Total Pageviews

Thursday, January 23, 2025

Basketball - New and Old "Horns" Actions

"Horns" offers a multitude of possibilities. There is great spacing, no "natural" help side, and it empties the paint. "Horns" can create lots of hard-to-defend actions. 

1. Backscreen into DHO 

2. Horns "Elbow get"

If you have "bigs" who can put the ball on the floor, then you may have a mismatch against a big less accustomed to defending dribble drive. 


3. Duke "Elbow series" 

Another horns action with options for handoff or dribble drive for the big. Of course, you could also interchange the 4 and the 1 and get a mismatch if the defense elects to switch. 


4. Horns DHO creates a 'staggered' PnR situation. Optimizing the spacing can be challenging. It also creates a great opportunity for slipping the 5 instead of setting the screen. 


5. Celtics "Around" horns. I haven't seen this lately, possibly as it doesn't prioritize three-point shooting, so is "analytically challenged." 


It's all 'well and good' to have a variety of sets and actions but nothing works without urgent cutting, proper screening, balancing "waiting" for the screen (better late than early), and players coming off screens that actually create separation. 

Watching high school games, I see a few themes emerge:
1) Not enough pick-and-roll (sometimes none)
2) Improper screening with no sprint to screen, no deception, no contact ("headhunting" not dirty play)
3) Improper use of the screens (leaving too much of a gap)
4) Seldom if ever rejecting or slipping ball screens 

Yes, the "get off my lawn" phenomenon rears its ugly head. 

Lagniappe. Celtics "showcasing" Jaden Springer? Could he become Aaron Nesmith lite? 
Lagniappe 2. Overcoaching is real. 
 Lagniappe 3. Brian McCormick on press breaking. 












 





 

Posted by at