This past road-trip, the Rockets ran HORNS, a standard NBA set, more often then they had all season. Usually the Rockets use a variation of the set in transition to open up James Harden for an open look, but recently it’s been in their half-court offense.

Here is the general set-up of HORNS the Rockets have utilized.



Patrick Beverley sets up on the top of the key and has the option of using the screen from Dwight Howard or Donatas Motiejunas. On opposite corners, James Harden and Trevor Ariza wait for Beverley to make his choice which will dictate whether they move along the baseline or the three-point arc. If Beverley takes the screen from Motiejunas on the right high-post, Harden will likely move across the baseline to the left corner and Ariza will move towards the right wing (spacing). However if Beverley takes the screen from Dwight, Ariza will set-up in the right corner and Harden will transition to the top of the key. The Rockets ran HORNS with Beverley taking the screen from Howard more times than not. Motiejunas moves to the right wing, a fail-safe in case Beverley is trapped by a double-team off the screen and roll.

Here is an example of HORNS: Beverley is turned back by Rose, forcing him to pass it to Motiejunas behind the three point line. DMO pitches it to Harden who draws the double as he drives inside. Harden makes a nice pass back to DMO at the free throw line, Gasol steps up, and Motiejunas throws the perfect lob to an open Dwight Howard for the alley-oop slam dunk.

The Rockets run the same HORNS set, but this time Derrick Rose is late coming around a Dwight Howard screen and Gasol stays back to prevent an alley oop, giving Beverley an uncontested floater.

When playing against teams that lack rim-protection and play small, the Rockets can run this set and open up easy alley-oop opportunities for Dwight off the screen. In this example Beverley is doubled off the screen and roll and Miller is late on his defensive rotation, opening the lane for an easy alley-oop to Dwight Howard.

Here are two more examples of HORNS, incorporating Josh Smith’s strengths. Kevin McHale recognizes Smoove’s ability to be a secondary play-maker and create with passing, whether off the dribble or on the high-post. The Rockets utilize Smith’s passing ability to create high-percentage opportunities as shown below.

In the first example, Smith makes a bullet pass into the corner for an easy Ariza three. Instead of having Dwight and Motiejunas on the high post setting screens, the Rockets have DMO and Smith set-up for Beverley to choose. Beverley comes around a Motiejunas screen and simultaneously Donatas rubs off Gibson, allowing Smith to curl around and drive down-hill. Ariza runs along the baseline and sets up in the right corner and receives Smith’s pass on target.

In the second example, Jason Terry gets a quick screen from Josh Smith and moves to the left wing. Howard and Smith change spots, switching their location parallel to the lane lines. Next, Terry comes off a Howard screen and passes to Josh Smith. After setting the screen, Howard cuts to the basket and Smith throws a perfect lob pass for the slam dunk.