A 1-4 High Set can do a lot of different things to attack the defense. It can use a horns double screen or an Iverson cut to get the ball entered. It can use a single ball screen or a smash cut to start a play. One of the lesser used starts is an entry pass straight into the high post.
A big(4) or center(5) with good ball handling and passing skills can pose serious problems for any defense. While not all teams will have a player that can run the offense from the high post, the teams that do has so many more available options on offense. This play utilizes the high post entry to start the play but keeps the ball in the point(1)’s hands after the initial entry pass.
The play starts with a initial high post entry into the center(5). The guard(2) and forward(3) both cut to the basket. The center(5) should turn to the basket on the catch and look at the backdoor cuts for a possible layup. The ballside pass is much more likely because their is an additional defender in the lane guarding the big(4) to pass around if throwing a pass to the forward(3).
While the backdoor cuts do not work very often, it can lead to one or two baskets in every game. A lazy defender can give the offense a layup on a simple backdoor cut.
If the backdoor cuts are not there, then the center(5) will turn back around. As the center(5) turns, the point(1) is running off of a flare screen set by the big(4). The pass from the center(5) to the point(1) will have to be over the top of the big(4) and their defender.
The point(1) has the ability to catch and shoot off of the flare screen. This shot is a good choice anytime the point(1)’s defender doubles down on the center(5). On the double, the defender will not be able to recover back to the point(1) especially with a good flare screen being set by the big(4).
Once the point(1) catches the flare screen and does not shoot the ball, there are 3 options for the offense to get a shot. Each option can work on getting good shots. And each option is going to build right off of the previous option. So, the players are going to try and get the first option and if that shot is not there then the team will move straight into option 2. And option 2 will lead straight into option 3.
Option 1
The first option is if the point(1)’s defender goes over the top of the flare screen. As soon as the defender goes over the flare screen, the point(1) should be able to catch the flare and immediately attack the baseline on the dribble. The on the ball defender will be chasing over the top and will continue to chase the ball if the point(1) is able to catch the flare and attack the baseline.
By keeping the defender chasing the point(1), it can lead to a baseline jumper or a layup if the helpside defense does not rotate around towards the ball. A good scoring point(1) can get the space they need to get a good shot by the flare screen putting the defender out of good guarding position.
Option 2
If the point(1) defender goes under the screen or the point(1) does not attack the baseline, then the big(4) is turning and setting a ball screen for the point(1). The ball screen can be either a pick and roll or a pick and pop depending on how good of a shooter the big(4) is.
The point(1) can attack off the dribble all the way down the lane. They can get the ball all the way to the basket or stop and take a jumpshot or floater if the defense protects the rim.
The point(1) also has the option to pass to the rolling or popping big(4) depending on how the defense guards the ball screen. The helpside defense could be occupied by option 3 giving the rolling or popping big(4) a lot of open space to catch and shoot.
Option 3
As the ball screen is being set the forward(3) is starting across the lane using a stagger screen set by the guard(2) and center(5). This stagger screen is forcing the forward(3)’s defender to make a choice. If they stay and help the pick and roll then the forward(3) will be open coming off of the stagger screens wide open. If the defender chases the forward(3) out around the stagger screen, then the point(1) will have the open lane for the pick and roll.
Conclusion
A good offense is going to put pressure on the defense to have to make choices. Depending on their choices somebody on offense should be open. This play makes the defense choose on how to defend. As the defense moves the offense will read the defense and get the ball into the spots where the defense has decided to leave open. If the defense guards the pick and roll, then the offense will have an open 3-point shot. If the defense moves over the flare screen, then the point(1) will have the open baseline to attack.
This play puts pressure on the defense and waits for the defense to leave something open for the offense to attack. A great thing about this play is the offense has multiple options on how to score the ball. A good defense may stop one or two options but leave the 3rd option open. The next time the defense may leave the 1st option open giving the offense a different way to attack.
A bad defense will give an offense multiple options each time. A good defensive team will give the offense 1 or 2 options. A great defense may leave only one option open. It is hard for any defense to completely stop every option. The offense just has to make the correct reads and attack the openings the defense leaves open.
