Photo by Fernando Medina
Tweaks and adjustments.
For the Orlando Magic, tweaks and adjustments have been made not only with the roster but also with strategy. This season, head coach Stan Van Gundy has made a commitment to make the Magic’s offense less predictable, and the results — even if it was pre-season — have been good.
There’s a lot of new wrinkles offensively for Orlando, but one of them has been the insertion of the “Horns” set. In short, two big men stand at both elbows on the court and set screens for the wing player with the basketball. The play design has lots of potential for success because of the diversity of options. Examples will be provided in a second.
The main attraction of the “Horns” set, however, is that it solves some of the spacing problems the Magic have when Rashard Lewis is at small forward and Brandon Bass is at power forward.
Because Bass is not a stretch four in the mold of Lewis or Ryan Anderson, it’s been difficult for Orlando’s offense to operate seamlessly as it usually does because he doesn’t have three-point range. As such, there were times last year when the Magic would get bogged down offensively because no plays were designed to take into account Bass’ skill-set, which centers around an efficient mid-range game.
That problem has been solved, somewhat.
Let’s take a look.
Orlando can accomplish a variety of things with the “Horns” set and the play-type is a perfect example of the unpredictability that Van Gundy is seeking with the offense this season. Everyone is a threat on the floor. The bigs set the screens but after they do so, they have the option of either cutting to the basket in a hybrid pick and roll or they can pop out for a shot on the perimeter. One wing player sets up in the corner for a catch-and-shoot three-pointer off dribble penetration. The other wing player that is given the ball on a dribble handoff, more or less, decides the end result of the play based on how the defense reacts.
When executed correctly, it’s a fantastic play to watch develop.
Click here for the video.
Example 1:
On this possession, J.J. Redick enters the basketball in the high post. At that point, Redick and Anderson set simultaneous screens to free up Chris Duhon, who receives the ball. From there, Marcin Gortat sets a screen on Lewis’ defender to give him some space. Lewis, then, finishes the job by blowing past Aaron Gray for a reverse dunk.
Notice that there’s a lot of moving parts on this play.
_______
Click here for the video.
Example 2:
This time, Redick executes a give-and-go with Anderson. Redick gets the basketball and, as Anderson sets a screen for him, dribble penetrates to the free-throw line. As that is happening, Gortat sets a screen for Lewis’ defender. At one point, there are three defenders from the New Orleans Hornets converging on Redick. This makes it all too easy for Redick to drive-and-kick the ball to Lewis for an open three.
_______
Click here for the video.
Example 3:
Even though this play is generated from the “Horns” set, this is more of a hybrid 3/4 pick and roll more than anything else. Vince Carter receives the ball at the top of the key, splits the defenders, and makes an incredible fadeaway jumper.
