Establishing an inside game is essential to good offensive execution. If your post player is a threat to score, opportunities open up for the other players. Teams that present both an inside scoring option and an outside scoring option are obviously more difficult to defend and force the defense to rotate and help more efficiently with less room for error. The more the defense moves the more difficult it is for them to maintain proper spacing. Communication becomes more difficult and defensive assignments begin to breakdown.

Ideally your post player will be a capable scorer, passer, defender and rebounder. Since she is typically at the back of your defense, she needs to be an effective communicator, directing the defense as she sees screens, cutters and dribble penetrators.

If your post player is not a scorer she can still be a valuable asset to your team. Post players can set sound, effective screens to free up space for other players. Solid rebounders add value to both the offensive and defensive side of the court by creating additional scoring opportunities

Consider the NBA’s 30-60-80 rule when evaluating the importance of rebounding. NBA data says that the first shot of a possession has a 30% chance of going in. When a player grabs an offensive rebound off the first shot, the team now has a 60% chance of scoring. Get a second offensive rebound and the chance of scoring soars to 80%. Rebounds (possession of the ball) make a difference in the outcome of a game.

See Drill Categories -  Rebounding – on the website, onevoicebasketball.com for details related to rebounding techniques.

OFFENSIVE SCORING SKILLS:

WHY POST UP?

1.   The opportunity for High Percentage Shots.

2.   To draw the Double Team (open opportunities for others).

3.   Create Foul Trouble.

4.   To be in position for offensive rebounds.

Effective post players possess five basic qualities (Gannon Baker) :

Ø  They have an excellent basketball IQ.

Ø  They have good footwork.

Ø  They have a solution on the catch - score or pass.

Ø  They can use both hands effectively.

Ø  They have an effective jump shot.

THE 3C’s

Post players focus on the 3 C’s -

Ø  Catch – Securing the ball using 2 eyes, 2 hands, 2 feet.

Ø  Chin - Bring the ball shoulder high and in front of the chin.

Ø  Check – turn the head to the inside to check the defense’s positioning and identify any possible double teams.

THE HEAD GAME

Effective post players need more than technical skills. They have to be mentally tough. Post play is physical - all the time. There is no way to play in the post and avoid physical contact, it is the nature of the game. Right or wrong the rules on physical contact are officiated differently in the post areas than they are on the perimeter. Post players must stay poised and be strong with the ball.

Unlike guards and forwards, post players rely on others to get them the ball. Sometimes they work hard to get position and their teammates don’t see them or don’t look inside. They need to know that their work has benefits - even when they do not get the ball. When a post player works to get position she makes the post defender work. When she gets good position the help defenders have to adjust, creating more space for the perimeter players to operate.

Offensive post play happens at the end of the court, under her team’s basket. Defensive post play happens at the same place but on the other end of the court. Post players run the length of the court on every change of possession. Finding the energy to sprint down court, getting to the basket before your defender, can lead to easy baskets.  As the last line of defense, the post player must also get back and into position to help defend the basket.

All of the above - physical play, keeping a cool head, working hard without a payoff and battling through fatigue - challenge a player’s mental toughness.

POSITIONING

The contemporary[BP1]  post player can play inside or outside. She can be a capable outside shooter and also be comfortable playing with her back to the basket. Post players understand that physical contact is part of the game. They know that their defender will not just give them good position - it will have to be earned and kept.

When playing in the post, positioning is of the utmost importance.  Working to receive a pass with two feet in the lane allows you to score without a dribble.  If you set too high, you might find the need to execute skills that you're not comfortable with. Set too low, and you might find your options are limited.

WHERE TO POST UP?

Ideally the post player will straddle the first hash mark above the block. The key, or lane, is like your road map. The markings in the key help players identify where they are on the court. If you set up below the block it eliminates move options such as the drop step – because when you drop the step you will be too far under the basket to score efficiently. Setting up slightly above the block also leaves room for players to cut both to the baseline side and the center lane side of the post player.

On the catch locate your defender. Is she playing your baseline side, the high shoulder or straight up - centered right behind you. Once you find her, only allow her to play you one way. If he is playing on your low side, work to keep her low, if on your high side, work to keep her high.

STEP OVER THE DENIAL LEG – LIFT UP THE DENIAL ARM

Step slightly to the ball when it’s passed. If possible, land with a two-foot jump stop (this allows you to use either pivot foot). If the defender is in denial position, step over her front leg and sit down (hips down, knees bent). Check the defense before trying to score.

POST CUTS AND MANEUVERS

Use cuts and maneuvers to gain the position you want.

Ø  Fake low, cut high; fake high, cut low.

Ø  Use a Swim Move - attack the defender – bring the outside hand across the body and nudge the defender’s hip while using a “swim move” - swing the inside hand over the top of the defender’s shoulder while stepping over her leg with your inside leg to gain position.

Ø  Use a Spin Move.

Ø  Face the lane and the defender, reverse pivot and seal.

