As a coach, I am a massive proponent of “spacing before the set.” Off-ball movement, gap-filling, and sprinting to the corners to provide immediate, visible outlet targets for the ball-handler are foundational principles I learned by working with one of Europe’s greatest minds, Željko Obradović.
I studied relentlessly to see how Doc Rivers implemented these exact, European-style spacing concepts in Philadelphia. By enforcing strict floor-spacing rules and precise off-ball movement, Rivers ensured that even with an inconsistent perimeter shooter running the point, the floor remained wide open for his spot-up shooters to get clean, easy jumpers.