DHO Series

I teach freelance offense in a variety of ways...and won't claim an abundance of success. But I'm not going to quit trying. Coach K says, "Basketball is about making plays, not running plays." 

The principal problem with 'total freelance' is a tendency for players to stand or watch...especially young and inexperienced players. Conceptually, we generally try to open the middle because we don't have a big post presence, but we don't have a lot of downhill players either.

Players need to keep defenders occupied so they cannot easily help. Setting up a DHO (dribble handoff) series mandates that 'weak side'/help side offense remain active. But on the ball side, the ballhandler dribbles hard to the wing and hands off "on a platter." The ball isn't bounced or flipped to the receiver. The handoff player then must attack DOWNHILL to 'turn the corner'. 3 attacks the basket and has to expect help from x5 which may set up a 'dump down' pass to 5. 

After handoff, 4 can 'seal' and roll and often has great position and a mismatch on switch. 

If x3 overplays or is a HEAD TURNER, then 3 has an obvious backcut to the basket. 

If x4 cheats, 4 can crossover and attack directly. 

When x3 'goes under' that sets up 3 for a perimeter shot. 

The offense can easily run to either side. I prefer the 3 to the right, because we have a lot of southpaw 3s. 

It doesn't take a lot of imagination to see weak side reverse action with the 5 screening for either 1 or 2 (or whichever player is designated on the weak side)...or triangle offense on that side. We are in no way prepared to run that. 

The key is for all players involved to read what the defense limits and what they provide...because there is always something available. 

If the 5 deploys to the ballside elbow, you create a tough-to-defend DHO into ball screen (5 setting screen-and-roll action) at the elbow. On the weak side you can set a flare screen or a downscreen for 1 by 2. 

In watching the "embryonic" versions at practice last night, the biggest flaws were consistently the DHO receiver not attacking hard (top diagram) and poor execution when passers identified opportunities. 

If you're not a believer in screening, this isn't an approach for your team. But you can still use it for practice with "continuous DHO" action, as the 'driver' (3) then "pitches" to the opposite guard outside the 'spacing line' and then relocates to where 4 was. The same action then ensues on the left, so the offense is practiced on both sides.