Still my favorite offense til this day we ran it at Lawson State CC for two years I have been coaching for the last ten years and it is still hard to stop if your players understand the game!
Last night I was watching the 2001 nba eastern conference finals between the raptors against the sixers. Coach Lenny Wilkins used this flex offense on the raptors. I can remember the same screen the screener actions and execution and it was very beautiful!
Gary Williams (championship with Maryland) didn't like downscreens, because players would always shoot 3-pointers. It's easier than working the ball inside.
DeAndre Page and it also puts a big on top (after getting the down screen), which was always a mess. They think that they can run guard since the positions are interchangeable. That can work in high school (no shot clock). Not a good situation in college if the offense breaks down against the shot clock. Ideally, you want the guards to stay in that position to not risk a big handling it at the top, or shooting a long range shot as you mentioned.
Just a straight Wide Pindown Screen by itself without the box is a great way to setup a 2-Guard Front. 😀😀😀 Maryland's head coach, Gary Williams said he didn't like Pindown Screens because they encourage too many 3-pointers, he wanted layups off that cross-screen. Coach Gary Williams would have the screener turn back inside to perform a "duck-in move." You got the cutter open near the low block & the screener open, burying his defender under the rim = interior scoring-based offense. This is 2019, so there is more emphasis on 3-pointers.
This was our set offense in high school and as long as the defense knew what offense you were in they just jumped in the passing lanes. The offense only worked if you randomly ran it.
That’s why good basketball IQ comes into play. I ran flex for 7 years from 6th grade through varsity so I understand the offense well. Every school in our conference knew we were running it since that’s all we ran and we were known for it. Even then we would still kill everybody. If a team overplays or switches, a flex offense will ruin their night with backdoor cuts and opening up to the ball after the down screen. That’s how you keep them honest.
Great stuff. You point out a major weakness inherent to the flex offense: the spacing. While spacing issues can be attributed to the impatience of the players running it, when the the screen the screener action occurs after the initial flex cut, you're looking at 3 players in or around the paint, and 4 players below the free throw line. Also, like most continuity offenses, it takes a couple times around to get an open look. I think that's why it hasn't been as popular in the NBA, which prefers 4 out 1 in ball screen action most of the time. That being said, Jerry Sloan's Utah Jazz ran flex (I watched them a lot in 2008-2010) as their early offense. They would come down in 2 high 3 low formation and usually go to the corner option and hit the 1st flex cut. But they mostly relied on UCLA sets in true half court situations with screens EVERYWHERE. It was great to watch; they would run off like 15 of 17 made shots over a quarter. One of the most effective offenses that I can remember.
So... are you saying that 4-out 1-in is a passing fad? Sloan also ran a modified flex offense and a lot of UCLA action. For whatever reason, Flex offense hasn't been popular in the NBA, and I think the reason is the spacing.
Eugene Lee Passing fad? Yes. Overblown too. 4 out 1 in suggests 4 3 point shooters and one big. That's rarely the case. Tons of PF's play along side Centers - neither of whom shoot 3's regularly. Aldridge/Rolo. Duncan/Splitter. Milsap/Horford. Bosh/Whiteside. Favors/Gobert. Pau/Noah, Nene/Gortat, Monroe/Drummond, West/Hibbert, Garnett/Pekovic, Z-Bo/Marc, Blake/DeAndre, Davis/Asik, Faried/Nurkic, Thompson/Cousins etc. etc. 4 out 1 in refers to D'Antoni making Amare the center and surrounding him with 4 3 point shooters. Same thing in Houston with Dwight. But most teams have two Bigs. A Pf that spaces to mid range, and a Center that defends the paint and rebounds.But the Don Nelson / D'Antoni style small ball is rarely used in the league. It's overblown. Just look at the size of most of those starting centers. Pick and roll is used almost exclusively in the half court now, but many times you have 3 players along the baseline during a high PnR. 2 guys in the corners, one right outside the paint, and a PnR. Roy Hibbert wouldn't do you much good standing at a 3 point line on a George Hill/David West pick and roll.
