In reality, as basketball continued to evolve, Future Basketball was no longer just something people imagined. It was beginning to take shape.
The Trail Blazers, for example, were playing a prototype of Future Basketball.
They weren't, as people might imagine, a team made up entirely of players over two meters tall.
Instead, they played small-ball lineups for longer stretches.
But their small-ball lineup wasn't as clearly specialized as the Warriors' small-ball lineup had been.
The Warriors' lineup had playmakers, scorers, and players whose job was specifically to shoot threes.
But with the Trail Blazers' small-ball lineup, the players' positions were much less defined.
Every player was a top-tier athlete, and every one of them could drive with the ball and pass.
Every one of them could shoot threes, too.
That kind of lineup meant all five players had to go all out on defense, tearing at the opposition like a pack of wolves.
As soon as they got a stop, they raced up the court as fast as they could.
The ideal outcome was to finish with a layup on the fast break.
Even if their first fast break didn't lead to an immediate shot, the first player with the ball would drive to the basket, draw in the defense, and pass directly to a teammate on the perimeter.
Once the player on the perimeter got the ball, he'd shoot a three if he had the chance. If not, he'd fake, drive again, and attack the paint.
If he could shoot after driving into the paint, he would. If he couldn't, he'd kick the ball back out.
If the player on the perimeter could take a three, he would. If not, he'd drive again.
If they could fast-break, they would. If the fast break didn't work, they'd drive and pass,