You might not be able to run the entire play, but I hope it stimulates your thoughts as to ways that you can create some baskets each game by similar spacing and misdirection.
You can also find out more about FastModel Play Diagramming software by clicking this link: FastDraw
The play was contributed by Kostas Kalogeropoulos who currently coaches at Olympiacos BC in Greece. You can also see him on Twitter: @KostasKal4
His comments are:
Quick horns set play, providing space for 5 and 3 to play on one side of the floor. 5 can either pass and set a side pick for 3 or dribble hand-off & cut to the rim. There’s always a back cut available for 3, if his defender denies the pass from 5.
5 sets a screen for 4, who receives the ball on the perimeter
1 gets the ball back through hand-off & 5 sets a flare screen for 4
Pick & Pop
Dribble hand-off & 3 drives while 5 cuts to the basket
Army Men’s Assistant Coach Zak Boisvert has assembled some clips of the single side bump offensive action.
Zak has an outstanding site with posts on various coaching topics at www.pickandpop.net
His YouTube channel has several videos with various types of man-to-man plays, zone sets, and inbounds plays as well as clips on various defensive coverages.
You can follow him on Twitter at this link: @ZakBoisvert
Click play to see the video
This is a YouTube video, so you will need to be on a server that allows YouTube access.
The Basketball HoopScoop has a digital Creighton Bluejays Basketball Playbook.
The book was assembled by Chris Filios
It features 150 pages of information and diagrams about the Creighton philosophy, half-court man to man and zone sets, baseline inbounds plays against both man to man and zone defense, and sideline inbounds plays.
Horns is a basketball offensive set designed to better utilize fundamental Middle Screen action where the Guard has the ball and the Inside players are making a Screen for the ball-handler. In horns alignment, both of the “Bigs” are in the middle arc area allowing the guard to chose where he wants to go. Having both of the high players high is neutralizing the baseline help in terms that there no Power Forwards and Centers lurking near the basket, and in this setup, if they try to help, wide open shooters will emerge on the top of the key.
Horns is popular because there is no way that the defense can deny a high screen action because there is a screen on the both sides. This way, ball handler can’t be influenced by the defense in any way.
Horns Strengths:
good spacing
pressure is off the ball handler
emphasize corner 3 shots
emphasize middle screen action
no baseline – weak side help on defense
Horns Weaknesses:
not a balanced floor geometry
not emphasizing low post game
not good if the “bigs” are not shooters
not good if the wings are not good corner shooters
Horns Loop STS
The action starts with the traditional horns setup, with the 4 and 5 slightly above the elbows and the 2 and 3 in the corners.
1. 1 is going to pass to 4 (or 5, depends on the covering and the positioning of the defense) and he is going to run towards the strong side corner
2. 3 is going to slide towards 1
3. 1 loops around 3 (no screens here, just crossing paths on the first run)
4. 3 is cross screening for 5
Think about: After one or two runs, defense may get loose a bit so you can tell your players to try:
Instead of going to the corner, 1 can cut towards the rim and receive a lob pass or go for a hand-off and drive towards basket
1 can screen for 3 so now 3 can cut inside the paint
If the screen from 3 is good and 5 is all alone, 4 can pass the ball to 5 (high-low pass
5. 4 swings the ball toward 1 and goes for a screen to 3 that is inside the paint area
Think about:
If the 3 is a good shooter, maybe defense is going to try and flank him, 4 is sometimes going to be alone in the middle of the paint or if there is a read from the D3 (player guarding 3), then he can curve around the 4 and cut towards the basket or have an open close range shot
6. At the end, there are two options, either to hit a 3 on the arc or 5 on the low post.
Points of Emphasis:
Good shooting big and a guard (4 and 3 in this case) should be on the same side and 1 should play for them
Read the defense because there are many opportunities for a cut.
3 should be really good shooter for the play to have an effect.
Do not rush the pass on the last play ( No 6).
If, on the last play (No 6), 1 pass the ball to 5 on the low post, 3 should move to the 45 degree spot on the weak side and 4 should move to his spot
Horns Handoff
Horns Hand-off is another version of the “traditional” horns offense. Again we have 1 -2 -2 geometry on the court.
1. The action starts with the “pick and pop” action with 1 handling the ball and 5 making a screen for him but he stays at the arc after the first movement.
