I personally set a distinction between a 1-4 High Set and a Horns Set. To me, a horns play or quick hitter has the point(1) coming off of a double screen set by the 2 post players at the elbow. As the point(1) comes off the double screen, the horns set can do all sorts of things to score the ball. This is one of the more simple plays but simple can be effective.
A dynamic point guard can make a horns set very difficult to guard. When I have a good playmaking or scoring point guard, then I will add quite a few plays using a horns set to try and get them free. Depending on how the defense chooses to defend the horns set, the offense should have some openings to attack and score. A dynamic point guard makes the smaller openings seem even larger.
The horns sets starts with the point(1) on one side of the floor. The 2 post players, the big(4) and center(5), on the elbows, and the wings, the guard(2) and forward(3), in the corners. The big(4) and center(5) set a double screen for the point(1). The point(1) dribbles across the court using the double screen to start each horns set.
As the point(1) clears the double, they are trying to turn the corner and get to the basket. That is always the 1st option. If the point(1) defender gets screened then a tight curl off the 2nd screen should be open. With the area around the basket open there should be limited help to stop the point(1) from turning the corner off the screen and shoot the layup.
If the point(1) can not get downhill then they are looking at the 2nd and 3rd options. The 2nd option is the big(4) on the pick and roll. A hedge by the big(4)’s defender could free up the big(4) to set a pick and run or pick and roll and be open in front of the basket.
The 3rd option is a kick-out to the guard(2) coming up out of the corner. The guard(2)’s defender is the read for the kick out. If the guard(2)’s defender steps in to help on the drive by the point(1), then it is a simple kick out to the guard(2) coming up out of the corner for the 3-point shot.
If those 1st 3 options do not get a shot, then the forward(3) is following the point(1) around the 3-point line. The center(5) is setting a screen for the forward(3) to come to the top of the key. If the defense is able to stop the 1st 3 options on the frontside then this last screen coming off the backside could be open for a top of the key 3-point shot.
A defense that plays a hard midline defense can get the forward(3)’s defender in trouble with the pick and roll and the center(5) screen. The defender will be in the middle of the lane in a pack line defense. This makes it harder to defend the forward(3) coming off the final screen. All of the traffic coming in and around the lane out of the horns screens can get the defender in a bunch of traffic and unable to recover to the forward(3).
The forward(3) also has the option to curl cut off of the center(5) screen if their defender is trailing on the screen. The frontside block area will be open a good spot for the forward(3) to cut into off of the center(5) screen.
Conclusion
This is a simple play but has every player on offense moving. It puts pressure on each defender to stay engaged throughout the entire play. A slow rotation or lazy defense can lead to an offensive player getting free.
A good scoring point(1) has the space and freedom to create off of the horns double screen. Sometimes the best plays are the ones that puts the ball in the playmakers hands and in space to create and be playmakers. If the defense puts all the focus on the point(1), then the offense has the chance to get the big(4) open on the roll, or the guard(2) coming out of the corner, or the forward(3) coming around the 3-point line.
Simple play but has multiple options and multiple players with the chance to score the ball. This puts pressure on all the defenders. As soon as a defender has a break, the offense has the chance to score the ball.