I get what you're saying. A lot of these teams don't run true 4 out 1 in spread pick and roll. But, like you mentioned, they usually have 1 big rolling on PnR and 3 guys spacing, whether that's to freethrow line extended or to the three point line. Another common alignment is the pick and pop with the center/true big lurking in the short corner. I will point out that the Warriors and the Hawks run a LOT of motion stuff that end up with 4 out 1 in, with Bogut/Green and Horford/Milsap (or Mike Scott or DerMarre Carrolle), and they are 2 of the most efficient offenses in the league. Likewise with the Mavs earlier in the season with Monta Ellis running the show. Conversely, a few of the teams you mentioned, like the Pacers, Jazz, Clippers, Kings all struggle with spacing and have to rely on crafty interior passing and high post play to open things up so they can generate a passable offense. In any case, the value of spacing is indisputable, and nothing opens up the floor like a stretch 4. Given the right personnel, I don't think the 4 out 1 in alignment, whether to initiate a set or to finish one, is going anywhere.
Eugene Lee You do know that Don Nelson and D'Antoni won a bunch of nothing right? They had top 5 efficient offenses year after year and won a bunch of nothing. Philly does 4 out 1 in too - they're trash. So do several other 4 out 1 in teams. The Rockets - the epitome of that offense haven't escaped the first round yet. They won't ever chip. Teams obsessed with offensive efficiency or offensive rating is kind of like judging paintings by brushstroke per square foot or rap songs by words per minute. The fact that 25 teams are running lots and lots of high PnR isn't an indicator of it being a superior offense, it's more an indicator of it being an easy offense. Running the complex system kind of stuff that Pop runs, or the Triangle necessitates, or the hybrid of the two that Kerr runs is hard and requires multiple playmakers and decision makers. If 25 teams ran the Flex - a Flex offense team would win most chips. If 25 teams ran the Princeton, a Princeton running team would win the most chips. If 25 teams ran the Triangle, etc etc. The advantages in the modern pick and roll heavy offenses are in how easy it is to run. 80% of the guys on the team just catch and shoot or drive in straight lines. the PG makes 90% of the decisions, the Centers don't need footwork or jump shooting mastery. You're confusing easy offense to teach with best. I would argue, all day, that the Triangle and the Motion offense Pop teaches with the Zipper series, Through series, Hammer series are far more effective offenses although they take much more time to learn and require more skilled players to execute. And it's not a coincidence that Kerr and Bud are Pop/Phil disciples
All Im saying is if u have a dominate skilled post player 1. Movement seems to stop when post is fed and 2. Ur taking away any decision making that post player could have.
Thanks, I always wonder what "flex" sets was about. Some concepts I like, the options for back door baskets, and high post passing, but the spacing is two congested for my liking.
The Spurs "Motion Weak" offense uses the flex cut & screen-the- screener downscreen action. Wish the originators got more recognition. Kills me when these offenses are referred to as "new."
Hey Coach, amazing job on the vids they're great. I'm a Okc fan and I was wondering if you could do a breakdown of any of there games this season preferably with KD and Westbrook back, to see if the teams offence (or just Westbrook) has been just more efficient overall. Thanks again P.s. the 7 second offence videos been my fav so far. I know your a suns fan lol thanks!!
They should try different things. See if uptempo works with Rondo, but the other players don't really fit that style. They should run clever pick and roll sets, and get it to Butler as often as possible.
Maryland won a championship off FLEX !!! NBA players lack fundamentals & the patience. I don't like the Boston College version, too 3-pointer dependent !!!
the king brought me here too lol. i like the scheme of the play just dont like how horrible the screens are, then again, maryland won a championship off of it
Because it doesn't matter for the purposes of illustrating how the offense is run. Can't guarantee someone is going to make a shot, no matter what you do.
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Still my favorite offense til this day we ran it at Lawson State CC for two years I have been coaching for the last ten years and it is still hard to stop if your players understand the game!
best offense ever
Siena still runs the flex offense (without the pin down, like Maryland). Their head coach Jimmy Patsos was an assistant at Maryland for many years.
Last night I was watching the 2001 nba eastern conference finals between the raptors against the sixers. Coach Lenny Wilkins used this flex offense on the raptors. I can remember the same screen the screener actions and execution and it was very beautiful!
Gary Williams (Maryland) the only head coach to win a NCAA Championship using the Flex Offense as his base offense.
Daniel: Skinner still runs this at Kennesaw State, and Patsos at Siena runs it (he was the assistant at Maryland).
Thanks Daniel, coach few and Gonzaga runs the flex offense to pretty good success over the last 20 years.
Just a kind of breakdown i was looking for Thanks Coach!!!
Gary Williams (championship with Maryland) didn't like downscreens, because players would always shoot 3-pointers. It's easier than working the ball inside.
