Great half-court offense isn’t about running dozens of plays—it’s about executing a few actions with precision and purpose.
Coach Mike Budenholzer has built some of the NBA’s most efficient offenses by emphasizing spacing, screening, timing, and player movement.
The three half-court sets below highlight those principles while creating multiple scoring opportunities against man-to-man defense.
As you study each play, look beyond the final shot and pay attention to the details that make the actions successful.
Consider how you can adapt these concepts to fit your personnel and incorporate them into your own offensive system.
Set #1
2 will screen down for 4 and receive the pass.
2 will set screen for 1 who goes to set screen for 3.
4 will dribble to the wing.
3 will use the screen to get to the post for an isolation.
4 will pass and cut through to the opposite corner.
2 and 1 will space.
Set #2
3 will dribble towards 4 for the dribble handoff.
2 will come off the staggered screen from 1 and 5.
4 passes to 5.
5 will dribble handoff with 1.
After the dribble handoff, 5 will set the screen and then roll to the basket.
At this time, 4 will set a down screen for 2.
Set #3
3 will set a pin screen for 4 who will go set a ball screen on 1.
1 will use the ball screen.
4 will then set a screen for 3 coming up for the shot.
These three half court man to man plays are from Scott Peterman’s Bucks-Hawks playbook.
The eBook features some of the best plays from Coach Mike Budenholzer’s time in Atlanta and Milwaukee.
You can find out more about the eBook at this link:
