What is the 1-4 high offense in basketball
The 1-4 high offense is a basketball offensive strategy that primarily utilizes the high post as well as the wing areas to create scoring opportunities near the basket or near the perimeter areas of the court, typically with a variety of basketball cuts and/or basketball screens.
What is an example of the initial formation for the 1-4 high offense
The initial formation of the 1-4 high offense consists of an offensive player that has possession of the basketball at the top, usually referred to as the point guard, and generally indicated as player 1.
Additionally, there is a player near one of the wing areas, generally known as the shooting guard and typically indicated as player 2.
Moreover, there is another player near one of the opposite wings, commonly referred to as the small forward and usually denoted as player 3.
Lastly, there are two players near the high post elbow areas, typically known as the power forward and the center, and denoted as player 4 and player 5, respectively.
What are advantages of the 1-4 high offense
One particular advantage of the 1-4 high offense is that it influences the low post players on defense away from the basket since the low post players on offense get positioned near the high post areas.
This could be very useful for undersized basketball teams, especially at the low post positions.
Furthermore, this could also result in potentially easier opportunities to score field goals near the rim by way of actions such as backdoor cuts or high post back screens.
Another potential advantage of the 1-4 high offense is that it could be very effective for guard-oriented teams via offensive actions such as the pick and roll, the stagger screen, or the flex screen.
These types of offensive sequences could produce multiple scoring options near the basket or near the mid-range/three-point range areas for those same guard-oriented teams.
What is a disadvantage of the 1-4 high offense
One possible disadvantage of the 1-4 high offense is that it may not be as efficient for teams that prefer to play through the low post. As mentioned previously, the 1-4 high alignment naturally pulls offensive post players away from the basket.
So if those same post players offensive skill sets rely on playing with their backs to the basket, particularly via a series of low post moves, then the 1-4 high offense may not be the most suitable choice in that case.
Teams that prefer to run their offense through highly skilled back-to-the-basket low post players would probably be better served executing offenses such as the 3 out 2 in motion offense or the triangle offense as notable examples.
What are examples of 1-4 high quick hitters or set plays
Example 1 – Part 1
This is an example of a quick hitter within the 1-4 high offense that consists of a UCLA screen, flex screen, and additional scoring opportunities.
To begin, 2 receives the ball from 1 and following that, 1 cuts to the basket via the UCLA screen set by 4.
Afterwards, 1 could receive the ball from 2 and score near the basket if that is available. If not, then 1 could cut out to the left side low post block while 3 also cuts down to the left side corner.
Example 1 – Part 2
Next, 3 cuts to the basket via the flex screen set by 1 and could receive the ball from 2 if that is open. If it is not open, then 3 could exit the lane towards the right side low post block while 2 dribbles toward the middle of the court by way of the on-ball screen set by 4.
Additionally, at the same time as that dribble action occurs, 1 cuts to the wing via a down screen set by 5. Following that, 1 could receive the ball from 2 and then take the three-point shot if open.
Similarly, 2 could keep the ball and take the jump shot as well if that is open. 5 and 3 could attempt to rebound any potential misses around the basket.
Example 2 – Part 1
This is an example of a quick hitter within the 1-4 high offense that features backdoor action, a flex screen and down screen, as well as dribble handoff action.
To begin, 5 receives the ball from 1 and this triggers a backdoor cut by 3. Following that, 3 could receive the ball from 5 and score near the basket.
If 3 does not receive the ball, then 3 exits the lane toward the left side low post block. Also, as that occurs, 1 fills the vacated right side wing while 2 cuts down to the left side corner.
Example 2 – Part 2
Next, 2 cuts to the basket via a flex screen set by 3. After that, 3 could receive the ball from 5 and score at the rim.
If that is not open, then 3 continues across the lane to the right side corner while 3 fills the empty left side corner.
