SEVEN REASONS POST PLAY IS IMPORTANT

1) Post shoot higher percentage shots.
2) Post draw more fouls on the opponent.
3) Post can get more ”Three Point Plays"
4) Post can foul out opponents.
5) Post can put pressure on the opponent’s team defense.
6) Good post play opens up more and better outside shots.
7) With a post attack close games are more easily won.

MENTAL APPROACH TO POST PLAY:  POST PLAYERS MUST

1) Be aggressive.
2) Love contact.
3) Want the basketball.
4) Want to score everytime they get the ball.
5) Communicate.
6) Be strong and ”play strong.”
7) Be in great condition.
8) Be good to great free throw shooters.
9) Be hard workers.
10) Play without fear.
11) Utilize quickness and fakes properly.
12) Pass out of double teams to the proper player.

BASELINE THEORY

THE BASELINE THEORY IS THE LOGICAL ORDER OF POST SHOTS.

1) The power lay-up (drop-step).
2) The baseline backboard “bank” shot.
3) The lane jump shot.
4) Advanced post moves.
Low percentage shots to be avoided:
1) The cross-under the basket lay-up.
2) The baseline jumper with no backboard.
3) The fall-away jump shot.

IMPORTANT POINTS IN LOW POST PLAY

1) Teammates must always look to get the ball inside. “Inside-Out” theory - offense always looks to score inside first. When the defense jams the inside then outside shots will be open and easier to make.
2) Post must always “look” to score everyitme they get the ball inside.
3) Post must be able to read the defense and perform the appropriate move and/or shot or pass.
4) The use of the dribble is dangerous in the low post and should be used with discretion. Only one dribble is allowed and it must be a hard two handed dribble and catch.
5) Post players must practice game post shots daily.

PRINCIPLES OF LOW POST PLAY

Too often coaches concentrate on post moves and not the principles that lead to successful post play.
1) Fight for position but do not waste movement. Do not give up position unless to take advantage of the defense. We want our low post to line up above the block - splitting the second and third free throw lane spaces.
2) Keep the knees bent - make yourself a “wide” target - DO NOT stand up straight. We want the lower body low - the feet wider than the shoulders - and the upper body up - the post should show his numbers to the passer and give an aggressive target, he should present the picture of a post that wants the ball.
3) Leverage Is Vital! Leverage is gained by foot and body movement and contact. Footwork is one of the hardest things to teach because it is not natural. Toes and shoulders should be pointed at the ball. Sit on the defender’s thigh - the post’s center of gravity is thereby lower than the defender’s and this makes the post stronger. If the defender steps around in front of the post’s foot, the post should step over the top of the defender’s foot. If the defender attempts to go behind the post, the post keeps the defender behind by using short choppy steps with his arms in an “L”, keeping his toes pointed toward the ball and maintaining contact with the defender. It is important for the post to get at the defender’s feet, have firm arm bars in the shape of an “L” thereby creating space for the pass.
4) Create as much space for the pass as possible:
A) If the defense is on the baseline side, set up lower to create more space for the pass on the high side - KEEP CONTACT WITH THE DEFENSE!
B) If the defense is on the (top) high side, set up higher to create more space for the pass on the baseline side - KEEP CONTACT WITH THE DEFENSE!
C) If the defense is behind, set up at the edge of the lane above the block to set up a situation where you can go either way. ATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THE DEFENSE!
D) If the defense fronts with the ball at the wing, set up as far from the lane as possible within four feet of the lane to create more space for the lob pass.
If the defense fronts with the ball at the guard spot, set up as high as possible up to the fourth free throw lane space, to create more space for the lob pass. KEEP CONTACT WITH THE DEFENSE!
5) Pevent or inhibit movement by the defense by keeping contact with the defender. This is called ‘pinning” the defense. The post must get at the defender’s legs, he can not allow the defender to get at the pass.
6) Give a ”Two-Hand Target” and protect the target area by effective use of the body.
7) Don’t release the defender from your rear too soon when the defender is playing behind. Release after the ball has been passed and is nearly to you depending on the speed of the pass and the position of the defender. Nothing frustrates a coach or a passer more than for the post to be posted up strong and then on the pass have the defender step around the post and get a hand on the ball. If the post has position he should not let the defender around him. He must fight with his feet to win the ‘foot-war”, using short choppy steps to maintain his “pin” until releasing to catch the ball at the proper time. the post uses the same techniques as if blocking out for a defensive rebound.
8) “BUST IN” when you are side-fronted by a defender’s arm. KNOCK the defender’s arm away by raising BOTH arms (hands) toward the ball and stepping over the defender’s top foot. Knock the defender’s arm away from below.
9) “HIP-AND-ROLL” when fronted. On the lob pass maintain contact with the fronting defender with your hip. See the ball. Put BOTH hands in the air as a target. Let the pass be thrown. As the passed ball is DIRECTLY above the fronting defender’s head give the fronting defender a slight nudge with your hip “as you start your jump to catch the ball with two hands.”

