Horns Elbow Isolation
A play against man-to-man: 2 steps with diagrams and coaching points.
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How it works
From a horns alignment, enter the ball to 4 at the elbow and clear the other four players to the opposite side. The action creates an elbow isolation for 4 to attack one-on-one with the paint opened up.
When to use it
Half-court offense from a horns alignment against man-to-man, when 4 is a skilled scorer who can win one-on-one at the elbow. The other four players clear so help has to come from far away.
Personnel
1 is the entry passer. 4 is the scorer who receives at the elbow and attacks. 2, 3, 5 and 1 clear to the opposite side and hold the spacing: shooters on the wing and corner, 5 near the right block. 4 needs to be able to face up and drive or shoot.
Step by step
Step 1. Diagram only.
Step 2. Diagram only.
Reads
- First read. 1 passes to 4 at the elbow. 4 faces up and attacks if his defender is in a poor position.
- Second read. If help comes on the drive, the cleared players are your outlets. 4 passes to a shooter or to 5 near the block.
Counter
If 4 is stopped, do not force it. 4 passes to 1 or another player on the cleared side and the offense resets.
Teaching cues
- 4: catch, face up, read your defender's feet before you move.
- 1: pass to 4, then cut to the right side and space.
- 2 and 3: stay wide so your defenders cannot help.
- 5: clear to the right block and be ready for a pass.
Use this play
- Version
- 1 (current), approved October 2, 2026
- Published by
- Ball Coach
- Source
- Published by Ball Coach under its first-party license, credited to Ball Coach. Released as a fixed version; any later edit gets a new version number.
- Use
- Free to view, print and add unchanged to your playbook.
Topics
- Horns
- Man-to-man
- Clear-out
- Isolation
- High post