Horns Pindown Handoff
A play against man-to-man: 2 steps with diagrams and coaching points.
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How it works
From a horns alignment, 1 enters to 5 at the elbow and clears to the wing. 4 pins down for 3, who takes a DHO from 5 and attacks while 5 dives and 4 pops; read the drive first, then the roll or pop.
When to use it
Half-court against man-to-man from horns when you want a handoff with a drive, a dive and a pop to choose from. Best with a shooter at 3 who attacks off the handoff.
Personnel
1 starts on top and enters to 5 at the elbow. 4 is the other elbow and sets the pin-down for 3. 3 comes off the screen to take the handoff from 5. 2 and 1 spread on the left side. 5 dives to the rim and 4 pops to the wing.
Step by step
Step 1. 1 passes to 5 at the elbow and cuts to ballside wing.
Step 2. 4 Sets a pindown screen for 3 and 5 executes a DHO with 3. 4 pops to the wing and 5 dives to the rim. 3 attacks.
Reads
- First read. 3 attacking off the handoff from 5. Take the drive if the defense is late.
- Second read. 5 diving to the rim. Pass to the dive if the defenders help on the drive.
- Third read. 4 popping to the wing. Kick to 4 if the help comes from that side.
Counter
If 3's defender goes over the screen and takes away the handoff, 3 can keep the ball. If the defense switches, look for the dive or pop.
Teaching cues
- 1: pass to 5, then cut to the ball-side wing.
- 4: set the pin-down and pop after the screen.
- 5: hand the ball to 3, then dive straight to the rim.
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
- Dribble handoff
- Pin-down
- Pop
- Roll