FIND THE DEFENSE

As the post begins to post up it is important to find the position of the defense. The post needs to find the defense in order to set the defense up for a score or to make the appropriate move. The post must use his elbows (“L”) and rear to make himself as big (WIDE) as possible.
The post can use his eyes, elbows (“L”), and rear to find the defense. The elbows and rear are used to “PIN” the defense in place. By keeping the elbows at shoulder level at right angles (“L”) the defense can force the defense to stay behind him. The elbows will make the defender go out and around him if the defender attempts to front or deny him the ball. When in a good low post stance the post must use his feet to keep the defense behind him as well. In his book “Basketball Post Play”, Pete Newell says, “Foot positioning skills are often the most indentifiable traits of outstanding basketball players.” In a good low (WIDE) stance the low post player can use his rear to find the defense, hold him in position (sit on his leg) and “PIN” him for an easy score.

THREE MOVES TO GET OPEN IN THE LOW POST

THE FACE MOVE:

The face move is helpful to our post men in getting open. Instead of immediately posting and attempting to pin his defensive man, the post will face his defender. He is then is a position to spin in either direction and pin his man. We have found that this move tends to freeze the defensive player and prevents him from immediately denying the post pass.

THE SLIPMOVE:

The post is fighting the ‘foot-war” but the defender gets around in front. The post “Slips” - or steps-through and pins creating a new passing angle. If the ball is at the wing and the defender moves from the high side to front, the post steps-through with his bottom foot. If the the defender moves from the low side to front, the post step-through with his top foot. This is a counter move to ever-which-way the defender is fighting to get around the post.

COME BACK MOVE:

In this move the post leaves the low post area as if he is going to cross the lane to the opposite low post area them comes back on his defender opposite of the way the defender is playing him.

REVERSE PIVOT AND PIN

When the ball is at the guard spot and the low post is fronted and the lob pass is not there, the guard passes to the high post (or second guard) and we use the “reverse pivot and pin.” The low post will quickly drop his bottom foot and swing it completely around squared to the high post (this is a reverse pivot on the top foot). The inside hand will drop and the elbow will be placed in the middle of the defender’s back. At the same time the outside hand will drop and be extended and become the target hand (this is the only time we will use just one hand as the target) with the palm facing the high post.

THE 'JUST DO IT' POST PLAYER

After spending countless hours teaching the fundamentals of low post play you will have a post player that does everything wrong but he is successful and scores. A lot of the time this will be your best player. This is O.K. This is a “Natural” post player. Don’t attempt to change the things he consistently gets good results from - just be thankful that you have this player. However, you must still teach this player all the low post fundamentals in pracatice drills along with your other low post players. You could very well add to his game and he will be twice as tough to defend. But you must teach low post fundamentals to all your low post players (as well as to all players) because some players will never develop these low post fundamentals on their own. These are the players who appear to be mechanical in the low post, yet they can still get the job done successfully.

