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Posting up in basketball is an essential skill for players to learn, referring to when offensive players position themselves in the post area of the court, usually the low post near the basket, to receive a pass. From this position, they can use their speed, agility, and precision footwork to outmaneuver defenders and create opportunities to score. Posting up is a crucial aspect of basketball, as it can lead to rebounds, blocks, and steals, and it forces the other team to adapt their defensive strategy.
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What You'll Learn
- Offensive strategies: Find the position and receive a pass
- Defensive strategies: Defend the post area, including low, medium, and high posts
- Footwork: Use agility to outmaneuver defenders and protect the ball
- Scoring techniques: Shoot, pivot, dribble, or pass to create scoring chances
- Practice: Drills, rebounds, and playing both sides improve performance
Offensive strategies: Find the position and receive a pass
Offensive strategies in basketball often involve players posting up—moving into a post position to receive a pass. The post is the area of the basketball court from the free-throw line to the baseline, usually painted a solid colour and known as the paint or the key. There are two post positions: the high post, near the free-throw line, and the low post, close to the basket. Offensive players, usually power forwards and centres (also called post players), will move into the post area, usually the low post, to receive a pass.
To receive a pass, the offensive player must first find their position in the post. They will then face away from the basket, making eye contact with the point guard or passer to indicate that they are ready to receive the ball. Once the player has received the ball, they can make their move. As scoring opportunities are high from the post, defenders will be aggressive. Offensive players can use this to their advantage by trying to draw fouls or using their speed, agility, and footwork to manoeuvre around the defender. They can use a variety of moves, including a drop step, power dribble, power move, shot fake, pump fake, or a triple threat stance. They can also pass the ball back out to an open teammate.
The distance from the basket will determine which moves the player can use. For example, if the player catches the ball two steps off the low block, they may opt to face up and attack. However, this will likely result in more contact with the defender. Instead, the player could settle for outside jumpers, avoiding contact. Alternatively, they could embrace the contact and attack the opponent, potentially drawing fouls and creating free-throw opportunities.
Being able to score with both hands will also increase the offensive player's options. For example, if a player can only shoot the jump hook right-handed, the defender will force them to their left, blocking any shot attempts. Being able to finish moves with both hands will force the defender to play straight up, opening up more scoring options and allowing for a wider range of fakes.
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Defensive strategies: Defend the post area, including low, medium, and high posts
Defending the post area is crucial in basketball. All players, regardless of size, must be prepared to defend post-ups fundamentally. There are three basic post areas to defend: Low post, Medium post, and High post. Here are some defensive strategies for each of these areas:
Low Post Defense
When defending the low post, it is important to note that low post defense is not just limited to the tallest players on a team. Smaller players can also be posted up, so all players must be skilled in the fundamentals of low post defense. The defense is played before the post receives the ball, not after. The defender should beat the offensive post to the spot and force them to adjust their setup position. This is done by pushing high if the opponent sets up low and forcing low if they set up high. The defender must deny all post passes and step into the passing lane to block or intercept passes. To deny an entry pass to the low post, the defender can extend their arm closest to the ball into the passing lane, thumb down, and create an arm bar with the other arm. If the ball is passed to the corner, the defender must "step through" and then turn 180 degrees to deny the pass. To defend a player with a size advantage in the low post, a defender can "front" the post by standing in front of them to prevent bounce or chest passes.
Medium Post Defense
When an offensive player assumes a medium post position, they are a triple threat as they can shoot, pass, or drive. Therefore, defenders must be agile and quick, pressuring passers and denying post passes. The defender should beat the offensive player to the desired spot, forcing them to adjust their setup.
High Post Defense
When an offensive player assumes a high post position, they are most likely a screener or passer. Defenders guarding a high post should assume an aggressive pass denial position on the ball side. When a high post sets an On-Ball screen, the defense can use one of seven different techniques to combat it. The defender should play behind or to the side of the offensive player, relying on teammates for support.
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Footwork: Use agility to outmaneuver defenders and protect the ball
Footwork is a foundational skill for basketball players, enabling them to move with efficiency and effectiveness. Good footwork allows players to harness their athletic abilities, such as jumping high and running fast. It also helps players to guard and defend effectively, and to keep pace with their opponents.
To outmaneuver defenders and protect the ball, players can use a variety of footwork techniques. For example, the crossover step is a maneuver used when a defender needs to turn their body and sprint after an opponent. The defensive slide, or push-step, is another important technique, where the feet slide without crossing over, reducing the risk of losing balance. Closeouts are also important—when an offensive player catches the ball, the defender must sprint out to them, and then chop their feet and put their hands up when they are 6 feet away.
