The month on the calendar says March, which means that playoff basketball is right around the corner. Basketball, more than just about any other sport, is extremely matchup dependent. A more talented team could lose to a relatively worse team playing a different style. In the playoffs, teams are forced to play different styles to win four out of seven games, and the chess matches between the best coaches and the best players is a riveting spectacle to watch. Take the last two finals for example, which saw the Miami Heat's big three face the San Antonio Spurs' ultimate team basketball approach. While teams have to adapt, some styles have proven to be more effective down the stretch in the NBA. Let’s take a look at some of those styles, and which ones work the best.
Pound the Paint
Though this style is less utilized in today’s NBA, it still has its place on certain NBA teams. The Memphis Grizzlies duo of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol are the most effective at this style, as they choose to run their offense through the paint. Think back to the Los Angeles Lakers' three-peat from 2000-2002 and how dominant Shaq was. Yes, that team had Kobe Bryant too, but there’s a reason Shaq was the three-time Finals MVP. Hakeem Olajuwon was dominant in 1994-1995 as well, and a truly unstoppable paint presence is a force to be reckoned with. However, today’s teams are built around smaller forwards and centers, and that creates mismatches. While the Grizzlies have shown they can still win, in the playoffs matchups reign supreme, and this style probably isn’t as effective now as it was in the past.
Run ‘N Gun
Popularized in the 1990s by Loyola Marymount and head coach Paul Westhead, this style emphasizes pushing the ball and taking the first open shot available. The 1990 LMU team set the NCAA DI record for highest ppg average in a season, but this style has had very limited success in the NBA. The most high profile system that practiced this approach was the “7 seconds or less” Phoenix Suns teams of the mid-2000s. Those teams had Steve Nash, Leandro Barbosa, Amar'e Stoudemire, and several others who thrived. However, opponents slow things down in the playoffs, and the Suns never made it to the NBA finals. While it is very entertaining, it isn’t practical in crunch time.
Hero Ball
Hero ball is a nice way of saying that when the game comes down to crunch time, your best player is going one-on-five every time. Kobe is the ultimate hero ball player, and it does not seem to work as often as people believe. This isolation ball is predictable and gets other players out of an offensive rhythm. However, there are several high-profile examples of it being successful. Michael Jordan and the Bulls won six championships, with Jordan taking almost every big shot down the stretch. Of course, he is the best player ever, so that is not surprising. Kobe won two titles without Shaq, and he was taking a majority of the shots as well. Even a couple years ago, the Heat won two titles with the big three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh dominating the field goal attempts. That team operated a little differently, but hero ball was often still in effect.
Spread the Wealth
The opposite of hero ball is what I’m calling the “spread the wealth” offense. This is when the team makes the extra pass, shares the ball, and looks for the absolute best shot possible. The Spurs mastered this offense last season, and put on one of the best NBA finals displays ever. Basketball purists crave this type of basketball, and it has been extremely effective throughout the years. The Lakers and Celtics of the 1980s with Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were all about team basketball, and always spread the ball to perfection. There is hardly any isolation here, and the constant ball movement keeps everyone involved and wreaks havoc on defensive rotations and alignments. This type of basketball will always have its place, but is only extremely effective with great, willing passers at every spot. It truly embodies the concept of team.
Fire Away
Finally, this offensive style has been rampant throughout the NBA this season. “Fire Away” is shooting the long ball as often as possible, and organizing the offense around the three-pointer. There are more threes being taken this year than ever, with the Rockets taking almost 34 per game, and 10 teams averaging over 25 per contest. Jump shots are often fickle when it comes to the playoffs, as any slump can cause a team crashing out in the first round. The last team to take a lot of jumpers and win was the Dallas Mavericks, who were scorching hot in the finals. The Orlando Magic led by Dwight Howard lost in the finals, as they anchored their offense around a four-out, one-in style. With a healthy Howard now, the Rockets could make this style work again, but in the playoffs teams are rewarded for attacking the paint, getting open looks and getting to the free throw line. This year is probably the best chance at this style working, but we’ll see what happens as we approach the final month of the season.