HAND POSITION

It is very important to keep the hands free of contact in order to catch the pass into the low post. The post must hold (PIN) the defense in position and at the same time give a good “two-hand target” to teammates.

RECEIVING THE PASS IN THE LOW POST

1) The post should face his teammate that has the ball, unless fronted.
2) Give a “two-hand target” and be ready for quick passes.
3) Move in the direction of the pass at the proper time.
4) Come to a “jump stop” after the catch, with good body balance.
5) Catch the ball “firmly” with two hands before attempting a move or shot.
6) Perform the following in order and quickly. Not rushed, but quickly and never skip a step. Post players cannot make up their minds of what they are going to do when they get the ball before they get the ball. The defense will dictate the move - read the defense.
A) Catch and chin the ball.
B) Immediately look over the baseline shoulder - read the defense.
C) Make shot, move or pass.
We assume that players know how to catch the ball. This is wrong. Most passes are missed because of improper hand position. The fingers should never be pointed at the ball. If the pass is high, the fingers are up. If the pass is low, the fingers are down. We have a “BAD PASS” receiving drill that we do with all players. Players stand twelve feet from their partner and throw all kinds of bad passes to each other. Basically, catching the ball involves a block and tuch technique. The palms should be facing the ball. Block the ball with the palm of your hands and then bring it in and tuck it. Don’t short arm the ball. Catch the ball away from your body. Then bring the ball in under your chin (tuck - “chin the ball”) with the elbows out. If a post catches the ball next to his body, the defender will get a hand on it. Another important point is you must “catch the ball with your eyes.” The post must look the ball into his hands. many post players will miss the pass because they will begin their move before they receive the ball.
The hands define the post player. “He has good hands” is a very high compliment for any post player. Catching may be the most under-rated skill in post play. Any pass that hits the post’s hands should be caught. This is an area that every player can improve on and particularly the post player. A post player may have the greatest moves in the world but if he cannot catch the ball they will do him no good.

PASSING TO THE LOW POST

1) Always look inside first! “Inside-Out Theory” / if the post is open HE GETS THE BALL!!!
2) Pass away from the defensive post player.
3) Never force a pass to the post, but never pass up an opportunity to pass inside to the post.
4) Fake low - make air pass.
5) Fake high - make bounce pass.
6) Don’t attempt fancy passes.
7) Pass TO THE POST - not to a spot and expect the post to go and get it.
8) Before making the lob pass check the backside for defenders.
9) On ALL lob passes “shoot” (drop) the ball into the post’s back target hand. Make sure to pass high enough so the fronting defender cannot jump and deflect or intercept.
It is very important to prepare the other players to work with the post players. The game is divided into two types of players - the perimeter players and the post players. Or as a friend of mine says, “post players and players who pass the ball to post players.”
You must sell the perimeter players on the importance of post players. You must teach perimeter players on how to read post defenders. Eighty percent of the turnovers in basketball are the result of passes. This is primarily because players do not read the defense.
You must teach the perimeter players HOW to pass to the post, how to pass away from the defense, how to pass to the post player and not to a spot and how to read the post player’s target. Also teach the how to read their defender (the man guarding the passer). Teach by progression. Teach nothing new until what has been taught has been learned and mastered.
It must be stressed that a large portion of success of reading the defense comes from experience and playing against different defenses. These situations must become part of the daily practice organization so that the keys to be read can be pointed out and proper adjustments learned and executed. Practice segments must be set aside to work against various defenses.
The reading keys can become troublesome if a defensive team changes defenses several times during a game. However, once the techniques are mastered, understood and practiced against a variety of defensive situations, they changes really do not have an effect on your ability to pass to the post.
Defenses are designed to stop certain things but cannot stop an entire offensive attack. After players learn how to read the defense we are able to attack areas and/or locations that the defense leaves open.
When a perimeter player is attempting to pass the ball into the post, he must freeze the defense. A good pass fake will do this. Anytime you want to stabilize the defense, a good pass fake will do it.

