What is Horns zipper offense?
- Horns zipper offense consists of a zipper cut and other actions that can be executed from the Horns set.
- The Horns offense features a player in possession of the ball at the top, two high post players, and two additional players filling the corners.
- The zipper cut comprises off-ball movement that generally occurs when a player cuts from a corner and/or low post area towards the top, typically to receive possession of the basketball.
What are example demonstrations of Horns zipper offense?
- Horns zipper offense generally begins with a dribble entry.
- From there, that initial dribble entry action is commonly followed up by the zipper cut.
- It should also be noted that it’s also technically a loop action when a there is a dribble entry and simultaneously, a zipper cut gets initiated from the ball side corner to the adjacent low post, and through the top.
- 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
- Dribble entry: Starting off, 1 executes a dribble entry towards the left side wing.
- Pin down screen: As that dribble entry happens, 5 cuts toward the left side low post area to set a pin down screen.
- Zipper cut:
- 3 initially cuts in towards the adjacent low post area from the left side corner.
- After that, 3 zipper cuts toward the top, utilizing the pin down screen in the process.
- Upon reaching the top, 1 passes the ball to 3 and then cuts away to fill the vacant left side corner.
- Wide pin down screen:
- As the zipper cut action occurs, 4 cuts towards the right side corner from the right elbow to set a wide pin down screen.
- 2 uses that screen and cuts to the right side wing.
- 4 also fills the vacant right side corner following the screening action.
- From there, 2 could receive the ball from 3 and take the open three-point shot.
Example 1: Part 2
- Flare screen:
- If 2 receives the ball but doesn’t take the shot, then 5 could set a flare screen around the top of the key.
- 3 could use that screen and cut towards the empty left side wing.
- Skip pass:
- 2 could throw a skip pass across the court, which could be received by 3.
- Afterwards, 3 could simply take the open three-point shot or possibly drive to the basket.
- Slip cut option:
- 5 could even slip to the basket after setting the screen.
- From that point, 2 could pass to 5, who could score via a layup.
- This slip option might be viable if 5’s defender helps off of 5 in general or fully switches to 3 during the flare screen action.
Example 2: Part 1
- Dribble entry: 1 begins with a dribble entry towards the right side wing.
- Pin down screen: As that dribble entry occurs, 5 cuts toward the right side low post area to set a pin down screen
- Zipper cut:
- 3 initially cuts in towards the adjacent low post area from the right side corner.
- After that, 3 zipper cuts toward the top, utilizing the pin down screen in the process.
- Upon reaching the top, 3 receives the ball from 1.
Example 2: Part 2
- Wide pin down screen: Once 3 receives the ball, 4 cuts away to set a wide pin down screen.
- Screen rejection:
- 2 cuts in as if to use that screen but ultimately rejects it.
- It is possible for 2 to simply use the wide pin down screen and cut towards the left side wing.
- However, for this case, let’s assume that 2’s defender tried to cut over the top of the screen to converge on 2’s pathway towards that left side wing.
- In other words, this screen rejection option could be good if the defender guarding 2 were to overplay or shoot the gap of the screen.
- Cut towards wing:
- After rejecting the wide pin down screen, 2 cuts through to the right side wing.
- Additionally, as that happens, 5 and 1 can set screens to help 2 get open.
- Upon arriving on the right side wing, 2 could receive the ball from 3 and take the open three-point shot.
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Related: Horns Offense – Lason Perkins