What is Horns quick hitter offense in basketball?
Horns quick hitter offense in basketball comprises a brief number of passes, cuts, screens, or dribble actions, initiated from a Horns set, ultimately to create scoring opportunities near the basket or around perimeter areas of the court.
Related: Horns Offense & Quick Hitter Offense
How to understand the player roles and diagrams on this page
In relation to any diagrams below, each of the offensive players are generally represented by the standard basketball positions in number format, unless otherwise noted.
In essence, 1 is the point guard; 2 is the shooting guard; 3 is the small forward; 4 is the power forward; 5 is the center.
What’s more, 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 Horns quick hitter offense featuring a backdoor cut?
This is an example of Horns quick hitter offense featuring a backdoor cut alongside a flex screen and double screen.
Part 1: Backdoor
To start, 4 receives the ball from 1. After that, 4 dribbles towards 2, which triggers a backdoor cut to the rim. If that is open, then 2 receives the ball and quickly scores.
Otherwise, 4 keeps their dribble alive and continues out towards the left side wing area while 2 cuts through the lane to the right side low post area.
Part 2: Flex and double
Next, 3 cuts to the basket via the flex screen set by 2. Immediately afterwards, 2 cuts to the top via the double screen set by 1 and 5.
4 has the option to pass the ball to either 2 or 3, which could potentially result in high percentage scoring opportunities.
What is an example of Horns quick hitter offense featuring a dribble handoff?
This is an example of Horns quick hitter offense featuring a dribble handoff as well as stagger screen action, which could lead to a quick scoring opportunity for the team’s best three-point shooter.
To begin, 4 receives the ball from 1 at the left high post elbow area. Afterwards, 4 begins dribbling the ball towards the left corner, indicated by the wavy arrow. The objective is to perform a dribble handoff alongside 2, denoted by the double pipe symbol.
From there, 2 begins to dribble towards the left side wing area. At the same time as that happens, 3 cuts to the top via the stagger screen set by 1 and 5.
Following that, 3 receives the ball from 2, represented by the dotted arrow. Next, 3 takes the open three-point shot. Additionally, 4 and 5 could also cut in towards the lane to gather offensive rebound in the event of a miss, which could result in second chance points as well.
What is an example of Horns quick hitter offense featuring an elevator screen?
This is an example of Horns quick hitter offense featuring an elevator screen among other actions as well.
Part 1: Elevator
To start, 1 performs a dribble entry towards the right side wing. As that occurs, 3 executes a zipper cut towards the top via the elevator screen set by 4 and 5.
After that, 3 receives the ball from 1 and has the option to take the shot if that is open. Otherwise, 3 retains possession of it while 4 and 5 cut to the left and right low post areas, respectively.
Part 2: Triple
Next, 2 cuts from the left side corner towards the right side wing via triple screens set by 4, 5, and 1.
Following that, 2 receives the ball from 3 and could take the open three-point shot.
What is an example of Horns quick hitter offense featuring pick and roll?
This is an example of Horns quick hitter offense featuring pick and roll action as well as a down screen to generate scoring options for the team’s post players.
Part 1: Pick and roll
To begin, 1 dribbles toward the right side wing via the pick that is set by 4 who also rolls to the basket thereafter. At the same time, 2 runs the baseline from right to left corner while 3 lifts up to the left side wing area.
From there, 4 could receive the ball and score via a swift layup or dunk if that happens to be open. Otherwise, 4 simply cuts to the right side low post area for the time being.
Part 2: Pick and down screen
As soon as 4 occupies the right side low post area, 5 immediately sprints across with good timing to set another pick, which allows 1 to dribble back towards the top.
As that dribble action happens, 4 cuts towards the vacant wing area via a down screen set by 5. From that point, 4 could receive the ball from 1 and take the open three-point shot.
Alternatively, 5 could slip the screen to the basket, receive the ball instead, and score via a layup at the rim.
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Related: The Encyclopedia of the Horns Offense – Fran Fraschilla