WHY CONE STUCK TO 'OUTDATED' TRIANGLE OFFENSE FOR YOUTH-LADEN GILAS SIDE

GILAS Pilipinas coach Tim Cone spoke about his love for the triangle offense when he faced mediamen in the wake of the Filipinos' monumental 89-80 win over host Latvia in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Cone said the main reason he runs the still system introduced to the Chicago Bulls by the late Tex Winter and ran to perfection by Phil Jackson was because it fuels their defense, which is his priority in this iteration of Gilas.

"It’s an offense that plays at a tempo in which you can play defense, and that’s why I love it so much," said Cone, when asked about running the triangle system that has its shares of criticism especially in this age of basketball.

READ Cone glad Gilas did its homework on defense scouting Latvia

"I’m kind of famous for the triangle but I really feel like I’m more of a defensive-oriented coach. That offense helps me run the defense," said Cone.

The triangle offense became popular during the 1990s when the Bulls led by Michael Jordan won six NBA titles. Cone ran the same system that led to his success with Alaska, highlighted by a grand slam in 1996.

PHOTO: fiba.basketball

Most casual fans, though, sees the triangle offense as outdated.

"I guess I’m still a dinosaur at heart playing the triangle," Cone said about claims that the is system no longer in tune with the times.

"I’ve been playing the triangle for 30-plus years. I was mentored by Tex Winter of the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers. He was the assistant to Phil Jackson. I just enjoy living on his legacy, keeping it going."

Cone acknowledged the criticism of the triangle offense so much so that he stayed away from it for a couple of years.

"It’s an offense that I believe in. It gets a lot of critics. There’s a lot of critics especially going to the New York Knicks," said Cone, referring to the time when Jackson insisted on its use when he became an executive of the Knicks.

"People started really doubting it. And even I left it for a couple of years because I was like, everybody must be right if everybody is saying it’s a bad offense, they must be right. But I did as much as I could for two years without it and I went back to it," said Cone.

'Triangle is my best friend'

"It’s been my best friend ever since," Cone said.

Cone is proud that the triangle offense was accepted wholeheartedly by the team ever since he came in as Gilas coach.

"When I came to camp with the players, I told them this is what I know best. This is what I can teach best. And so we are going to live and die with this," the PBA's most successful coach with 25 league championships said.

"People are familiar with it now than they were 10, 15, 20 years ago. I’m enjoying running and I’ve always enjoyed running it. I’m just proud that we were able to do something with it," said Cone.

2024-07-04T10:10:47Z dg43tfdfdgfd