DeAndre Page and it also puts a big on top (after getting the down screen), which was always a mess. They think that they can run guard since the positions are interchangeable. That can work in high school (no shot clock). Not a good situation in college if the offense breaks down against the shot clock. Ideally, you want the guards to stay in that position to not risk a big handling it at the top, or shooting a long range shot as you mentioned.
Just a straight Wide Pindown Screen by itself without the box is a great way to setup a 2-Guard Front. 😀😀😀
Maryland's head coach, Gary Williams said he didn't like Pindown Screens because they encourage too many 3-pointers, he wanted layups off that cross-screen.
Coach Gary Williams would have the screener turn back inside to perform a "duck-in move."
You got the cutter open near the low block & the screener open, burying his defender under the rim = interior scoring-based offense.
This is 2019, so there is more emphasis on 3-pointers.
This was our set offense in high school and as long as the defense knew what offense you were in they just jumped in the passing lanes. The offense only worked if you randomly ran it.
That’s why good basketball IQ comes into play. I ran flex for 7 years from 6th grade through varsity so I understand the offense well. Every school in our conference knew we were running it since that’s all we ran and we were known for it. Even then we would still kill everybody. If a team overplays or switches, a flex offense will ruin their night with backdoor cuts and opening up to the ball after the down screen. That’s how you keep them honest.
Great video!! thank you so much! (from Japan.)
Great stuff. You point out a major weakness inherent to the flex offense: the spacing. While spacing issues can be attributed to the impatience of the players running it, when the the screen the screener action occurs after the initial flex cut, you're looking at 3 players in or around the paint, and 4 players below the free throw line. Also, like most continuity offenses, it takes a couple times around to get an open look. I think that's why it hasn't been as popular in the NBA, which prefers 4 out 1 in ball screen action most of the time.
That being said, Jerry Sloan's Utah Jazz ran flex (I watched them a lot in 2008-2010) as their early offense. They would come down in 2 high 3 low formation and usually go to the corner option and hit the 1st flex cut. But they mostly relied on UCLA sets in true half court situations with screens EVERYWHERE. It was great to watch; they would run off like 15 of 17 made shots over a quarter. One of the most effective offenses that I can remember.
The 4 out 1 in ball screen action being popular is like a 3 year thing dude. Sloan ran the Flex for decades.
So... are you saying that 4-out 1-in is a passing fad? Sloan also ran a modified flex offense and a lot of UCLA action. For whatever reason, Flex offense hasn't been popular in the NBA, and I think the reason is the spacing.
Eugene Lee Passing fad? Yes. Overblown too. 4 out 1 in suggests 4 3 point shooters and one big. That's rarely the case. Tons of PF's play along side Centers - neither of whom shoot 3's regularly. Aldridge/Rolo. Duncan/Splitter. Milsap/Horford. Bosh/Whiteside. Favors/Gobert. Pau/Noah, Nene/Gortat, Monroe/Drummond, West/Hibbert, Garnett/Pekovic, Z-Bo/Marc, Blake/DeAndre, Davis/Asik, Faried/Nurkic, Thompson/Cousins
etc. etc.
4 out 1 in refers to D'Antoni making Amare the center and surrounding him with 4 3 point shooters. Same thing in Houston with Dwight. But most teams have two Bigs. A Pf that spaces to mid range, and a Center that defends the paint and rebounds.But the Don Nelson / D'Antoni style small ball is rarely used in the league. It's overblown. Just look at the size of most of those starting centers.
Pick and roll is used almost exclusively in the half court now, but many times you have 3 players along the baseline during a high PnR. 2 guys in the corners, one right outside the paint, and a PnR. Roy Hibbert wouldn't do you much good standing at a 3 point line on a George Hill/David West pick and roll.
I get what you're saying. A lot of these teams don't run true 4 out 1 in spread pick and roll. But, like you mentioned, they usually have 1 big rolling on PnR and 3 guys spacing, whether that's to freethrow line extended or to the three point line. Another common alignment is the pick and pop with the center/true big lurking in the short corner.
I will point out that the Warriors and the Hawks run a LOT of motion stuff that end up with 4 out 1 in, with Bogut/Green and Horford/Milsap (or Mike Scott or DerMarre Carrolle), and they are 2 of the most efficient offenses in the league. Likewise with the Mavs earlier in the season with Monta Ellis running the show.
Conversely, a few of the teams you mentioned, like the Pacers, Jazz, Clippers, Kings all struggle with spacing and have to rely on crafty interior passing and high post play to open things up so they can generate a passable offense.