2. After the pass, 1 should space on the wing below 45 degree spot
Think about:
If the D5 (player guarding 5) slow, attacking him on the drive and finishing or kicking the ball to 2
3. 3 is setting up a cut and 4 is sliding down to set a screen for 3
4. 5 dribbles towards the down-screen towards the 4 and setting a hand-off action for 3
5. 2 is crossing the paint to set a screen for the screener 4 (STS)
Think about:
3 can cut to the basket and if it does not work he can resume the play and go to receive 2 consecutive screens
3 can loop around the first screen set by 4
6. 3 is with the ball at the Point and 2 is making a screen for 4 and giving a 3 chance for an inside pass
Think about:
I like these screen+hand-off situations because they always end with the miss-match. In this situation I strongly suggest that 3 tries to beat D5 on the penetration and if D1 comes to help there is a good 3pt shot opportunity.
If D5 is a good defender and your 3 losses a dribbling, and there is a good missmatch down at the low post with D2 guarding 4, make the ball swing to 1 and then he will be the one that is going to give the pass to 4
7. 5 pins the screen for 2 to bring him on the arc
Think about:
2 making a loop and cutting to the rim
5 staying with the D2 on the low post
3 making a pass to 2 who is going to pass it to 5
Points of Emphasis:
Play this action only if your 5 has good dribbling skills.
3 has to be a play-maker in terms that he needs to have good vision and good passing because in times he hits the Point many options are going to open for the team
Horns Dive
Diving horns are the most simple way of playing this offensive setup in times we want to take one of the bigs out of the paint and to leave our dominant big to play one on one.
1. 4 is going to set a screen for one and he is going to pop afterwards. 1 should dribble to the 45 degree spot and pass the ball to 4.
2. 5 is diving inside the paint area and he needs to position himself as near the basket as he can. 5 needs to keep his man on the one shoulder, and to ask the ball with the free hand.
Think about:
if you are coaching seniors, 5 can dive on the other side of the paint (not like on the diagram) and 1 can throw a lob pass
if the D5 is trailing, 1 can throw a fast pass and 5 can go for a flashy layup
3. 1 turns it back to 4 that is now on the Point position after the pop. If D5 is somehow in front of the 5, 5 needs to pin in his defender to be able to receive the lob pass.
Think about:
teach your 5 to be aware of the help defense, and if he is likely to be doubled he needs to get a ball to the open shooter.
Horns Dip Under
1. 1 is passing the ball to 4 who pops a bit off of the elbow
2. 1 cuts to the heart of the paint and then dips under 5
3. 1 makes a back screen for 5
Think about:
1 cutting all the way and getting back for ball
1 faking a cut and gong to 4 for a hand-off
4. 4 can make an entry pass to 5 on the low post
5. 1 pops out of the screen and if the blocking of a D5 is good, we have a miss-match on the perimeter or 1 is going to be alone for a 3pt shot
Think about:
Strong Side: 4 gets the ball to 2 and he swings it inside for 5
Weak Side: Fast ball to 1 who gets on a fast dribble toward the basket with an option to swing it for and open 3pt shot from 3
Horns Iverson Down
1. 2 and 3 start their movement at the same time. 3 is going towards the horns where 4 and 5 screen for him. 2 runs in opposite corner.
2. 1 drives the ball to free space for 3 and passes the ball to him after he receives the screen from 5.
Think about:
3 can cut towards the basket before or after both screens made by 4 and 5.
D2 can fall a sleep so look for flashy pass underneath the basket to 2
3. 5 now screens for 4 who can either loop around and get on the low post or can receive the ball on the elbow for a mid-range shot
Think about:
5 faking a screen and cutting toward the basket
4. 5 comes up again and goes for some pick and roll action with 3
Think about:
5 asking for a ball on the free throw line from where he can make a high-low pass to 4.
5 playing pop after the pick, receiving the ball on the arc and making a pass to 4 or shooting a 3 pointer.
