What is horns low post offense in basketball?
- Horns low post offense comprises actions initiated from the Horns set.
- These actions are used to create scoring opportunities, typically for low post players near the basket.
- Additionally, these particular actions could create scoring possibilities for offensive players in general near the low post areas as well.
What are example demonstrations of Horns low post offense?
- Horns low post offense could begin with an initial action such as a pick for the player in possession of the ball.
- Afterwards, additional actions could occur such as a back screen or cross screen.
- The examples below demonstrate these concepts in more detail, which also includes diagrams and key actions in bold text.
How to understand the diagrams and player roles via a brief legend
In reference to any diagrams below, each of the offensive players are generally represented by the standard basketball positions in number format, unless otherwise noted.
- 1 through 5: 1 through 5 represents the point guard (1), shooting guard (2), small forward (3), power forward (4), and center (5), respectively.
- 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.
Example 1: Part 1
- Pick near the top: Starting off, 5 steps out from the right side high post elbow towards the top to set a pick.
- Dribble towards wing: 1 uses that pick and dribbles toward the right side wing.
- Back screen: As that happens, 3 cuts into the lane from the right side corner to set a back screen.
- Spain action: 5 rolls to the basket following the initial pick, utilizing the back screen.
- When 5 sets the pick and then utilizes a back screen while rolling to the basket, this is generally known as Spain pick and roll or Spain action.
- Scoring opportunity: 1 could pass the ball inside to 5 who could score via a layup.
- It should be mentioned as well that 1 could possibly throw a lob pass over the top of the defense.
- This could lead to an alley-oop opportunity and potential dunk for 5 at the rim.
- Fill cuts: If 5 doesn’t receive the ball from 1, then this leads to certain players filling certain spots.
- 3 fills the right slot; 4 fills the left slot; 5 fills the right side low post.
Example 1: Part 2
- Stagger screen: 3 and 4 cut towards the left corner to set a stagger screen.
- High post cut: 2 uses that screen and cuts to the high post area.
- Pass to high post: 1 simply passes to 2 at the high post.
- Scoring opportunities:
- 2 could take the open mid-range shot.
- 5 could score via a layup or quick low post move.
- Essentially, 5 could cut into the lane and receive the ball from 2 via high low action.
Example 2: Part 1
- Pick near the top: Starting off, 4 steps out from the right side high post elbow towards the top to set a pick.
- Dribble toward wing: 1 uses that pick and dribbles toward the right side wing.
- 4 can also fill the top after setting the screen.
- Back screen: As that pick and dribble action happens, 2 cuts into the lane from the right corner to set a back screen.
- Slice cut: 5 uses the back screen and performs a slice cut towards the right side low post from the left side high post elbow.
- 2 could also fill the left side wing after setting the back screen.
- Scoring opportunity: 1 could pass to 5 who could score via a low post move.
Example 2: Part 2
- Ball reversal: If 5 is not open to receive the ball, then ball reversal could happen.
- 1 passes to 4 at the top and 4 passes to 2 on the left side wing.
- Cross screen: As the ball reversal occurs, 3 cuts into the lane to set a cross screen.
- 3 also cuts towards the empty right corner after setting the screen.
- Cut to ball side low post: 5 uses the screen set by 3 and cuts to the ball side low post area on the left side.
- Pass into low post: 2 passes the ball into the low post, which is received by 5.
- Scoring opportunity: 5 can attempt to score via a layup or low post move.
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