In any case, the value of spacing is indisputable, and nothing opens up the floor like a stretch 4. Given the right personnel, I don't think the 4 out 1 in alignment, whether to initiate a set or to finish one, is going anywhere.
Eugene Lee You do know that Don Nelson and D'Antoni won a bunch of nothing right? They had top 5 efficient offenses year after year and won a bunch of nothing. Philly does 4 out 1 in too - they're trash. So do several other 4 out 1 in teams. The Rockets - the epitome of that offense haven't escaped the first round yet. They won't ever chip.
Teams obsessed with offensive efficiency or offensive rating is kind of like judging paintings by brushstroke per square foot or rap songs by words per minute. The fact that 25 teams are running lots and lots of high PnR isn't an indicator of it being a superior offense, it's more an indicator of it being an easy offense. Running the complex system kind of stuff that Pop runs, or the Triangle necessitates, or the hybrid of the two that Kerr runs is hard and requires multiple playmakers and decision makers.
If 25 teams ran the Flex - a Flex offense team would win most chips. If 25 teams ran the Princeton, a Princeton running team would win the most chips. If 25 teams ran the Triangle, etc etc.
The advantages in the modern pick and roll heavy offenses are in how easy it is to run. 80% of the guys on the team just catch and shoot or drive in straight lines. the PG makes 90% of the decisions, the Centers don't need footwork or jump shooting mastery.
You're confusing easy offense to teach with best. I would argue, all day, that the Triangle and the Motion offense Pop teaches with the Zipper series, Through series, Hammer series are far more effective offenses although they take much more time to learn and require more skilled players to execute. And it's not a coincidence that Kerr and Bud are Pop/Phil disciples
All Im saying is if u have a dominate skilled post player 1. Movement seems to stop when post is fed and 2. Ur taking away any decision making that post player could have.
Thanks, I always wonder what "flex" sets was about. Some concepts I like, the options for back door baskets, and high post passing, but the spacing is two congested for my liking.
The Spurs "Motion Weak" offense uses the flex cut & screen-the- screener downscreen action. Wish the originators got more recognition. Kills me when these offenses are referred to as "new."
hey coach i think you should check out Argentina's flex offence in 2004
I started teaching this to my girls travel team. I'm excited about the possibilities.
Awesome video again amazing bro keeeping doing what you do!
Flex Offense was created by Carroll Williams who coached at Santa Clara University from 1970 - 1992
This was created as a two-guard front version of the Shuffle offense.
Good vid Coach :)
Hey Coach, amazing job on the vids they're great. I'm a Okc fan and I was wondering if you could do a breakdown of any of there games this season preferably with KD and Westbrook back, to see if the teams offence (or just Westbrook) has been just more efficient overall. Thanks again
P.s. the 7 second offence videos been my fav so far. I know your a suns fan lol thanks!!
Hey man, glad you like the videos. I'll see if I can discuss OKC who has been looking great as of late.
Ahhh lol I didn’t realize how old this video was
what offense do you think the 2016 Bulls should run? with spacing being an issue.
They should try different things. See if uptempo works with Rondo, but the other players don't really fit that style. They should run clever pick and roll sets, and get it to Butler as often as possible.
Awesome
Maryland won a championship off FLEX !!! NBA players lack fundamentals & the patience. I don't like the Boston College version, too 3-pointer dependent !!!
Hey Daniel, you think you could break down the changes that happened in Cleveland since the recent trades and how Blatt uses his new players?
I'm looking into some Cavs videos so we'll see.
Who is Mary Lind? Does she run the Flex offense as well?
Thx
Argentina runs Flex Offense well.
Is that Never Be Yours by Kali Uchis in the beginning ?
Oh Honey by the Delegation.
LEBRON
the king brought me here too lol. i like the scheme of the play just dont like how horrible the screens are, then again, maryland won a championship off of it
lol Steve Blake
The hawks run this with a down screen
Why do most of the clips show missed shots hahahaha
Because it doesn't matter for the purposes of illustrating how the offense is run. Can't guarantee someone is going to make a shot, no matter what you do.
Raptors!
The way you pronounce Maryland is making me cringe so hard
Obsolete basketball.
I got cancer watching Maryland's unskilled bigs try to score at the low block lol
Bob Huggins has run the flex for 34 years, I thought this was a basketball Chanel, and learn how to pronounce ur words haha
this is hecking boring and i only watched 2 seconds