Don Nelson

Totally agree and I’ve thought a lot about this. The shift to Marion as a primary PF and Amare as a primary C was pretty revelatory, and essentially became what happened on a larger scale. It largely killed the post up. The old idea of what a PF was (facing the basket, PnR finishing) became what the modern c most commonly is. And now PFs are often just whoever the bigger of your two SFs are.

His offense was different in Houston. It wasn’t 7 seconds or less. They played a non shooting big constantly.

they were kinda doing that shit in europe before though

I still feel people refuse to give him his proper flowers. He modernized NBA spacing forever

I’ve always said, D’Antoni imo is the best coach of all time if the point of the game is maximizing your players. Nobody can do more with less imo than DAntoni. And I grew up as a Kobe fan and now a Kings fan (hometown team, officially my team since Kobe tore his achilles). I do think Rick Adelman is the second most capable coach as well, just dealt with less fortunate rosters than guys like Phil Jackson and Popovich. Growing up as a Lakers fan initially I always felt like the only thing that saved both Phil and Pop when coaching against DAntoni and Adelman was never strategy and just simply having all time top 10 guys running slightly worse gameplans.

I think more that every player’s movement on the court was for an intended purpose and not something simple as “clearing the paint”.

We also saw it further evolved in Golden State with former Phoenix GM and President of Basketball Operations, Steve Kerr.

Clearing out of the paint to not only give an open lane but create an action on the perimeter, giving the ball handler an option to drive for a layup or utilize that action depending on how the defense plays it.

He did but like chess, league of legends, poker, over time the math comes in and people find out what’s most “efficient “ or meta. 3pt shot being really fucking OP changed the way basketball is played at the highest level.

GOAT OFFENSE COACH IDC WHAT ANYONE SAYS

When the 3 pointer was introduced, I dont think they intended it to serve as a way to space the floor. The idea of 5 guys standing at the perimeter probably didnt cross their minds. 

The 3 point revolution wikipedia article actually does have a section for the 7 seconds or less suns, before the curry warriors section.

If you take the same number of shots with the same expected point value as the other team, you have an even chance to win the game.

So, there’s two ways to tip the scales in your favor. Take more shots and take higher expected value shots.

Y’all are forgetting Doug Moe, who D’Antoni played for. Moe’s offenses averaged 112 possessions or some crazy number like that. I think D’Antoni’s offenses averaged less than 100 per game to put that in perspective.

And that doesn’t even count Paul Westhead…

That’s why it was also called Pace and Space.

casuals : steph changed the game

ballers : dantoni changed the game

Otis Thorpe wept.

You’re telling me he’d play Embiid at the 5 over Robert Covington?

3 guard lineup/Warriors way of play weirdly is actually from the Knicks, although always incorrectly attributed to the teams after them

Damn, Ostertag is still catching strays almost 30 years later. Legendary butterfingers.

I think this is fair but he also over emphasized  offensive production which is why many of his teams lagged on the defensive side. 

The style of play also didn’t work as well in the playoffs when the game slows down. 

Look how stacked that 2004 Mavs team was offensively coached by Don Nelson the original pace and space coach. They got their asses kicked by a traditional 2 big lineup of Webber and Divac in the playoffs

UMMMMM Donnie Nelson

I don’t think it was all that intentional. I think he was building teams with what he had and fitting them into his fast paced offense system.

He started Tyson Chandler when he coached the Knicks for example. Maybe he was trying to push out the DOPY but I doubt it.

Everyone knows this kid

Actually, I changed the game. About time you kids put respect on my name

You think you’re breaking fucking news?? God this sub is repugnant.

0 championships

0 Finals appearances

Also “small” High School teams have been doing this forever.