THE POWER BOX

When the post makes a baseline power dribble for a power shot we want him to go to the POWER BOX. The POWER BOX is in the lane directly in front of the side of the backboard - the area of the backboard without the rim on the side - and about one and a half from the backboard. If he drives to the basket and thinks about going to the basket, many times he will go to near the baseline or get into a position where he will have to shoot an exposed shot. From the POWER BOX he can shoot a protected shot. And you can not score against a good team after you cross the line of the basket. The good teams will be there with offside help. The post should drive to the POWER BOX without crossing the line of the basket and point his feet (toes) toward the baseline. If his feet (toes) are not pointed toward the baseline he has opened himself up and has lost the protected shot.

PROBABILITY

Basketball is a game of success and failure. Players try to improve the balance between the two and essentially are concerned with increasing the probability of success in all the actions they take. Also, they must be concerned with decreasing the probability of success in their opponent’s actions. Once the ball goes into the low post player, if the post can encourage the defender to make an aggressive attempt to block the shot, then the probability of a foul being committed will be high. So, the post shoots in such a way as to maximize the joint probablities of scoring and being fouled. Not only does he stand a chance of scoring a field goal, or of getting two free throws if he misses but also of scoring a field goal with the opportunity of a free throw - “The Three Point PLAY.” Plus the added bonus of placing his opponent into foul trouble. Basketball consists ofpredicting one’s opponent’s actions sufficiently to encourage him to commit himself to a probability of failure.

DEVELOPING THE YOUNG AWKWARD POST PLAYER

You don’t have to be tall to play the game of basketball, but every coach should learn to develop the tall young players in his program. The tall player who can move, play aggressive defense, is coordinated, has agility and mobility and know how to operate in the low post is a gem in any offensive system. Often these tall youngsters seem to develop at a slower pace than their smaller more active teammates. As a result some coaches either drop them from the program or push them to the side in order to work more with their more agile teammates.
However, more and more coaches are realizing how important it is to give these tall uncoordinated youngsters the opportunity and time to develop. Coaches are realizing that if these youngsters want to improve and really want to play, they can indeed become a diamond for their team. This helps these youngsters to develop the poise and confidence they so desperately need. And for the coach it could give his program a real ‘force’ in the post position. There is no easy way or magic formula for developing these young players. The only way is by hard work with proper guidance followed by hard work, followed by more hard work. Another important ingrediant is patience, by the coach as well as the player. Often times it must be the coach who instills this patience in the player to keep them from becoming discouraged. The coach must show a real interest in the player and motivate him in every positive way possible. But the actual hard work must come from the player spending the extra time on his own development. The coach just needs to show that he cares. One true statement is, “players don’t care what a coach knows, until they know he cares.”
One certain program will not work to develop every young tall awkward player. These youngsters need indivilualized workouts tailor made for them that they can use year round. Some items that could go into the workout are:
1) jumping rope,
2) ball handling drills,
3) stretching drills,
4) all types of jumping drills,
5) tipping drills,
6) weight training,
7) a running program - both short and long distance,
8) all types of agility and quick foot movement drills,
9) free throw shooting drills, and
10) post shooting and moves.
Others could be added but the most important thing is it must be tailor made for each individual youngster. It is important when planning a program that the coach does not give the player so much to do that he is over-whelmed and loses interest. The activities should be fun and challenging while at the same time requiring the player to work hard. These activities should be set up in such a way that the youngster can see results and realize that they are improving, thus, motivating them to work harder.
The coach should encourage the youngster to play in pick up games during the summer against older and more experienced players. Emphasizing that playing against older, bigger, smarter, etc. players will only help improve their own playing ability.
Most important the coach must take an interest, motivate, be postitive, encourage, verbally acknowledge improvement, praise hard work, correct and lead the youngster on his quest for improvement.

