What is the 1-4 high offense in basketball?
The 1-4 high offense is a basketball strategy that primarily emphasizes creating scoring opportunities via the initial formation of one offensive player located at the top above the three-point line as well as four additional offensive players established alongside the wings and high post elbow areas.
How to understand the player roles and diagrams on this page
In reference to any diagrams below, each of the offensive and defensive players are generally represented by the standard basketball positions, unless otherwise noted.
Additionally, offensive players are signified by numbers such as 1-5 while defensive players are indicated by the letter X, which is then followed by numbers such as X1-X5.
In essence, 1 and X1 indicate the respective offensive and defensive point guards. 2 and X2 signify the respective offensive and defensive shooting guards.
3 and X3 denote the respective offensive and defensive small forwards. 4 and X4 designate the respective offensive and defensive power forwards.
5 and X5 represent the respective offensive and defensive centers.
Moreover, in terms of a brief legend for the diagrams:
- Black Dot or Small Circle: The black dot or small circle represents the basketball.
- Solid Arrow: The solid arrow indicates movement or a cut on the basketball court.
- Dotted Arrow: The dotted arrow represents a basketball pass.
- Wavy Arrow: The wavy arrow indicates dribbling.
- T-Shaped Symbol: The T-shaped symbol signifies a screen, also known as a pick.
- Double pipe symbol: The double pipe symbol denotes handoff action.
What is an example of 1-4 high offense featuring high post action?
A high post player could receive the ball during the initial action, which could lead to various scoring options.
The example diagrams below demonstrate this in more detail.
Part 1: High post handoff
To start, 1 passes the ball towards the high post area, which is received by 4, and then 1 immediately follows that pass.
Afterwards, 1 could receive the ball again from 4 via a high post handoff. From there, 1 could dribble to the basket and attempt to score via a layup.
However, if 1 is not open to receive the ball, then 1 could simply continue the cut through to the left side low post area.
Part 2: Dribble handoff and stagger screen
Next, 4 executes dribble handoff action with 2 who receives the ball and dribbles it toward the top.
Also, while that occurs, 1 cuts to the right side wing via a stagger screen set by 5 and 3.
Following that, 1 could receive the ball and take the three-point shot if that is available.
However, if the shot is not there, then 5 fills the left side low post area while 3 cuts out to the right side corner.
Part 3: Ram and side pick
Continuing on, 2 cuts down towards the low post area to set a ram screen with 5 as the recipient.
From there, 5 uses that screen to set a side pick, also referred to as a wing ball screen, with 1 as the recipient while 2 fills the left side corner.
1 dribbles toward the high post area while 5 rolls to the basket and 3 executes shake action by lifting back up to the right side wing.
Following that, 1 could take the mid-range shot or pass the ball to one of the other teammates for additional scoring opportunities.
Related: 1-4 Set High Post Offense
What is an example of 1-4 high offense featuring quick hitter action?
Offensive players can start the quick hitter action with a dribble weave. After that, it’s possible to include multiple off-ball screens, which could lead to a three-point shot opportunity.
The example diagrams and accompanying video below illustrate this with more clarity.
Part 1: Dribble weave
To begin, 1 performs dribble handoff action with 3 who gains possession of the ball and dribbles it back towards the top.
Following that, 3 executes dribble handoff action with 2 who receives the ball and dribbles it back towards the top as well.
Furthermore, while that weave action occurs, 4 and 5 cut down towards the left side and right side low post areas, respectively.
From this point, 2 has possession of the ball at the top while 1 and 3 fill the left side and right side wing areas, respectively.
It should be noted as well that the 1-4 high set effectively changed into a 3 out 2 in alignment.
Part 2: Triple screen
Next, 1 cuts from the left side wing towards the right side wing by way of triple screens set by 4, 5, and 3.
Afterwards, 1 receives the ball from 2 and takes the three-point shot, assuming that is open.
What is an example of 1-4 high offense featuring UCLA action?
With the UCLA action, a player could cut to the basket via a back screen after a wing entry pass and potentially receive the ball again for a high percentage scoring opportunity.
It’s also possible to utilize screen the screener action via a flex screen and stagger screen for additional scoring options.
Part 1: UCLA
To begin, 1 dribbles toward the left slot and then passes the ball, which is received by 3 on the left side wing.
After that, 1 performs the UCLA cut to the basket by way of a back screen set by 5.
If 1 is open, then 1 could receive the ball from 3 again and score via a layup.
Otherwise, 1 continues the cut through to the right side low post area while 2 flattens out to the right side corner area.
Part 2: Flex and stagger
Next, 2 cuts to the basket via a flex screen set by 1.
Also, while that cutting action happens, 1 comes back toward the top via a stagger screen set by 4 and 5.
From there, 2 could receive the ball and score via a layup or 1 could receive it instead and take the three-point shot if that is open.
What is an example of 1-4 high zone offense?
Offensive players could utilize ball reversal, baseline cuts, and dive cuts against the 2-3 zone, which could result in different scoring possibilities.
The example diagrams below demonstrate this in greater detail.
Part 1: Ball reversal and baseline cut
To begin, 3 receives the ball from 1, which should shift zone defenders towards that right side wing area. Following that, 3 could quickly reverse the ball back to 1.
Next, 3 could cut through the baseline behind the defenders towards the left side short corner area.
Afterwards, 2 receives the ball from 1 via another reversal. From there, 3 could receive the ball from 2 and potentially take the open jump shot around the short corner area.
Part 2: Dive cut
Assuming 3 is not open to take the shot as shown on the diagram by way of X4 utilizing a closeout, then 5 can dive cut to the basket, receive the ball from 3 and score, particularly via a layup or dunk.
In essence, by moving the zone defenders, a gap is created. For this instance, that is between X3 and X5 so that 5 can cut through that space to receive the ball and possibly score.
What are general advantages of 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 possible disadvantage of 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.