Ø  Use the Bill Walton move – face the lane, back to the passer. Bend over, hands on knees, as if you are tired, head at the defender’s chest. This creates space. From this position reverse pivot and seal the defender.

Ø  Take one step across the lane, drop step back to the ball and seal.

Ø  Sprint down court and outrun your defender to get the position you want.

MAINTAINING POSITON

The work does not end when you gain position and are open in the post. You have to maintain that position. Use the defender’s position to your advantage. Keep her where she is. Seal her and keep her sealed.

Ø  When the defender uses High Side Denial – stay low and wide with a baseline hand target.

Ø  When the defender uses Low Side Denial – stay low and wide with a target hand towards the foul line.

Ø  When the defender Fronts – face the baseline – hands towards the baseline; use hips / legs to bump defender out towards the sideline a little; extend arm bar 90 degrees and look for the lob or ball reversal. Release to the ball without pushing off the defender.

Ø  When the defender Fronts get the guard to reverse the ball. Turn & seal the defender, showing the passer your numbers.

Ø  When the defender plays Behind – stay wide and low.

Ø  When your defender looks to the ball and moves to help defend – cut to the open spot. If the attack is coming from the baseline move to the elbow when your defender moves to help. If the attack is coming from the top or wing move to the short corner.

Ø  When your defender moves towards you – use the swim move and move to your position.

CATCH AND SECURE THE ENTRY PASS

Once you have gained position your teammates can get you the ball. Passing angles are important. Poor angles allow for deflections and interceptions. Show the passer your numbers (the number on your jersey). If the passer can’t see the post player’s chest or numbers she should not make the pass.

The passer is taught to pass away from the defense - for example, if the defense is low, pass to the high hand. The passer works to create the best entry pass angle using the dribble and pivots to assure a quality pass is delivered.

While maintaining your sealed position, see the entry pass and step to it with a jump stop. Catch the ball with two hands and chin it. Look over the high shoulder into the lane and check the defense.

Post players must have good hands – they have to be able to catch and secure the ball on the entry pass. Players have to trust that the post player will catch the ball, protect it, and make good decisions with the ball. If the post player cannot catch the pass, never passes back out when defended, or makes poor decisions with the ball, the other players will lose trust in the post player. A lack of trust can lead to hesitancy in execution, a lack of offensive rhythm and, in some cases team dissension.

See Catching the Basketball, on the website, onevoicebasketball.com, under Drills – Speed & Agility for details about catching techniques.

If the defense plays behind the low post, enter the ball. If the defense fronts the low post, enter to the high low passer for a high-low pass. If the defense fronts and helps from the weakside low position skip pass to a weakside shooter.

In addition to being a competent receiver the post player must be a competent passer as well. Some of these passes include:

Ø  The kick out pass – from the post to an open perimeter player.

Ø  The pass out of a double team - identify open teammates.

Ø  The high / low pass.

Ø  The outlet pass – advancing the ball following a rebound.

Ø  The diagonal pass out of the high post vs. a zone defense.

Ø  The backdoor pass – to a teammate cutting to the basket.

See Passing, on the website, onevoicebasketball.com, under Drills – Categories for details about passing techniques.

FOOTWORK

Only experienced players can appreciate the value of footwork. When we first begin to play basketball all we want to do is dribble and shoot. We do not yet understand that all basketball skills are performed better with proper footwork.

Few players excel in the post position without good footwork. The best post players can execute the basic pivots fluently. Those pivots include:

Basic Pivots

Ø  Forward Pivot

Ø  Reverse Pivot

Ø  Drop Step

Ø  Step Through

Ø  High or Low Rip / Sweep

Advanced Footwork

Ø  Pro Stance

Ø  Step Back

Ø  Dribble Drop Step

Ø  Pro Hop 

Defensive footwork

Ø  Deny & Front

Ø  Reverse Pivot and Box Out

Ø  Swim Move

Ø  Spin Move

Footwork competency comes from repetitions - executing the skill correctly until it can be performed without thinking. It is also worth noting that repetitions alone do not lead to competency. Once a player is familiar with the execution of a pivot, she must learn to execute it in a competitive environment. Small sided games can emphasize post play and create useful repetitions in game like situations.

See Balance & Footwork on the website, onevoicebasketball.com, under Drills – Categories for details about executing the pivots noted above.

SCORING IN THE LOW POST

Scoring in the low post can be relatively simple - catch and finish or an offensive put back. Scoring can also be a bit more complex - scoring off a post move which requires good footwork, balance, some agility and patience. While there are a number of traditional post moves, ideally the post player will work on one of two with a countermove for each. She must be able to make and convert the move with either hand. Once those have been mastered additional moves can be added.

Ideally the post player looks to keep it simple and score. A competent post player shoots 60% from the field. Keeping it simple often means using a basic power move. Though simple the power move is one that requires repetitions and practice. To score the post player must establish a strong base – low, strong and balanced. Using a two-foot finish is preferable since one-foot finishes are difficult to execute in traffic. The post player must “power up” to finish the shot. They often must finish through contact.