HORNS Rim Cut DHO Throwback
1. 1 makes a pass to 5 who is on the elbow and then goes through the middle and towards the weak side corner
2. 3 climb up to 45 degree spot
Think about:
1 – 5 hand off or a lob pass inside the paint
after 1 is in the corner, 3 can fake a climb and cut to the basket
3. 4 steps on the arc and receives the pass from 5
4. 5 runs to a corner and screens for 2. After the screen 5 needs to open toward the low post
5. 4 dribbles the ball on the arc and to the 2, and at the same time, 2 received the screen from 5 and now runs for a hand-off with 4
Think about:
4 making a pass to 5 (who is opening inside from the screen)
4 faking a hand-off and driving toward the basket in a sprint
6. 2 receives the ball and dribbles it to the point (its a miss-match) attacks the basket or there is a possibility of a pass to 4
Think about:
Swing – swing action on a 3 who can swing it to 1 for a corner 3 pt shot (most likable shot in the NBA)
Horns Stagger
1. 1 and for are playing a pick and roll action
Think about:
1 attacking the D4 and driving to the basket
passing it to 3 for a corner 3pt shot
2. 4 and 5 running toward the weak side corner and screening for 2 who loops to the basket after the second screen
3. 3 cutting to the basket
Think about:
2 can fake that he is going for those two screens and cuts underneath the basket
4 or 5 can pop out of the screen
4. 5 and 4 are now repositioning and making 2 consecutive screens for 3 who is going from the inside to the outside and on the point
5. 1 makes a pass to 3
Think about:
3 can loop around 5
5 can STS for 4
6. 3 dribbles the ball to the other side toward 1
7. 5 and 4 are now making two consecutive screens for 2
8. 1 is going in the strong side corner
Think about:
2 faking to go under the screens and going over the screens toward the FT line
9. 5 and 4 are positioning to be flat with the baseline
10. 1 is now receiving two screens and running toward the opposite corner
11. 3 pass the ball to 2
12. 1 is coming from 2 screens and can receive the ball
Horns Double On Ball
1. 1 and 4 play pick and roll
2. 4 goes to the strong side low post
Think about:
1 pass the ball to 2 for a corner 3pt shot or an entry pass on 4
3. 1 and 5 now play pick and roll
4. 5 and 4 change places
5. 1 dribbles to the other side
Think about:
5 fakes a screen and cuts to the basket
6. 1 pass the ball to 4 and 4 can pass the ball to 5 on the low post
Horns Swing Entry
1. 1 pass the ball to 4 who steps on the arc
2. 1 receives the screen from 5, cuts outside the screen and goes to low post on that side and screens for 2
Think about:
4 makes a lob pass to 1 after he receives the screen from 5
3. 1 makes a screen for 2 who cuts to the basket
This is some of the ideas of how to play horns offense with your team. If you want to learn more in depth horns analysis, you can always visit us at Hoopsking. You are just one click away for having some of the best coaching videos that is going to give you expand your knowledge and help your team get to that next level of basketball.
Basketball special situations are important, and special situations does not mean just last second shots. Offensive special situations are all your jump ball, inbound, pressure release, late clock and free throw situations. Defensive special situations are all your jump ball, inbound and free throw defensive situations, plus how you will foul intentionally, speed up the game if down, or slow down the game if up, and other situations specific to your rules of the game.
I can offer two pieces of advice on special situations. Do what the players know and are comfortable with. Make sure your players know that each basketball move they make on offense, or force on defense, takes one second off the clock (dribble, pass, shot fake, shot).
Here are four important questions about special situations:
Has your team lost a game because your team failed to execute a special situation?
Has your team won a game as a result of proper execution of a special situation?
Do you have special situations for each possible situation (Varies by the rules you play with)?
Does your team practice special situations each day?
If you have coached very long, the answer to all four questions is undoubtedly YES. This is why special situations are a popular topic to digest as a coach.
Who better to learn from than a coach who has been in basketball since 1981. These notes and video learning are from Stan Van Gundy’s presentation on at the 2017 Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan.
Coach Van Gundy’s number point of emphasis was that it is important to have a wrinkle our of what you already run.
Check out these plays, and play diagrams, from the clinic and adapt them to what you do already.
Coach Van Gundy also discussed his coaching musts at the clinic. These coaching musts are a part of his coaching philosophy, and many encompass offensive and defensive special situations.
Stan Van Gundy Coaching Musts
Take Care of the Ball
Good teams pressure – you must be able to handle that.
Spend time on press offense, pressure releases in the half court.
Must Get Back and Take Away Easy Baskets
Take away anything in transition.
Work really hard to get your defense set.
Do Not Foul
Teach technique. For example, how to contest without fouling etc.
Dumb, sloppy fouls will kill you.
Not fouling, does not mean to be soft.
Must Box Out and Rebound
Cannot give up second chances.
All five players must rebound.
You are what you emphasize. Spend your time on things that will keep you competitive.
After time out sets can help you win games and situations.
