The Hoops Geek Drill Library | Horns 2v2 Read & Counter Drill

Andreas Rauh

Published 18 June 2025

Horns 2v2 Read & Counter Drill

This drill trains both offensive decision-making and defensive pressure within the Horns setup. Offensive players work on making live reads out of an elbow entry, while defenders focus on denying entry passes, applying tight ball pressure, and disrupting timing—exactly the kind of resistance they'll face in a real game.

Setup

The ball handler starts at the top of the key.
A teammate is stationed at one of the elbows (either one), with two live defenders guarding both players.
A cone is placed at the opposite elbow to simulate a screen.

The drill begins with the ball handler passing to the elbow. After the pass, the ball handler makes a decision:

Execution

Chase for a handoff. The ball handler runs directly toward the elbow player to receive a dribble handoff, then reads the defense to either turn the corner, pull up, or hit the roller (in full-speed variations).
Use the cone at the opposite elbow like a screen. From here, the ball handler has 2 more reads
If the defender goes under the cone (sags off), the ball handler flares out behind the cone for a catch-and-shoot three.
If the defender trails, the ball handler cuts tight off the cone toward the basket for a layup opportunity.

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Chase for a handoff. The ball handler runs directly toward the elbow player to receive a dribble handoff, then reads the defense to either turn the corner, pull up, or hit the roller (in full-speed variations).
Use the cone at the opposite elbow like a screen. From here, the ball handler has 2 more reads
If the defender goes under the cone (sags off), the ball handler flares out behind the cone for a catch-and-shoot three.
If the defender trails, the ball handler cuts tight off the cone toward the basket for a layup opportunity.