Clippers coach Ty Lue desires to expose Leonard to an array of sets of the famous triangle offense
The Los Angeles Clippers are working on how to use Kawhi Leonard in the same ways the Chicago Bulls used legend Michael Jordan and the Los Angeles Lakers used legend Kobe Bryant. Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue spoke with the media prior to Sunday’s practice, where he elaborated on the fact that he has been implementing more sets of the triangle offense and expects Leonard to dominate the game the same way the players to whom he looks up to did back in their heyday.
“We have put in two or three sets from the triangle and let Kawhi play in those spaces where Kobe and Jordan played in those spots as well,” Lue said of his plans to use Kawhi Leonard and the triangle. “He loves those two players. He really respects and looks up to those guys, so we’re just trying to put him in positions [to succeed]. I was able to play with both those guys, but I also played in the triangle, so just trying to teach him that as well as teaching our team as well.”
“I think it’s a lost art,” Lue added when asked about the mid-range game of Leonard’s in a 3-point dominant game. “I’m a firm believer in, ‘Why not work on what teams are giving up?’ Every team wants to give up the mid-range shot, the mid-range 2s, and why not continue to work on the shots that teams are giving up. When you see, even in late-game situations in the fourth quarter, the mid-range shots are what wins the games. Those are the shots you’re gonna get in the playoffs as well, so it’s great having Lou [Williams], Kawhi [Leonard], PG (Paul George), and now Luke [Kennard), who can also make that mid-range shot. And if you shoot it at a high clip, it’s just as good as a 3 for me.”
In an era that the game has leaned more towards the three-point shot, something that a lot of players try to master, Lue alludes to the forgotten value of the mid-range game and how important it is for a player to be able to execute this shot with ease and especially in a playoff game where the defense is tight and certain velocity and technique is required to knock down this shot. We all know that Kawhi plays on his on pace and he is a master at mid-range shots but what if he inserts his shot in a system like that.
Triangle offense became famous due to how much Phil Jackson relied on it and how effective it was back in the day — I mean he won championships with the Lakers and the Bulls using this to create multiple options for his players and it worked perfectly.
Leonard is definitely a player who has been working really hard and has built his mid-range shot and as Kobe or Jordan, when you are that good at knocking down this shot, why not run a triangle offense that can give you so many options with the power forward and the center to screen and make the game easier for their teammates.
“He’s the most like Jordan that we’ve seen,” Clippers former head coach Doc Rivers said back in May 2019. “There’s a lot of great players. LeBron is phenomenal, KD is phenomenal. Not that he is Jordan or anything like that, but he’s the most like him. Big hands, post game, can finish, great leaper, great defender, in-between game.”
Leonard is a hardworker and a very effective shooter, both elements played a decisive role on Bryant’s and Jordan’s success -so for this system that’s all that you need — a guy who can take a high percentage shot and the right motion that will be required depending always on the reaction of the opposition.
Last season, Leonard shot 47.2 percent on shots coming from the 5–9 foot range and 48.1 percent on shots from 10–14 feet. According to ESPN Stats and Info, Leonard also ranked fourth in total mid-range shot attempts (325) and shot 42.8 percent on those shots. Therefore, Lue has picked the right player to teach this system.