LOW POST MOVES AND DRILLS

All low post moves that we teach are based on our “Baseline Theory.” The post lines up above the block, on the line of deployment (a straight line between the ball and the basket), gives a two hand target, meets the pass with a two hand catch, chins the ball and checks the defense over his baseline shoulder.

WHY THE “BASELINE THEORY?

We feel our answer is very simple. We check baseline first because if the baseline is open we want to take it immediately for the power lay-up. We feel if we check the middle first we lose a lot a baseline power lay-up opportunities and this is the highest percentage shot a low post player can get. Also, no help is coming from the baseline - it may be coming from the backside but not from the baseline - so even if help is coming from the backside and we turn baseline we can still successfully get off the baseline backboard “bank” shot - the second highest percentage shot that a low post player can get. Third, if we can turn baseline for the baseline backboard “bank” shot it doesn’t really matter if help is coming from the top side.
All our pivots on making our moves are front pivots. We do not teach the Jack Sikma inside (or reverse) pivot unless a post has mastered all the fundamental moves and is an advanced player. We also emphasize using the backboard on shots whenever possible, especially if there is going to be contact on the shot.
In our low post drills, we practice all the moves on both sides of the basket. We generally use three man drills to practice the moves. A passer (positioned at the guard or wing spots), an offensive low post player and a defensive low post player.

There are four phases to these three man drills:
1) 1 on 1 Shadow - no pressure by defense,
2) 1 on 1 Three-Quarter - defense plays one-half to three-quarter speed,
3) 1 on 1 Live Instructed - defense plays top speed, defense is instructed how to defend and offensive post is instructed on what move to use, and
4) 1 on 1 Live - defense can play any way the wish and offensive post player makes the appropriate move.

We practice the moves using our four phases system and incorporate the six items below at various times. We feel these aid us a great deal in teaching offensive low post play.
1) The Big Ball (BB)
2) a HeavyTrainer Ball (HT)
3) a Tennis Racket - so the post player has to shoot over the racker (TR)
4) a football hand held dummy - to teach players to take the ball up strong, they are bumped with the dummy as they shoot (SH)
5) a 15-Inch Goal (15)
6) an Arch-Developer (AD)
The items we use when working on which moves are indicated by (BB), (HT), (TR), (SH), (15), and (AD). These items may be used individually or in combination during drill work.

THE THREE BASIC LOW POST MOVES

THE DROP STEP POWER LAY-UP

After looking over the baseline shoulder, the low post “steps over the defender’s leg - making contact” and makes a hard six inch two hand dribble and catch directly below the crotch. As this is happening he is bringing his top leg into the POWER BOX, leading the way with his body. He plants on two feet and then takes the ball up strong using the backboard to score. We then use the pump fake after we have arrived at the POWER BOX. With the pump fake we emphasize pumping the head and showing the ball head high. ***IMPORTANT: while keeping the feet FLAT on the floor; we actually want the post flat-footed at the instant of the fake to avoid the traveling violation. We tell them when the ball goes up your rear goes down. (BB), (HT), (AD), (SH), (15)

THE BASELINE BANK SHOT

As the post looks over his baseline shoulder he sees the defender playing off and between himself and the basket. The post then front pivots on his bottom foot and squares up to the backboard. Then shoots a jump shot off the backboard - a bank shot. We execute this in a quick re-read technique, where the post player pivots and then makes a second visual read of the defense and then shoots. This re-read is not a slow deliberate read but a quick re-read. We also emphasize a quick pivot and a quick release with a high follow through on the shot. (BB), (AD), (15), (TR)

THE LANE JUMPER

As the post looks over his baseline shoulder he sees the defender up close on the baseline side. He then front pivots on his top foot and squares up to the basket and executes a jump shot. Again, we use the quick pivot, quick re-read and quick release and high follow through. (BB), (AD), (15), (TR)

