The dribble handoff explained

A dribble handoff, often shortened to DHO, is a play in which one player dribbles the ball toward a teammate and hands it directly to him as they pass close by, rather than passing it through the air. The player giving the ball then usually stays to shield the receiver's defender, turning the handoff into something very much like a screen. It is a simple exchange that creates an immediate advantage.

The reason the dribble handoff is so useful is that it works like a pick-and-roll in motion. As one player hands off and lingers in the path of the receiver's defender, the teammate takes the ball and turns the corner toward the basket, using the handoff man as a moving obstacle. The receiver comes off it with speed and a head start, much as a ball-handler does off a traditional screen, but from a more unpredictable angle.

The handoff is effective because it happens quickly and close to the defender, giving little time to react. It is especially dangerous for skilled guards who can shoot, drive or pass off the exchange, forcing the defence to respect several options at once. It also flows naturally into other actions, so a team can chain handoffs with screens and cuts, keeping the defence guessing and generating easy shots without a set play.

Defences try to counter the dribble handoff in several ways, much as they defend a screen. A defender may fight over the top to stay attached, slide underneath if the receiver is not a shooter, or switch assignments with a teammate. Some defences try to disrupt the exchange before it happens by pressuring the ball early. As with the pick-and-roll, no single answer works every time, which is what keeps the handoff a reliable weapon.