More photos » Lisa Blumenfeld - Getty Images

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The Triangle offense has enjoyed a nice little run of success over the past 20 years.  Since the 1990-91 season, there have been more champions who believe in the principles of the ol' "Triple Post" offense than use some other antiquated stategy for putting a ball in an iron hoop.  Really, when you think about it, it's a minor miracle that so few teams have tried to give the Triangle a shot.  If this were a copy cat league like the NFL, a full 60-70% of the league's teams would be trying to duplicate success by running the Triangle, and screen-roll dominant guards like Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo might be reduced to coming off the bench for a few minutes at a time, as Kevin Harlan proclaims "It looks like the Hornets are turning to their Wildcat offense, looking for a spark"

But the NBA is not a copy cat league.  In the NBA, each coach has their system, and they tend to stick to that system as stubbornly as my local brewery sticks to its silly notion that pants should be required for service.  Not so coincidentally, the Triangle's reign of success has resided within the same space/time continuum as one Phil Jackson, who's resume contains all eleven of those Triangle-running championship squads.  Of course, it's not just pride that keeps other coaches from attempting to adopt what has proven to be a winning strategy.  There are a number of reasons why, depsite its high level of success, the Triangle doesn't look like an appealing option for a coach on the outside looking in.

For one, the offense is a bit tricky to grasp.  Just ask Ron Artest, who's positioning and comfort within the Triangle last year was his one gloriously hideous blemish on an otherwise stellar season.  If understanding it is that hard, one can reasonably assume that teaching it is even more difficult.  In addition, not all coaches are lucky enough to have had Tex Winter on speed dial to help out with the Triangle's finer points.  Health has reduced Tex's role in Phil Jackson's life lately, but for most of the past 20 years, PJ has had one hell of a Triangle tutor on call if things start to break down.

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More photos » David Zalubowski - AP

I know, he's not a Laker, but the Celtics re-signed him and I think it was a good pick up. So long as he stays away from Ray Allen's mom.

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• LAKERS: Top 10 Moments of 2009-2010: #8 - Kobe's First Buzzer Beater
• Rookie Caracter Switches Jersey Numbers at Lakers.com BasketBlog
• How Theo Ratliff will fit in with the Lakers | Lakers Blog | Los Angeles Times
• Forum Blue And Gold " Lakers We Miss: A.C. Green
• Catch Me If You Can: Chasing Kobe Bryant | Lakers Nation
• These players could be looking at big decline this season | NBA.com
  Lamar Odom (Lakers)

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These games are getting earlier and earlier. For instance, today's USA-Tunisia game is actually taking place two days ago. If that seems impossible, it's only because you're not a worldly, educated blogger like me, Dexter Fishmore.

Did you know that YouTube is banned in Tunisia? It's true! Sucks for them, because it means they don't get to read the awesome comments for this video.

More photos » Ronald Martinez - Getty Images

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Starring: Andrew Bynum and whether or not he can live up to his talent next year

• 2010-11 roster breakdown: Andrew Bynum - Los Angeles Lakers Blog - ESPN Los Angeles
• Book it: Byron Scott will still coach Lakers someday | scott, lakers, bryant - Sports - The Orange County Register
• Player Profile 2010-11: Devin Ebanks | Lakers of Fire
• Basketbawful - Worst NBA Champions: Isaiah Rider
• How does defense win championships? - TrueHoop Blog - ESPN
• Worldwide Wes: Don’t Believe the Hype about Kentucky Influence | Dime Magazine (dimemag.com)

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More photos » Mark J. Terrill - AP

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That's Hamed Haddadi up there, blocking Andrew Bynum's shot. H2 plays for the Iranian national team, which is scheduled to get crushed by Team USA this morning. The game's on ESPN at 9:00 California time.

No one's too jazzed about how the Americans looked against Brazil the other day, but whatevs. Team USA is 3-0 in round play so far and need only take care of Iran and Tunisia to get to the knockout round undefeated. Those two are a combined 1-5, so I'm liking the odds of that happening.