ADVANCED LOW POST MOVES

THE BASELINE JUMP HOOK

As the post looks over his baseline shoulder, he sees the defender is on the baseline side and playing slightly off of the post player. The post makes a half (front) pivot off his bottom foot and squaring the line of his shoulders to the basket (the line should be / outside shoulder - inside shoulder - basket). He will then raise the ball with both hands straight up and snap his wrist of the shooting hand toward the basket for the shot. Releasing the guide hand at the last second. Keeping his shoulders in line with the basket as much as possible. We also add the use of the backboard for a bank shot. Everything is the same except the line of the shoulders, this is now: outside shoulder - inside shoulder - backboard. To teach the jump hook with the weak hand a good lead up drill is the Mikan drill. (BB), (AD), (TR), (15), (HT), (SH)

THE LANE DRIVE JUMP HOOK

As the post looks over the baseline shoulder he sees the defender tight on the baseline side. He will drop step into the lane using the same six inch dribble technique he used on the Drop Step Baseline Power Lay-Up. His bottom foot is his pivot foot and he steps with his top foot directly across the lane as much as possible. After he completes his dribble he will square the line of his shoulders to the basket and shoot the jump hook as described above. (BB), (AD), (TR), (15), (HT), (SH)

THE BASELINE UP AND UNDER

As the post looks over his baseline shoulder he sees the defender on the baseline side back to the basket. The post front pivots on his bottom foot and squares up to the basket. As he squares up he re-reads the defense moving toward him quickly. The post will then give a pump fake - it is not necessary for the defender to jump, if he only raises up on his toes you have him. As the defender raises, the post steps “over the defender’s top leg”, making contact, executes his six inch power dribble, squares to the basket for a jump shot or squares the line of his shoulders to the basket for a jump hook. We then teach The Baseline Up and Under with no dribble, the post shoots a hook shot/layup over the front of the rim. (BB), (AD), (TR), (15)

THE LANE UP AND UNDER

As the post looks over his baseline shoulder he sees the defender tight on the baseline side. The post then pivots (front) on his top foot and squares to the basket. As he squares up he re-reads the defender moving toward him quickly. The post will pump fake and as the defender raises, the post will step “over the defender’s outside leg”, making contact, executes his six inch power dribble and shoots a power lay-up. We then teach The Lane Up and Under with no dribble, the post now shoots a lay-up. Next we add the pump fake after the post has executed his power dribble. (BB), (HT), (AD), (15), (SH)

THE DROP STEP LANE POWER LAY-UP

On this move the post is sometimes below the block because he gave up position to take advantage of the defense playing on the baseline side - the post player took the defender lower. The defender will usually be on the side instead of off a little on the baseline side. Now the post player does not need to check over his baseline shoulder as he can feel the defensive man because of his PIN on the baseline side. The post pivots on his bottom foot and steps to the basket with his top foot, executing his six inch power dribble, and squaring up to the basket in the POWER BOX. He will then shoot a power lay-up. Next we will add the pump fake after the post has reached the POWER BOX. (BB), (HT), (AD), (15), (SH)

THE HOOK SHOT

On this move the post can again feel the defender with his body on the baseline side yet he is not as far around as when he executed The Drop Step Lane Power Lay-Up. The post player takes a long step with his top foot as directly across the lane as possible. (We emphasize the LONG step. We ask our players, “If someone offered you a ten dollar bill or a one dollar bill which would you take? So if the defender is giving you a step make it a Long step!) The body should be low - head down and shoulder down with the ball at the ear. The toe of the stepping foot pointed directly across the lane opens up the hip allowing the shoulders to turn, which is the key to shooting a good hook shot. Bring the ball from the ear straight up to a 2 o’clock position and the off-hand at 10 o’clock - keeping both hands on the ball as long as possible. The ball should be shot behind the head. The follow through should come across the body in front of the shooter’s face. The hook shot is not a shot completely with the wrist, there is some arm action in the shot. After the shot the shooter should finish facing the basket. (BB), (AD), (15), (TR)

