, small-small pick & rolls, other pressure release actions, and with a different entry, can also include common concepts of the . All of these factors help make Princeton’s “Low Post” the basic framework of an offensive system that can be very effective in today’s NBA.

WAVE TO POINT One variation of “Low Post” that can extend to the ½ court is the Princeton “Wave to Point” action. When set up in “Low Post” – 2 position-less smalls in the guard spots, 2 position-less smalls in the forward spots, and center on the strong side block – but before a point to wing entry pass, the ball-handler can choose to wave the off- Diagram 30 – “Wave to Point” Options guard through, sending him on a cut directly through the elbow to the strong side corner. This wave also triggers the center to simultaneously flash to the elbow that the off- guard just cut through. Once the center is at the elbow, the ball handler can play right to any “Point” options (as shown in Diagrams 30 & 31). Diagram 31 – “Wave to Point” Options Used as a more direct way to get to “Point,” (as opposed to “Low Post Swing Point” described in the previous segment) the ball-handler can now pass directly to the center, creating another opportunity to play “Point Weak,” “Point Strong,” and “Point Middle,” and still play a pick & roll as the secondary action through all of these options. But like everything else in the Princeton offense, there are counters built in that become available in the case of denials. If the center flashes, and is being denied at the elbow, the ball-handler immediately makes a read to play the denial options. “Point Outside” is a center denial action that allows the ball-handler to make a pass to strong side wing before UCLA cutting off the center and playing a diagonal pick- the picker. If no scoring opportunity arises from the pick-the-picker, the floor opens up and allows for a high pick & roll (as shown in Diagrams 32-34). If the ball-handler sees a center denial, and can’t pass to the strong side wing to play “Point Outside,” he can play “Point Twirl,” quickly playing to the other side of the floor. “Point Twirl” uses the same organized back cut to top flare action. With the center denied, the ball-handler uses a twirl dribble initiating a back cut to a post up for the wing on the weak side, then gets a top flare screen from the center. Like previous back cut to top flare actions, “Point Twirl” allows the option to play right to “1-2-2.” (as shown in Diagrams 35-37).

Diagram 32 – “Point Outside” Diagram 33 – “Point Outside” Diagram 34 – “Point Outside”

Diagram 35 – “Point Twirl” Diagram 36 – “Point Twirl” Diagram 37 – “Point Twirl” to 1-2-2

All five “Point” options can be played out of “Wave to Point,” or can be played out of “Low Post Swing” to “Point.” While these actions can all look very structured on paper, with practice, teams can become comfortable playing with a randomness that allows them to play to their strengths. Much like Phil Jackson’s triangle teams, and today’s teams, players figure out ways to stay within the structure of the offense, while making reads that will include top players in their most effective actions - for instance, choosing to play the read that will include setting a split screen for a top shooter. “Low Post” and “Wave to Point” give players the freedom to trust the offense without a coach having to make any play calls.

CHIN/FORWARDS OUT While Princeton’s “Low Post” set starts the center on the low block, “Chin” and “Forwards Out” allow opportunities for the center to start at the strong side elbow, while the 4 smalls keep the same spacing on the perimeter – 2 guards lane-line extended, 2 forwards on the wings (as shown in Diagram 38 – “Chin/Forwards Out” Set Diagram 38). At the college level, “Chin” and “Forwards Out” can be used as continuity offenses, with ball movement being the premise of the offense. At the NBA level, adjustments are made to factor in the 24- second shot clock. While the guards and forwards do not have to begin structured in their respective guard and forward spots, their organization in the ½ court can help to make “Chin” and “Forwards Out” sets more deliberate at the pro level, with opportunities for coaches to call more plays, while still factoring in ball movement and allowing for pick & roll opportunities. “Chin” is initiated with a guard-to-guard entry pass and a chin cut off the center. Many NBA teams today run chin cuts for the sole purpose of creating space between the center setting the chin screen, and the center’s defender. This allows the center to quickly play to a high pick & roll, or

“Chin Fist” with the defense already a step behind in Diagram 39 – “Chin Fist” their pick & roll coverage (as shown in Diagram 39). But in a game that has become dominated by the pick & roll, teams are often in such a hurry to get to “Chin Fist,” that they sometimes forget the first scoring option – the chin cutter. Running “Chin” all the way through would create more ball movement before getting to a “1-2-2” set and allowing the same pick & roll opportunities. By initiating “Chin” with a guard-to-guard pass, then advancing the ball quickly to the wing, it gives the forward on the wing the passing angle to look for the chin cutter as a scoring possibility. It also allows another opportunity for the center to set a top flare screen for the other guard after he sets the chin screen (as shown Diagrams 40-41). If no scoring opportunities occur from the chin cut or the top flare, the center can again pop to the top of the key and plays any “1-2-2” options (as shown in Diagram 42).