Players can also use agility to their advantage. Agility allows players to change direction quickly, dodge defenders, and create openings. Agility drills can be used to improve these skills, such as the T-drill, which involves sprinting, shuffling, and changing directions. Agility ladders are another useful tool, as they train rapid directional changes, enhancing foot speed and court adaptability.
Precision is also key to footwork. Drills such as cone zig-zags help players to develop precision and control, as they must weave through cones with a ball in hand, demanding sharp cuts and quick decision-making. The jump rope is another drill that improves foot coordination, ensuring players are balanced when shooting or breaking down their defender.
Finally, pivoting is a tool used by players to create space. By keeping one foot planted, players can spin 360 degrees, allowing them to transition into a layup, dunk, or jump shot. This technique can also be used to shield the ball from defenders, spot open teammates, or find a shooting angle.
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Scoring techniques: Shoot, pivot, dribble, or pass to create scoring chances
Posting up is a crucial aspect of basketball, and players need to master various scoring techniques to excel in this area. The post area, often painted a solid colour and known as the paint or key, extends from the free-throw line to the baseline. This area offers ample scoring opportunities, and players can utilise moves like shooting, pivoting, dribbling, and passing to create scoring chances.
Shooting is a fundamental scoring technique in the post. Players can execute shots like layups, up-and-under shots, slam dunks, jump shots, fadeaways, and hook shots. Developing a go-to move, such as the jump hook, can be advantageous due to its quickness and defensive difficulty. Being able to finish shots with both hands increases scoring options and makes it harder for defenders to predict your moves.
Pivoting is another essential technique in the post. When a player receives the ball in the post, they can use pivot moves to create space and improve their scoring angles. This can include drop steps, spin moves, and power moves to outmaneuver defenders. Utilizing fakes, such as shot fakes and pump fakes, can also keep defenders off-balance and create scoring chances.
Dribbling is a valuable skill in the post, as it allows players to create separation from their defenders. Power dribbles, in particular, can be effective in the post area, helping players back down their defenders and create scoring opportunities. Combining dribbling with footwork and agility can help players get into favourable positions for scoring.
Passing might not seem like a direct scoring technique, but it is instrumental in creating scoring chances for teammates. When posting up, players can draw defenders towards them, opening passing lanes to teammates. A well-timed and accurate pass to an open teammate can lead to high-percentage scoring opportunities. Additionally, posting up can help facilitate quick ball movement and create advantageous situations for the offence.
In summary, mastering shooting, pivoting, dribbling, and passing techniques in the post area significantly enhances a player's scoring capabilities. Each technique contributes to creating scoring chances, either for oneself or teammates, and understanding how to utilise these skills effectively is crucial for success in basketball.
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Practice: Drills, rebounds, and playing both sides improve performance
Drills are an essential part of basketball practice, and they help players develop their offensive and defensive skills. One of the most important skills for posting up is footwork, which can be improved through drills like the "Mikan drill". This classic drill helps players understand how the ball reacts off the glass and improves their touch under the basket.
Another drill to improve footwork involves post players starting at the low block, moving out to the short corner, receiving a pass, and shooting a jump shot. This can be developed further by adding a shot fake and a quick baseline dribble move for a lay-up. It's important to practice this on both sides of the court to improve performance.
Rebounding is a critical skill in basketball, and it's been said that it's 20% skill and 80% determination and mental toughness. A simple drill to improve rebounding skills is to have players line up at the elbow, each with a ball. The first player throws the ball off the backboard and then jumps to rebound it, focusing on timing, jumping high, and chinning the ball.
When playing the post position, it's crucial to be able to pivot and use both feet equally. Players should be taught offensive moves based on pivots, such as the "Sikma Shot", to encourage creativity and confidence. Being able to pivot on both sides improves performance and gives players more options when posting up.
Additionally, post players should learn to locate their defence before receiving the ball. By knowing the position of the defender, players can control their movements and work to keep them either high or low. This awareness also helps passers get better angles to get the ball into the post.
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Frequently asked questions
Posting up is an offensive strategy in basketball where a player moves into the post area of the basketball court, usually the low post, to receive a pass from the point guard. The post area is the area from the free-throw line to the baseline, often painted a solid colour and known as the paint or the key.
Once in the post position, the offensive player will face away from the basket and get ready to receive a pass, making eye contact with the passer to help this occur. Once they receive the ball, they have several options, including pivoting, backing down a defender, spinning, faking out, or using footwork and speed to outmaneuver their defender.
From the post position, players can go in for a layup, up and under shot, slam dunk, or perform a mid-range shot like a jump shot, fadeaway, or hook shot. The jump hook is particularly effective in the post as it's quick and difficult to defend. The post is also where most rebounds happen, so players should be ready to rush in to rebound the ball.