THE SPIN MOVE

The post has received the ball and is being leaned on (or pushed) hard in the back. He makes a super-quick baseline read. Then spins on his bottom foot toward the basket baseline side. Dribbling with the hand nearest the defender to avoid the ‘hooking’ offensive foul with that arm. And shoots a power lay-up from the POWER BOX. (BB), (AD), (15), (SH), (HT)

DIRECTIONAL CHANGE MOVES

As the post player advances we put in the directional fakes BEFORE the post move. by directional fakes we mean the post catches the ball and fakes as if to turn in one direction and then quickly turns back in the other direction. The moves that the directional fakes can be added to are:
1) The Baseline Bank Shot, 2) The Lane Jumper, 3) The Baseline Jump Hook, 4) The Lane Drive Jump Hook, 5) The Baseline Up and Under, 6) The Lane Up and Under, and 7) The Hook Shot

ADDITIONAL DRILLS HELPFUL TO LOW POST PLAYERS

BALL POUND DRILL

Two players face each other with each holding a basketball with two hands. One player will raise his ball above his head and pound down with his ball hitting the other player’s ball. Then they switch roles. The object is to knock the ball out of the other player’s hands. The player’s alternate turns as fast as possible. This drill works on developing strong hands and the habit of holding onto the basketball.

MIKAN DRILL

The player has his back to the free throw line and takes a step with his left foot to the right side of the basket and shoots a right handed lay-up. He catches the ball before it hits the floor, takes a step with his right foot to the left side of the basket and shoots a left handed lay-up.

CATCH AND CHIN DRILL

We use the same formation as in our three man post move drills. To passer passes the ball to the post, who is in proper post up position, the post aggressively jumps to catch the ball with two hands, comes to a jump stop, then immediately ‘chins’ the ball with his elbows out and looks over his baseline shoulder to locate the defense.

THE FACE MOVE DRILL

We use the same three man formation as in our post drills but add a coach or manager at the guard spot. With the passer at the wing spot. The ball starts at the guard spot and is passed to the wing spot. On the pass the post performs ‘The Face Move’ as described earlier. Later we will add a post move to be executed.

A FEW RANDOM POINTERS FOR POST PLAY

1) The fronted post should have both hands (arms) in the air as a target.
2) Give a two hand HUNGRY target - DEMAND the ball with your hands!
3) Catch the ball FIRST (two hands and firmly), then the move, shot or pass.
4) Only ONE dribble in the post - use two hands - dribble hard - and go someplace.
5) USE THE BACKBOARD ON SHOTS WHENEVER POSSIBLE!
6) Remember passers help locate the defense by the location of the pass.
7) Use shot fakes.
8) Use shot fakes and all fakes wisely.
9) Quickness of shot release after catching with two hands firmly and turning and re-reading the defense makes up for a difference in height. Be quick but don’t hurry!
10) Flash or ‘Bust-In’ at the proper time - when a teammate is ready to pass. It does no good to be open if the player with the ball can’t get it to you or isn’t ready to pass.
11) Go for the Three Point PLAY!
12) You will be open (at least from your point of view) more times than you will get the ball - be patient and continue to work to get open for a pass.
13) If your shot is blocked occasionally don’t worry! Four things will happen when your shot is blocked.
A) the ball is recovered by one of your teammates, B) the ball goes out-of-bounds on the defense - our ball, C) you will get fouled, and D) the ball is recovered by an opponent. Of these four things only one of them is bad for the offense. Also, if you use fakes wisely, your defender will be more susceptible to the shot fake the rest of the game. Always attack the shot blocker - attack his body, make contact. In doing this you take away his legs, do not give the shot blocker room to gather for his jump.
14) Post players must “look to give it back first in practice and look to score first in games.”
15) You must work with your post players individually on a daily basis. Post players have unique problems and techniques that cannot be handled in a team setting.