When the best shooter on a team is the point, the offense needs to get the ball away from them in order to bring them back towards the ball for a catch and shoot. A team that relies on a point to create all their shots will eventually struggle and make the game more difficult for the point. So, by getting the point away from the ball and coming back to the ball it can make it easier for them to get shots.
This quick hitter is a horns set but the point enters the ball before the horns screens are used. This gets the point of attack in a different spot of the court and with a different player using the horns screens. Not all defenders are the same so using different offensive players on the horns screens can exposed a weak defensive player.
And a point defender may be really good on the ball but struggle defending off the ball. By getting the point away from the ball it can expose this potential weakness. I like to keep the offense changing so the defense can never get into a comfortable position in defending our offense. I want different players handling the ball and cutting and screening. I want to force all defenders to defend all aspects of an offense and this quick hitter does that.
The beginning of the quick hitter has the point(1) enter the ball to a wing and smash cut to the ballside corner. The first scoring option is a return pass by the forward(3) to the point(1) going through the smash cut set by the big(4). While this scoring option is unlikely, it will be open every once in a while for an easy give and go layup. After the smash cut the point(1) continues to the ballside corner.
As the point(1) clears to the corner, the forward(3) dribbles across the floor using the horns screens from the big(4) and center(5). This is now getting the defense to move back and forth across the floor. The ball is moving side to side making it harder to defend.
As the forward(3) clears the 2nd screen by the center(5), they are passing the ball to the guard(2) and cutting down into the ballside corner. The only way the forward(3) does not pass the ball is if they are able to use the horns screens and get to the basket for a layup. Otherwise the ball needs to be passed to the guard(2).
As the forward(3) is coming across the horns screens, the point(1) is following slowly. The big(4) and center(5) are going to continue moving away from the ball and set a double stagger screen after the initial horns screen. The point(1) is using the stagger double screen to get open at the top of the key for a pass from the guard(2) for a 3-point shot.
Conclusion
This is a good quick hitter because it helps to get the point(1) away from the ball to begin and finishes with the point(1) coming off of a screen to get a 3-point shot. A scoring point(1) can have difficulty getting easy shots if they are constantly having to create every shot. As coaches, we need to help them by using plays to get them coming off of screens back to the ball.
This quick hitter also has the ball move from one side of the floor back across to the other side. While the play does not have a bunch of moving parts, it makes the defense move side to side. The more the defense has to move, the more likely a breakdown will occur.
