The Journal Times Online - Racine, Wisconsin

BY GERY WOELFEL

ST. FRANCIS – When Yi Jianlian makes his highly-anticipated appearance at the Milwaukee Bucks’ training facility Thursday morning, he’ll be introduced to new coaches, new teammates … and a new offense

While Yi was in China playing for the Chinese National team the last couple of days, the Bucks conducted three rather intense practices, spending a portion of them on implementing the triangle offense.

The triangle offense, which is based on precise cutting and proper spacing, gained notoriety in the ’90s when the Chicago Bulls used it to win six NBA championships. When Phil Jackson and his long-time assistant coach and friend Tex Winter, who introduced the triangle offense to the NBA, moved on to the Los Angeles Lakers, they continued to deploy the triangle. And they continued to enjoy considerable success, winning three NBA titles.

Yet, despite the extraordinary success of the Bulls and Lakers under Jackson and Winter, not many NBA observers – including most coaches – were sold on the benefits of the triangle.

The skeptics quickly noted that Jackson and Winter were simply blessed with superior talent: in Chicago, it was Michael Jordan and, in Los Angeles, it was Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.

Last season, the Lakers were the only NBA team to extensively run the triangle offense. This year, the Lakers will have that distinction again, although it will also be a part of the Bucks’ offensive strategy.

“The triangle offense is not going to be a steady diet of our offense, but it will be a part of it,’’ Krystkowiak said. “But I believe there’s a time and place for the triangle offense.

“I think there are a lot of positives to it, a lot of benefits to it.’’

Krystkowiak came to that realization 13 years ago. That’s when he played for the Bulls during the 1994-’95 season and admired how effective the triangle offense was under the direction of Jackson and Winter.

When Krystkowiak’s NBA playing career ended in 1997 and he gravitated toward coaching, he taught the triangle offense to his Idaho Stampede team in the CBA and then to his teams at the University of Montana, which won back-to-back Big Sky Conference Tournaments and earned berths in the NCAA Division I Tournament.

After becoming the Bucks head coach late last season, replacing Terry Stotts, Krystkowiak decided he would incorporate the triangle into the Bucks’ offense as well, starting with the Las Vegas Summer League in July.

It was in Las Vegas where Krystkowiaki ran into Winter. Krystkowiak picked Winter’s brains some more on the triangle, and saw how the 85-year-old Winter was almost in heaven when both the Lakers and Bucks played each other.

“Tex said it was fun to watch two teams using the triangle,’’ Krystkowiak said of Winter, who actually used the triangle offense when he was the head coach at Marquette University during the 1952-’53 and 1953-’54 seasons. “He really got a kick out of it.’’

So far, Krystkowiak’s players seem to be getting a kick out of it, too. Some of them insist that, contrary to perception, the triangle offense is relatively easy to learn. Bucks forward Desmond Mason feels that way, although he has a slight advantage over most of his teammates.

Being one of the team’s veterans, Mason has played numerous games against the Lakers and Bulls over the years.

“Actually, it’s not that hard to learn,’’ said Mason, whom the Bucks signed in free agency over the summer after he played the last two seasons with New Orleans/Oklahoma City. “I guarded against the triangle offense, so I know how it works. And we had some similarities of it with (Hornets) coach (Byron) Scott.

“It’s a good offense. It’s slashing, cutting and constant moving. It keeps the other guys on their heels. And everybody gets to touch the ball. One or two players don’t dictate the offense.’’

Bogut is equally enthusiastic about the implementation of the triangle. In fact, Bogut was one of the reasons Krystkowiak is installing the offense. The 7-foot Bogut is arguably the best passing big man in the game, and Krytkowiak wants to take advantage of his skill.

Krystkowiak believes Bogut’s passing could bolster the Bucks’ contingent of quality perimeter shooters like Michael Redd, Mo Williams, Charlie Bell, Charlie Villanueva and Bobby Simmons.

“I don’t think it’s hard to learn; I think it’s very easy,’’ Bogut said. “A lot of it is just based on reads.

“It makes every man accountable and it keeps them alert. It isn’t predicated on just one guy or two guys. It’s team basketball. I like it.’’

Obviously, so does Krystkowiak.

“It’s really conducive to moving the basketball and letting guys make plays,’’ Krystkowiak said. “I like the idea of five guys moving and playing off each other.

“I think it’s amazing a lot of people think the triangle offense is something magical or mystical. It’s not. It’s not rocket science. You can be pretty effective running it.’’

Messrs. Jackson and Winter would undoubtedly agree.

BONUS SHOTS: Tolga Ongoren, the head coach of the Tofas team in Turkey, has been observing practices and hanging around with Bucks personnel. Ongoren, by the way, was once a teammate and then coach of former University of Wisconsin center Rashard Griffith. … Krystkowiak’s wife, Jan, showed up at practice. Jan is pregnant and carrying twin girls. The Krystkowiaks have three sons: Cameron, Luc and Ben. … Forward Bobby Simmons, who missed all of last season and then had surgeries on his foot and ankle after the season, has impressed. “He’s looking good,’’ Krystkowiak said. “I told him it was good to have him back. He’s coachable and he’s very skilled.’’ … The Bucks will hold their annual Media Day Friday and then have a practice on Saturday at the Bradley Center. The practice, which starts at noon, is open to the public and free. Doors to the B.C. open at 11:30 a.m.