Flex Offense Baseline Series by Wes Kosel
The flex offense was developed in the 1970’s and utilizes ball reversal, “flex” cuts across the lane, and options to counter according to how the defense is playing. The flex offense can be used as a continuous offense, and when using a counter option the basic flex movement can be quickly restored. Many coaches have used a variation of the flex offense including Gary Williams, Mark Few, and Tubby Smith to name a few. The “flex” cut across the lane can create mismatch opportunities for the defense with an inside player screening for a guard. The screen-the-screener action with the cut to the elbow creates disadvantages for the defense, and gets the ball in the middle of the floor for the offense with options to score.
In this playbook, I have outlined continuous movement out of the flex offense baseline series as well as 3 counter options. The initial set-up starts with two players up top, two players in the corner, and a post player inside. For the baseline series, the ball is reversed to the weak side top guard then 3 makes a flex cut across the lane and 2 sets a down screen for the screener (5). 1 is looking to pass to 3 off of the flex cut, or 3 can post up. If the defense switches the flex screen, a post player will be defending 3. 3 can catch the ball in the short corner, face up, and look to make a move past the defensive player. If 3 isn’t open, 1 looks to pass to 5 for a shot at the elbow. If that option is not there, 1 can reverse the ball to 5 and the flex movement continues on the opposite side of the floor.
Baseline Switch: If the defense is switching the screen, 3 can cut to the elbow instead of making the flex cut. 5 will step back toward the block. If a scoring opportunity does not present itself, continuous flex movement continues.
Elbow Back Door: If the elbow cut off of the screen is overplayed, 5 can back cut toward the basket. If 5 isn’t open, 5 continues to the corner and 2 steps up toward the elbow.
Power Option: Instead of 3 cutting to the low post off of the flex cut, 3 curls up into the lane. Once 3 has the ball, 4 makes a hard cut toward the basket. 3 is looking to score or pass to 4 inside.
Wes Kosel is an assistant coach for men’s basketball under Head Coach Tommy Jones at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, TX. 2013-2014 marks the second year for Kosel at TLU. Prior to arriving at TLU, Kosel served as a student assistant coach under Head Coach Chad Killscrow at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, KS. Kosel has an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science from the University of Kansas, and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Physical Education from the University of Houston. The Bartlesville, OK native is also a NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), and teaches weight training and aerobic fitness courses at Texas Lutheran. He has coached AAU programs, volunteered with elementary and middle school basketball teams, and has worked basketball camps for various programs including the Houston Rockets, University of Houston, Texas State, and Texas A&M Corpus Christi
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