FINISHING THROUGH CONTACT

In an attempt to avoid getting a shot blocked some players will bring the ball down to shoulder height or fade away from contact. Others get pushed off balance because they do not establish a strong base on the finish. Ironically, these strategies usually do not yield the best results. It is easier to block a shot if the shooter lowers the ball. High school players do not shoot fade away layups accurately and shooting off balance contributes to shot inaccuracy.

No one likes to have a shot blocked, but it is more likely to happen when we play “soft” than when we play “strong”.

To play basketball at a competitive level a player must learn to finish through contact. When an offensive player initiates the contact she can make space for the finish. The offensive player can go chest to chest, shoulder to chest or use a veer dribble on the drive to the hoop. Shoulder to chest is the most effective strategy when using a two-foot finish.

To initiate the shoulder to chest method and player lands with a two-foot stop and “T’s Up” the defender, bringing her shoulder and hip to the defender’s torso, bumping her to create space to finish the shot. The offensive player must be near vertical and avoid extending an arm to push off the defender. Keep your inside arm up and strong to make the defender play through your body to get to the ball. NOTE: If you jump slightly into the defender it is seldom called an offensive foul, especially if the defender is in the air. You can add head / ball fakes before elevating to get the defender in the air and vulnerable to the bump.

Search on our website, onevoicebasketball.com under Drills – finish, finishing, physical, contact – to find drills to practice finishing through contact.

GO TO MOVES

Every player needs a move that they can consistently execute with good results. Basketball players often call this a “go to” move.

COUNTER MOVES

A counter move is a move that you can instinctively execute when an opponent successfully defends your go to move. A post player’s counter move is almost always used near and around the rim. It must be practiced until it can be completed, in rhythm, from the go to move into the counter move. 

Some low post moves*:

*The moves listed above can be found on our website, onevoicebasketball.com, under DRILL CATEGORIES – BALANCE & FOOTWORK - many include video demonstrations.

The moves chosen should complement the player’s strengths. Is she a “back to the basket” post player, a “face up” post player, or can she be both?

The traditional “back to the basket” player is rare in today’s game. Many post players can also shoot effectively from the short corner, and the elbow. Some others can shoot accurately from a longer

distance. The player’s role on the team and in the team’s offensive scheme dictates where her priority work is done.

FREE THROW SHOOTING

Post players do most of their work in the paint, near the rim. The physical play in these areas often leads to fouls and provides opportunities for FREE throws – easy, uncontested scoring chances. Effective post players must a make a minimum of 70% of their free throw shots.

When we shoot free throws we are often winded from the pace of the game. We shift from moving, sprinting, jumping, and sliding to standing still at the foul line. To assist with our focus we need to get our heart rates down as quickly as possible. After the foul is called buy some time. Do not walk to the line until you are ready or directed by the official. Fix your hair. Tie your shoe. Walk to mid-court and back. Huddle with teammates. Ask for towel from the bench and dry off your hands. Buy time if you can. With your heart rate recovering walk to the line. Don’t look at the official until you are ready.

When you are ready accept the ball and breathe. Shoot your shot in rhythm with your breathe. For example, take one deep breathe. On the second breathe release the shot on the exhale. Figure out a routine that feels comfortable to you – and practice shooting free throws the same way every time.

SCREENING

Post players both set screens for others and use screens from others. They can use cross screens, down screens and back screens to create space and get position. They can also set a pick / screen for a teammate and execute a pick and roll maneuver.

See Screening, on the website, onevoicebasketball.com, under Drills – Categories for details about setting and using a screen.

HANDLING DOUBLE TEAMS

When a post player effectively operates in the post and gives her team an advantage, she can expect the opposing team to try and take that advantage away. Sending a second defender, or double teaming is the usual strategy. A double team is essentially a trap at the post location. Handling the double team to avoid turnovers and create scoring chances by finding an open teammate is done in much the same way a guard handles at trap at mid-court.

Beating Double Teams

Ø  Split the double team – step back / step through.

Ø  Pass out of the double team – look diagonal to the weak side.

Ø  Ball fake.

Ø  Dribble into space.

See Traps & Trapping, under Drill Categories on the website, onevoicebasketball.com. for detailed information on handling double teams/ traps.

POST DEFENSE

An effective post defender is the last line of defense for her team. When other teammates are unable to defend the ball the post defender must be in position to prevent the score. Usually at the very back of the defense, the post defender can see the entire floor and help her teammates with clear communication.

The post defender must be able to neutralize the opposing post player, rotate to help on dribble penetration and rebound missed shots to prevent second chance scoring opportunities. She must have good denial and front technique to minimize any opponent’s size /strength advantage .

See, Defending, under Drill Categories on the website, onevoicebasketball.com. for detailed information on post defense.

 [BP1]