Triangle Is Making a Comeback

The more things change, the more they look like the triangle.

The Lakers continue to gravitate to the offense that defined their dynasty before it fell apart, the latest confirmation presented in consecutive games where the triangle made up about 70% of their offense.

There was more ball movement and flow than before during Laker victories over the Boston Celtics and Portland Trail Blazers.

The “overload,” as the Lakers call it these days, is much simpler than the way Tex Winter would have drawn it up, but there have been immediate short-term benefits beyond structure and flow. The Lakers finally won three consecutive games, taking longer than any other Laker team to do so in the franchise’s 57-year history, and they now seek four victories in a row for the first time this season.

“We’re doing this on the fly and we’re going to have some rusty moments, but for the most part I think our guys have done a pretty good job,” Coach Frank Hamblen said.

The Lakers began to reinstall the triangle last month, but Kobe Bryant was hurt four games into the transition away from the fastbreaking, three-point-shooting scheme the Lakers had been employing.

Bryant, who once called the triangle boring but effective in winning championships, said he preferred its return to the alternatives of isolation plays or three-point gunning.

“For myself, it’s all about winning,” Bryant said. “I think [teammates] feel more comfortable when everybody’s touching the ball.”

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General Manager Mitch Kupchak left Thursday for an 11-day scouting trip in Europe, with one final bit of local business to conduct.

Hamblen had to officially sign the contract that made him the Lakers’ coach the rest of the season, more of a ceremonial act than anything. Hamblen, who took over after Rudy Tomjanovich resigned Feb. 2, later marked the moment by mentioning the Lakers’ ability to finally win three games in a row.

“I’m a little upset my agent didn’t have that as an incentive clause in my contract,” he said, pausing a beat. “Actually, I don’t have an agent.”

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Forward Caron Butler, who sat out two games because of a stomach virus, practiced Thursday. Butler said he lost about eight pounds and at one point had to receive intravenous fluids during a visit to a team doctor.

TONIGHT

vs. Detroit, 7:30, FSN West

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- XTRA (570); KWKW (1330).

Records -- Lakers 28-24, Pistons 33-19.

Record vs. Pistons -- 0-1.

Update -- The Lakers were crushed by the Pistons, 103-81, two weeks ago on the road. Bryant did not play as the Lakers fell behind, 18-2, in the first four minutes. Richard Hamilton is the leading scorer for the Pistons at 19.9 points a game.