Can we now finally admit 'small ball' doesn't win

[JtotheIzzo]

Memphis, San Antonio, Indiana (and of course the LeBron exception) proves that all the nonsense all the talking heads spewed all season about small ball, all the shit about how Carmelo or Harrison Barnes at the four makes those teams 'athletic and tough to keep up with' is just a bunch of drivel from the mouths of reactionaries.

Need to be big to win (or have LeBron), this is the reality of the situation, and reason why teams like the Lakers need to not blow everything up.

Big wins in the playoffs (or having LeBron), this is fact, small ball is cute, and will help you beat up on shittier teams or teams playing back to back during the regular season, but you will not go deep in the playoffs riding a jumpshooty-gimmick.

[DMAVS41]

I think any offensive style can win.

The point is that you have to be able to defend well in the half court to win in the playoffs. A lot of times that means having at least 1 big that can protect the paint and play great help side defense and still rebound.

But the Heat definitely play "small ball"...they just also play great defense mainly due to Wade and Lebron....and effort from role players.

[FiveRings]

Memphis, San Antonio, Indiana (and of course the 3 starting All Stars exception) proves that all the nonsense all the talking heads spewed all season about small ball, all the shit about how Carmelo or Harrison Barnes at the four makes those teams 'athletic and tough to keep up with' is just a bunch of drivel from the mouths of reactionaries.

Need to be big to win (or have 3 starting All Stars), this is the reality of the situation, and reason why teams like the Lakers need to not blow everything up.

Big wins in the playoffs (or having 3 starting All Stars), this is fact, small ball is cute, and will help you beat up on shittier teams or teams playing back to back during the regular season, but you will not go deep in the playoffs riding a jumpshooty-gimmick.

Fixed that for you

[andremiller07]

It proves you need skilled big men with the ability to do more than just get spoon feed, the 4 teams left have all very good/elite bigs from Duncan, Gasol, Bosh, Z-Bo, West & Hibbert.

Most the teams they had to play small ball was ethier a result of injury (David Lee)/ foul trouble or the fact these teams big's could really do nothing for themselves and in the playoffs that's never going to get it done,I'm sure if those team actually had big men who were talented they would have never played small ball in the first place. It just proves how impactful Big's still are/can be if they got the skills.

[wang4three]

It's always been easier to win when you had bigs that rebounded well.

[SewerUrchin]

The Heat have evolved beyond playing small ball this season. In a way, it was forced on them last year due to Bosh's injury in the playoffs and their lack of any quality bigs. The insertion of Birdman into their rotation has changed things a bit for them, since they have a high energy big who can score inside.

The last couple of years, Miami's bench was a major liability. Whenever they had to rest 2 out of the big 3, they often dropped whatever lead they were sitting on. It was their starting and ending 5 (swap Haslem for Battier) that outplayed the opposition enough to compensate.

This year, in many games the starters hold serve, and it's been the bench that boosts the energy and helps them pull away. Combine that with the fact that they are back to traditional point guard initiated offense for a majority of their possessions, and it's not really small ball.

Also, don't be surprised if we see a Birdman/Bosh/Lebron front court for a few cycles in the next couple of rounds. That's not so small after all.

[1987_Lakers]

The playoffs over the years has proven that if you are a good defensive team, have a solid inside game on offense, rebound, & don't overly depend on 3 point shots you will be successful in the postseason.

- The 3 point shot worked for the Warriors for a while, but they ran out of luck.
- Nuggets had no post threat
- OKC over the years have had no post threat
- D. Howard's Magic depended on the 3 point shot too much, they got bounced every year.
- Cp3's Clippers are another good example.

Miami can't rebound the basketball, but they play good defense, have players who can score inside, & of course they have LeBron.

[Lebron23]

2007 Phoenix Suns is probably the best small ball team of all time. They are one of the best teams who never won an NBA Championship.

[bdreason]

Warriors are not a small ball team; we rebound and defend. We start Bogut - Lee - Barnes when healthy, all guys that can score and pass from the high/low post. We do take way too many jumpers though.


I think Miami does play small ball, but they have a luxury that others team don't... they have a top 5 player in the NBA at 3 positions, including the best player in the NBA. The Heat have developed a perimeter oriented defense that works for them, but wouldn't work for most teams.


I actually think the 3 toughest opponents for Miami have all made it to the semi's, and that's because the Spurs, Pacers, and Grizz DON'T try and play small ball. Each game against these teams will come down to who can impose their identity on the game.

[Celtic_Pride]

It's about having the right mix of players.

One thing for certain is you just can't put a bunch of scorers together and expect to win a title. Knicks, Nets and Clippers proved it.

[Rose'sACL]

You have to shoot really well to win while playing "small ball". Miami shoots nearly 50% from the field. they have to do that because they will not get many second chance points because of their rebounding problems.

[rmt]

Warriors are not a small ball team; we rebound and defend. We start Bogut - Lee - Barnes when healthy, all guys that can score and pass from the high/low post. We do take way too many jumpers though.


I think Miami does play small ball, but they have a luxury that others team don't... they have a top 5 player in the NBA at 3 positions, including the best player in the NBA. The Heat have developed a perimeter oriented defense that works for them, but wouldn't work for most teams.


I actually think the 3 toughest opponents for Miami have all made it to the semi's, and that's because the Spurs, Pacers, and Grizz DON'T try and play small ball. Each game against these teams will come down to who can impose their identity on the game.

IND and MEM always play their bigs. Pop (stupidly) tries to match up/down to his opponent to the detriment of the team. If SAS is lucky enough to get to the Finals, he won't play Duncan and Splitter together much. He'll go small with Leonard/Diaw at PF to try to match up with Lebron at PF.

[TonyMontana]

Bigs win championships.

Even with the Heat their two most important players that they'd suffer the most if they lost are LeBron and Bosh. I'd also go ahead and say that Birdman has been the third most important player for their team since his arrival. Guy is great and makes a huge impact on the game even in his limited minutes. I think the team would make a greater dropoff by losing him than any of their perimeter guys not named LeBron.

[chazzy]

Miami won the title last year with Battier defending PFs

[SewerUrchin]

Miami won the title last year with Battier defending PFs

None of the remaining teams in the West are like OKC from last year's finals. Different animal, and it's going to take a different strategy to win.

The thing that makes "position less" basketball interesting is the flexibility for matchups against different opponents.