“Pistol”
Definition: an up-tempo series that uses 5-out spacing, ballscreens, and flare screens, typically found in transition/early offense situations
Alternate Definitions: Among NBA teams, the early-offense series called “Pistol” is better known as “21.” Instead, NBA teams use the term “Pistol” slightly differently (and contradictorily). Depending upon which coaching tree you belong to, you might use the term “pistol” to mean…
- a wing handoff followed by a ballscreen (aka Miami/Orlando action)
- a down screen followed by a handoff (aka Chicago)
- a throw-and-get designed to get the ballhandler running downhill toward the hoop (such as this Horns Pistol below):
Synonyms: 21, Hurry-Up Offense
See Also: Double Drag, Rip DHO, Delay
Origin of the Name: “21,” the original name, refers to the action between the 1-guard and the 2-guard.
How It Works: Popularized by Mike D’Antoni and Steve Nash’s Phoenix Suns, Pistol begins with 5-out spacing. The two wings sprint to each corner, the point guard brings up the ball on either wing (typically the left wing for a predominately right-handed team), the trailing big is behind the PG and stops near the 3-pt line near the strongside slot, while the other big runs to the weakside wing.
The wing on the same side as the ball snaps back toward the ball, stopping near the free-throw line extended.
From there, the offense typically runs one of four main reads: Chase, Keep, Dribble, and Down.
Set plays, such as Pistol/21 Hammer, can be called as needed, but Pistol primarily uses reads instead of specific playcalls.
1st Option: 21 Chase
The PG and the wing (2, in this instance) execute a get action, in which the PG passes to the 2, and then the 2 handbacks to the PG for a layup:
If the PG can’t score off a layup, 2 cuts off 5’s flare screen to the top of the key, and then 5 sets a corner ballscreen for 1:
From there, Pistol begins to diverge based on team and personnel, although there’s often a flare or a pin-down screen between 3 and 4 when the PG passes to 2:
At this point, the team typically flows into their half-court offense, although some have a predetermined next step if nothing is open. For example, the Chris Paul-era LA Clippers had the weakside big (4 in the image above) flash to the Elbow for 2-man Pinch Post action between 2 and 4.
2nd option: 21 Keep
The second option is for 2 to fake a handoff to 1 and then receive a ballscreen from 5:
As 2 and 5 run their pick-and-roll, 1 lifts back up to the wing for shake action, and 4 sets the same pin-down for 3 (if that’s what they do for 21 Chase):
3rd Option: 21 Dribble
If 2’s defender, x2, denies the hit-ahead pass, 2 sets a ballscreen for the PG in what’s called Dribble action. As with 21 Chase, the PG looks to score a layup first, and then 5 sets a flare screen for 2, and then 5 sets a corner ballscreen for 1:
If 1 passes to 2 at the top of the key, that triggers the same weakside pindown from 4 for 3 as before:
4th Option: 21 Down (aka “Rip DHO”):
21 Down differs in that it begins with a pass to the trailing big, à la Delay. From there, the offense runs what’s sometimes called Rip DHO, in which 2 sets a rip screen for 1 and then receives a DHO from 5:
If 1 is not open for a layup, he retreats to the near side corner, and 4 sets his automatic pin-down for 3 (if applicable) as soon as 5 hands off to 2.
This play was perfected by the Golden State Warriors:
In reality, the pass to the trailing 5 can trigger any number of Delay sets, including Chicago, Down, Up, 50, etc.
Why It Works: The Pistol offense is great for creating “quick shots with great spacing,” according to Dave Severns, a pro personnel scout for the LA Clippers. Many NBA teams, if not all of them, run some form of Pistol as part of their offense (which makes it easy to implement despite high roster turnover). It’s a simple yet sophisticated system that provides both pace and space, ideal for teams with multiple ballhandlers (especially a scoring point guard) and a roll threat.
Because Pistol involves only three players, it can be run in early offense, without waiting for the other two players to get set. At the same time, however, Pistol can also create many scoring opportunities for the weakside, such as this Pistol Hammer:
Pistol is also great for inducing a switch early in the shot clock. For example, “Pistol Touch” — 21 Dribble, but with the 2-guard setting a “touch” screen for the PG—exploits the defense’s instructions to switch a screen as soon as there’s contact. The 2-guard will lightly touch the ballhandler’s defender to induce a switch, and then slip to the hoop, often for a backdoor layup…
…or to exploit the mismatch by posting up a smaller guard. That play — Pistol Touch Punch—is often used by bigger guards, like Jimmy Butler or Jaylen Brown. Here, the Hawks run Pistol to switch Kyrie Irving onto De’Andre Hunter, who posts up and scores over the smaller guard:
In this example, Pistol Touch Punch gets Terry Rozier in the post defending Bojan Bogdanovic, who assists Rudy Gobert as he cuts to the hoop:
And here, Jimmy Butler flips his screen before sealing his switch and getting the layup:
But Pistol, especially 21 Dribble, is also great for exploiting matchups the defense doesn’t want to switch. Defenders are reluctant to help off great shooters, such as Duncan Robinson, which makes them excellent screeners:
Similarity With Horns:
21 Chase and 21 Dribble are nearly identical to the Horns plays known as Horns Flare or Horns Flip.
Like 21 Dribble, Horns Flare has a player set a ballscreen and then receive a flare screen. Like 21 Chase, Horns Flip involves a throw-and-get followed by a flare screen:
The differences are the alignments (5-out vs Horns) and, usually, the personnel: 1, 2, and 5 (Pistol) or 1, 4, and 5 (Horns).
Examples:
21 Dribble (Pistol Flare):
21 Chase:
21 Nash (“Nash” is the double ballscreen on the wing; also known as 21 Double):
Pistol Touch Pin:
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