In slightly more exciting news, only 33 days until the Lakers' first preseason game!

More photos » Dan Steinberg - AP

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Starring the "President," Derek Fisher.  (Visit Derek's website: DerekFisher2.com)

• NBA Star [Derek Fisher] Courted by New Orleans Saints | TMZ.com
  
• 2011 roster breakdown: Derek Fisher - Land 'O Lakers
• Kobe is '99.999 percent sure' he will 'definitely' be a Laker for life - Ball Don't Lie 
• Forum Blue And Gold " Master Movements – Part II
• Kobe Bryant interview yields nothing Heat fans should be upset with - Peninsula is Mightier

• Shaq Vs. the big guys - Lakers blog : The Orange County Register
  "I’m not going to worry about a guy that has five and I helped him get 3. I only compete with big guys," O’Neal said.

• LAKERS: Top 10 Moments of 2009-2010: #9 - Supporting Cast Shines
• Hey, LeBron, Kobe, Wade, your country needs you - NBA - CBSSports.com Basketball

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Hi, everyone! How was your weekend? What'd you get up to?... Yeah? That sounds fun. What else?... Oh, wow - that's great. Hey, shut up for a second.

Team USA this morning plays part three of a back-to-back-to-back. After battering Slovenia and Croatia, they tangle with Brazil at 9:30 a.m. California time. The game's on ESPN2.

I was a lot more enthusiastic about the FIBA worlds before I came to realize that Turkey's not in the same time zone as Los Angeles. Not even close, it turns out. Isn't that why we fought World War I? Because the Ottoman Empire refused to join the Pacific time zone? Clearly, whoever forgot to include that provision in the Treaty of Sèvres is history's greatest monster.

More photos » Stephen Dunn - Getty Images

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Starring: Summer doldrums as Team USA waits for a challenge, as narrated by Morgan Freeman.

• Sheridan: Kevin Durant leads Team USA to win over Slovenia in FIBA World Championship. - ESPN
• United States vs. Slovenia - Recap - August 29, 2010 - ESPN
• Weekend sightings in Lakerdom | Lakers Blog | Los Angeles Times
• Pundits predict another title for Lakers, but team falls short in player rankings | Lakers Blog | Los Angeles Times
• Yi Jianlian looking good so far for China. Very good. - ProBasketballTalk - Basketball - NBC Sports
• Team USA trying to adjust to FIBA referees, one step at a time - ProBasketballTalk - Basketball - NBC Sports

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More photos » Andrew D. Bernstein - NBAE/Getty Images

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Starring: Team USA, currently battling Slovenia after steamrolling Croatia yesterday.

• Wizards Insider - John Wall connects with Brandon Jennings for sick alley-oop dunk
• Croatia vs. United States - Recap - August 28, 2010 - ESPN
• Artest has a few (OK many) words for Doc Rivers - Lakers blog : The Orange County Register
• Carmelo Anthony doesn't have to be careful what he wishes for - ProBasketballTalk - Basketball - NBC Sports
• Ranking the centers, 11 through 1 - Ball Don't Lie - NBA  - Yahoo! Sports
• Team USA's three biggest challengers at FIBA Worlds - NBA - Yahoo! Sports
• USA 106, Croatia 78: World Championship Instant Analysis | Dime Magazine (dimemag.com) : Daily NBA News, NBA Trades, NBA Rumors, Basketball Videos, Sneakers

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More photos » Ethan Miller - Getty Images

about 1 month ago: LAS VEGAS - JULY 24: Eric Gordon #4 of the 2010 USA Basketball Men's National Team looks to pass in front of of Rajon Rondo #7 of the 2010 USA Basketball Men's National Team during a USA Basketball showcase at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 24 2010 in Las Vegas Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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Slovenia. Slovenia? Slovenia!

This game is way too GD early.