Diagram 40 – “Chin” Diagram 41 – “Chin” Diagram 42 – “Chin” to “1-2-2” Like every set in the Princeton offense, “Chin” also allows opportunities to play to certain counters in the case of denials, much more important in the case of ½ court sets which are more likely to be well scouted. If defensive opponents hear a “Chin” call and immediately deny the guard-to-guard entry pass “Chin Flash” allows the offense to take advantage of the denial in a structured read that still allows freedom within the offense. By flashing the weak side forward to the elbow on the guard-to-guard denial, the ball- handling guard can now pass to the forward, getting the ball to the middle of the floor, and allowing a quick back-cut to the rim by the guard being denied (as shown in Diagram 43). If no scoring opportunity arises on the guard’s back cut, the floor opens up into what is essentially a common NBA “Horns” set – a forward with the ball on one elbow, a center on the weak side elbow, and the floor spaced around. From there, any common “Horns” actions can be played, like a dribble hand-off with the forward to allow a pop/slip opportunity by the two players at the elbows (as shown in Diagram 44).

Diagram 43 – “Chin Flash” Diagram 44 – “Chin Flash” to Horns When organized in respective guard and forward spots, “Forwards Out” allows the same options as “Chin.” But by initiating “Forwards Out” with a dribble hand off to the forward on the strong side wing, and a guard/forward exchange on the weak side, the guards and forwards essentially reverse their roles. Doing this allows for opportunities that can include forwards in cutting and screening actions. On what is now a forward-to- forward entry pass, a forward uses the chin screen, allowing a post up opportunity on the block after his cut, before again playing to a top flare and “1-2-2” options (as shown in Diagrams 45-47).

Diagram 45 – “Forwards Out” Diagram 46 – “Forwards Out” - Post Up Diagram 47 – “Forwards Out” to 1-2-2

“Chin” and “Forwards Out” sets give coaches the ability to keep the offense organized in the ½ court, as opposed to the flow of “Low Post.” Direct play calls like “Forwards Out Swing Reverse” allow for counters from the basic cutting and screening actions of the sets. “Forwards Out Swing Reverse” begins with the same “Forwards Out” dribble hand-off and forward-to-forward entry pass, before reversing the ball back to create a snapback post up for the chin cutting forward (as shown in Diagrams 48-49). This set play call, and many more, make “Chin” and “Forwards Out” an essential part of the complete Princeton offensive system at the pro level.

Diagram 48 – “FO Swing Reverse” Diagram 49 – “FO Swing Reverse” CONCLUSION

The Princeton offense has proven to be successful with traditional NBA line-ups in the past. Playing with 2 traditional bigs still allows teams to play Princeton actions, but having to account for a big on the perimeter forces teams to stay structured within positions. If fully embraced as small ball, a Princeton system can give much more versatility to lineups at the guard and forward positions playing around the center. Any players that can cut, screen, dribble at denials, and handle in pick & rolls (all much more common in today’s NBA) can play any guard or forward positions on the offensive end. Role players that have become heavily relied upon as spot-up shooters will have the ability to be involved in more screening and cutting actions. Centers who have perfected the art of pick & roll passing now have the freedom to be playmakers from the boxes and elbows in a variety of actions, as well as still being able to facilitate in pick & rolls. The best offenses in the NBA (with no advanced analytical proof) are those with the most flow and the fewest play calls. Although Princeton terminology often comes with the common misconception of involving many calls, many of the terms are simple actions that can be learned and executed with reads. Structure and concepts are taught in practice, and players execute in games within that structure. Overall, a structured Princeton system allows the ability to flow into an offense that is based solely on moving the ball and reading the defense. Playing with 4 position-less smalls around 1 center would maximize the randomness of the offense and make it extremely difficult to scout against. And while the offense may slow the pace that many teams currently play with, it would still keep the same common spacing. With the sets outlined being the basic framework of how the Princeton offense would look in the NBA, the entire playbook includes many more sets and plays necessary to make it a complete NBA offense. After time-out plays, quick hitters, low-clock situations, and many more reads and counters that all incorporate Princeton concepts while staying within a pick & roll structure. In a league that continues to downsize positions, incorporating a small ball system offense may be just around the corner, and no better system embodies these concepts than the Princeton offense.