Example 2 – Part 3
Afterwards, 1 receives the ball from 5 via a dribble handoff and then dribbles toward the middle of the court. As that occurs, 5 rolls to the basket while 3 cuts to the left side wing via a wide pin down screen set by 4 who also fills the left side corner.
From there, 5 could receive the ball from 1 and score near the basket or 3 could receive the ball instead and take the three-point shot if open.
Example 3 – Part 1
This is an example of a quick hitter within the 1-4 high offense that includes a stagger screen, a ram screen, as well as pick and roll action.
To start, 4 receives the ball from 1 and after that, 1 immediately follows that pass.
From there, 1 could receive the ball back from 4 if that is open. If it is not there, then 1 simply fills the left side low post block for the time being. Also, 2 receives the ball from 4.
Example 3 – Part 2
Next, 2 dribbles toward the middle of the court via an on-ball screen set by 4. At the same time, 1 cuts to the right side wing area by way of a stagger screen set by 3 and 5.
Following that, 1 receives the ball from 2 and then take the three-point shot if open. If the shot is not there, then 3 could pop out to the right side corner while 5 fills the left side low post block.
Example 3 – Part 3
From there, 1 dribbles toward the middle of the court by way of a ram screen set by 5. Next, 2 flattens out to the left side corner after setting the initial down screen before the ram screen.
Additionally, 5 rolls to the basket and could receive the ball from 1 if that is open.
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Example 4 – Part 1
This is an example of a 1-4 high set play that features a few scoring options near the basket or near a perimeter area of the court.
It is derived from The Kentucky 1-4 High Offense by Tubby Smith.
To start the action, 5 who is near the right side high post receives the ball from 1, represented by the dashed arrow. Next, 2 executes a backdoor cut by taking a quick step towards 1 before immediately cutting to the basket.
From there, 2 can receive the ball from 5 and score at the rim via a layup if that is open.
Otherwise, 2 will simply occupy the right side low post area.
Example 4 – Part 2
Next, 1 takes a step towards 4 before cutting back towards 5 to receive a handoff. After that, 1 dribbles back out to the right side wing area within the space previously occupied by 2.
Following that, if 2 has the ability to score near the basket via low post moves, then 2 could receive the ball from 1.
Example 4 – Part 3
If 2 does not receive the ball, then 1 dribbles toward the high post area via an on-ball screen set by 5 who also rolls to the rim.
As that action happens, 2 cuts through to the top, particularly near the left side slot area via a stagger screen set by 3 and 4.
Following that, 5 could receive the ball from 1 and take a close-range shot around the basket.
Alternatively, 2 could receive the ball from 1 and take a three-point shot if that is open.
Moreover, as a third scoring option, 1 could simply keep the ball and raise up for a mid-range jump shot if that is available.
What are comparable offensive strategies in relation to the 1-4 high offense
All of the basketball offense strategies below feature a similarity to the 1-4 high offense in the sense of pulling post players away from the low post areas to produce scoring options by way of the high posts or near the perimeter areas in general.
The 5 out motion offense features five offensive players who cover five primary spots that are the top, the wings, and the corners. From that point, the players will mainly focus on cutting to the basket to generate scoring opportunities.
The circle offense is essentially a variation to the 5 out motion and it uses a series of cuts and continuity patterns to create scoring opportunities near the basket. This type of offense could be very advantageous for undersized and/or guard-oriented teams.
The horns offense consists of a ball handler at the top, two high post players, and two players in the corners. Afterwards, there are a variety of offensive sequences that could be used to produce scoring possibilities around the basket or near the perimeter.
The Princeton offense utilizes its Chin and Point series to clear out the low post areas, which in turn could create scoring options, primarily via backdoor cuts and various off-ball screens.
The Shuffle offense empties the low post areas by putting one post player at the high post elbow while the other post player pops out to the short corner. Following that, the offense revolves around the shuffle cut and other cutting actions to create scoring opportunities near the basket or near the perimeter.