Pro Basketball Crosstalk: Has the small-ball fad passed?

[Blackjack]

Pro Basketball Crosstalk: Has the small-ball fad passed?
By John Krolik



Sometimes, the NBA's most important issues can only be fully understood when two college students talk at each other about them. It is in this spirit that we here at NBC bring you Pro Basketball Crosstalk, featuring Rob Mahoney and John Krolik.

Resolved: Contrary to earlier reports, the crackdown on hand-check rules that took place in the 2004 offseason has not led to small-ball teams finding success at the highest levels of play.

John Krolik: It wasn't long ago that small-ball teams looked like the wave of the future. The crackdown on hand-checking and the concurrent rise of the D'Antoni Suns made it seem like small-ball was taking the league by storm; stodgy old offenses built around feeding the post or setting up mid-range jumpers were being replaced by small guards and wing players flying into the paint to get a layup or draw a foul, kick the ball out on the break to an open three-point shooter, or find a hyper-athletic big for a resounding dunk. Nobody could stop ultra-fast guards with finishing ability like Tony Parker, Devin Harris, or Monta Ellis from getting into the lane and wreaking havoc. The freaking Warriors beat the Mavericks in the playoffs. (Sorry, Rob.) The winds of change were blowing.

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Long read, but a pretty good one (and there's, of course, the Spurs mention with regards to the Suns' small-ball)

[jason1301]

thanks for posting, excellent article.