Basketball Plays, Drills, and Training Tips
Skip Navigation Links

Areas of the court...

Plays
Choose another play...
Category:      Play: 
Your selected article...
The Flex Offense
Description

The flex offense is a patterned basketball offense that has long been a favorite of coaches and players for it's simplicity and continuous ball movement. It works best against a man-to-man defense because it is based on a series of screens, cuts, and ball reversals.

The flex offense is relatively easy to teach and is an excellent way to show your players how the fundamentals of screening, cutting, and passing can create scoring opportunities for every player on the court.

The Play
ANIMATION
Get Microsoft Silverlight
  • The play starts with a basic 1-4 set; the point guard (#1) is at the top with the ball and the other four players are positioned on the low blocks and short corners respectively.
  • If you're point guard is having trouble being alone up top, the shooting guard can start up high on the other side.
  • As player #1 chooses a side to attack, the player on the opposite low post (#4 in the animation) flashes to the high post.
  • Player #1 passes to #4 in the high post.
  • As #4 receives the pass, player #5 pivots and sets a screen in the short corner for player #3.
  • Player #3 "flex cuts" off of #5's screen looking for the pass from #4 at the high post. This is the first option.
  • If player #3 is not open on the initial flex cut, the pattern continues with player #1, who is on the opposite high post as the ball, setting a down-screen for #5.
  • This is commonly referred to as "screen the screener" because #5 has just set a screen and is now being screened for.
  • It is very important the player #1 waits to see if the screen and flex cut between #5 and #3 works first before flashing and setting the down-screen for #5. If he leaves too early it creates a crowd.
  • Player #5 cuts up to the high-post off of #1's screen and looks for the quick pass from #4 and the short jump-shot from the elbow. This is the second option.
  • If player #5 does not have an open shot, the pattern of the flex offense continues; now with player #3 setting a screen in the short corner opposite the ball for player #2.
  • The next step if no shot is open would be for player #4 to set a down-screen for player #3, and so on, and so on.
Key Points
  • As you can see, the flex offense gives all of your players the opportunity to score and keeps everyone involved.
  • Players will need to be patient as this patterned offense many times can take several steps before the opponent makes a mistake by not switching on the multiple screens and cuts.
  • Be sure to practice the pattern often so that you're players execute well in a game.
  • Be sure, especially at the younger levels, that screens are set before the fex cuts are made. Also be sure the screens from the high post down to the low block happen only after the baseline screen has been completed.