Basketball Offense - the Flex Offense

From the Coach’s Clipboard Basketball Playbook, @ http://www.coachesclipboard.net

The "Flex" has been around since the 1970's and is a patterned offense featuring passing, screening, ball-reversal, options and counters. This offense is most effective against man-to-man defenses. Most scoring opportunities come off the "flex cut" inside, or a jump-shot from the elbows. Still you can run various options, counters, post plays, etc. Size mis-matches often occur due to the screening and defensive switching. This article describes the basic flex motion and a few options.

Basic Flex Motion

(Diagrams A - E) In diagram A, O1 passes to O2, while O3 makes the "flex cut" off O5's screen. Depending on how the defense is playing, O3 can cut either over (ball side) or under (baseline side) the screen. O2 could pass to O3 for the inside shot. If the pass to flex cutter is not there, notice in diagram B that O1 then down-screens for O5, who cuts up to the elbow for the pass and jump-shot. If not there, O5 steps outside to get the pass from O2. Now in diagram C, O3 screens as O4 makes the flex cut from the opposite side. After the flex cut, we again note in diagram D that O2 down-screens for O3, who cuts to the elbow looking for the pass and jump-shot. Notice how in diagram E we are in the same basic set as in diagram A, and that the pattern has continuity and can repeat from side to side.

Flex offense

Corner Options

(Diagrams F - J) Diagram F shows the pass to the corner and a simple "give and go" cut by O2. If O2 does not receive the pass on the cut, then all perimeter player rotate to fill the spots. O5 screens for O2 cutting to the opposite corner. Diagram G shows quick ball reversal (possibly a skip pass to the wing) and a pass to O2 for the possible 3-point shot in the opposite corner.

Flex offense, corner option

Diagram H shows another option. Let's say the pass from O1 to O2 is being denied, so the pass goes to O3 in the corner instead. O1 and O2 then set a double-screen for O4, who cuts to the ballside wing as seen in diagram I. The screeners O1 and O2 then rotate into the flex spots as seen in diagram J. As another option, diagram J shows a back-screen. If none of these options are productive, the pass goes back out to the top and we are in our basic flex set.

Point Guard Clear-Out Option

(Diagrams K - L) Start with O1 on top and the other four players down low (diagram K). O1 dribbles to either side, as the two ballside teammates (O3 and O5) move opposite and set a double-screen for the opposite post player (O2 in this example). O1 can try to take the defender 1-on-1. A second option seen in diagram L is a pass to O2 coming off the double-screen. After screening, O5 rotates out on top and O3 screens for O4 who cuts to the ballside block as another option.

Flex offense, point guard clear-out

Feeding the post

(Diagrams M - O) If you have a good, strong post player, you'll want to get the ball inside. Size mis-matches often occur with all the screening and switching that goes on. You could feed the post from either the top, or from the corner. In diagram M, the defender is denying the pass from the top. O4 should try to move the defender up the lane a little. Not shown in the diagrams, if O4 goes all the way up to the elbow and is still being denied, there may be an opportunity for the lob pass over the top (from O2 to O4). Diagram M shows how to get the ball inside when the post is fronted being from the top... pass quickly to the corner, while O4 seals the defender outside and receives the curl bounce-pass from the corner for the baseline drop-step and lay-up.

Diagram N shows how the post player, who is being well-defended, can skip pass back outside to the opposite wing. Now notice in diagram O that we are back in our basic flex set.

There are many other options that you can draw up. Players should learn how to back-cut if being aggressively denied the pass. If the guard-to-guard pass on top is being denied, the ball can be dribbled over to that spot, while the player being dribbled at, must backcut out of the area toward the hoop and fill toward the weakside, while other players then rotate to fill the spots. For example, in diagram N above, if O2 wanted to pass to O5, but O5 was being denied the pass, O2 could dribble to O5's spot, while O5 cuts through to the basket and out to the left corner to take O1's spot. O1 would rotate up to take O2's vacated spot on top (left).

Learn to take advantage of size mis-matches in the low post that occur when the defense swiches the flex's down-screens.

Remember that your best and most frequent scoring options are off the flex cut inside, or the jump-shots at the elbows. Teams that have strong post players will also try to take advantage of mis-matches in the low post, especially at crucial times in the game when you want to get the ball inside or get to the free-throw line.

See the Thunder Offense, which is a variation of the Flex.

Helpful videos:

Gary Williams: Mastering the Flex Offense -- Championship Productions, Inc.
with Gary Williams, University of Maryland Head Men's Basketball Coach, 2002 NCAA Champions.

As coach of the 2002 NCAA championship team, 25 wins in the NCAA tournament, and an overall winning percentage of .641, Gary Williams has learned to master and implement a winning offense: The Flex. In this video, Williams uses on-court demonstration to coach and teach a winning Flex Offense... (more info)

Price: $39.99

Flex for Success -- Championship Productions, Inc.
with Mark Few, Gonzaga University Head Coach

Coach Mark Few, who has won more games than any 3-year coach in NCAA history, gives a detailed look at Gonzaga's highly successful flex offense. In the first part of the tape, Coach Few demonstrates over 10 breakdown drills they use to teach the offense and to work on specific shots that come within the framework of the offense... (more info)

Price: $39.99