A Message to the Reader: It would be a mistake for me at this point not to mention (and thank) Bob McKillop. The years spent playing and coaching with him contributed a great deal what I now call "RitzBBall"... Again I say ... "I didn't write the song, I just tried to learn how to sing it..." (Lou Rawls) 

If you are just looking for something funny to read ... Or a "quick-fix" then this article is probably not for you. But if you are a player or coach who wants to improve in the post... You might want to print it out and read through it.

The Information contained in these pages are the accumulation of over 30 Years of Basketball playing and coaching. I have always been a student of the game. They are the accumulation of mental notes of things I have experienced as a player and as a coach in the United States, Germany, Italy and Spain. It is possible that some coaches will not agree with some of the tactics described because they are not "from-the-book" methods. I make no excuse or apologies for that. I realize that some of the methods are unorthodox, but "It works for me!" is all I can say. Developing Post Players ... by Ray "Ritz" Ingram

If you are ever stuck for a topic with which you can get into a good discussion with Basketball Coaches, all you need to do is ask one of the following questions:

Question #1 Which Player Position is most important to you?

Question #2 If you could build a team from scratch which position would you fill first, Point-Guard or Center.

The answers and all of the qualifications, conditions and ramifications of those answers could fill a book.

Anyone who has been around Basketball long enough knows that there is definite shortage of quality Post-Players. There is of course the natural reason that there simply are not sufficient numbers of athletic young people who are taller than 6'7 (men) or 6'2 (women).

A second and equally important reason is that there is insufficient time spent on developing the skills needed to be a Post-Player.

It is my opinion that, given the proper training, a player who is even a few inches shorter than the height usually associated with playing in the post can be very effective and an invaluable asset to a team.

I will take that a step further and add that a Perimeter-Player with good Post-Skills can be a game determining factor.

I believe that any amount of time taken to develop good post play will be well worth the effort. It gives a coach more versatility and allows for the use of multiple offensive sets in which players are interchangeable. This aspect makes it far more difficult for opponents to prepare for and defend against your team.

So, the bottom line is that although I will talk about "Big-Men" it is important to remember that the operative term is "Post-Players"

The Mental Approach

A. Some say that Big men are slow to learn, slow to develop, and slow to show progress. If you look at the NBA today and see how many marginal college players have now become productive NBA players, you have to ask yourself why. I believe the reason lies in the fact that it was not until late in their development that they came in contact with the coaches who could give them the specialized attention needed for learning those skills. Post-Players must develop an attitude and a work-ethic that can only come from repetitious drilling and a desire to "get it right".

B. The coach must sell the guards. The perimeter people must understand that if they want their big men to rebound, to run the court, to play defense then they are going to have to keep them happy by getting them the ball.

C. The coach must teach everybody to play in the paint. Your team will be better prepared to handle mismatches and will be more prepared to diversify their offensive skills.

D. The post player must be clever as well as physical. The post is so close to the basket that the eyes of the referee are a lot more focused on the activity in the post area. Just being physical is not enough.

E. The post player must be aggressive. Positioning and strength are essential ingredients for the post player. It's a battle for turf; it's a fight for territory.

F. The post player must be conditioned to make a second effort. Nowhere on the court is there a greater need or opportunity to make second efforts than in the paint. The missed shot becomes an offensive rebound. The rebound requires an outlet pass and the running of a fast-break lane. The blocked shot requires gaining possession. The good defense requires a box out. Second efforts are essential.

Getting Open

A. If possible avoid setting up where you want the ball. Try to catch the ball after you have made a move to it. It's more difficult to defend a player who is moving player than a stationary player.

B. Avoid cutting too soon. Time your cut to get open in the post to coincide with the arrival of the ball into a passing position. There is no sense being in position if the ball cannot be delivered; and if you are in position too soon, the defense has too much time to recover. This coordination is going to require a great deal of work on the part of the post as well as the perimeter players.

I prefer two areas for post-up scoring opportunities: the high post ("elbow-area"), or between the foul line extended down to the baseline ("mid-post area"). You should also try to avoid setting up on or below "the block". Setting up and receiving the ball too low can restrict the number of options which can be used to score because it may place you behind the backboard at the end of your move or give you no angle to use the backboard for your shot. A third post-up area is in the lane, directly in front of the basket. This position is however usually the most difficult to occupy.

C. The most often used and consistently effective move to get open in the post is the V-Cut. Go high if you want the ball low; go low if you want the ball high. You must cut hard, sharp, and violently not allowing the first contact by the defense to stop your progress. A favorite phrase of mine is "never allow one-third of the defender's body to prevent you from obtaining the position you want".

D. I like to use the term "Hide on the Baseline" to describe where I want my players to make their cuts from (not always but in many cases). It's very difficult for a defender to see the offensive player and the ball at the same time if the offensive player is on the baseline. This allows the offensive player to get behind a defender's vision. It also creates a more area in the lane for the offensive player to get open in. If the defender adjusts his position to see the ball and the man by backing up, he will open up the lane for the offensive player to catch the ball closer to the basket and he will also take himself out of the play as a help defender. When you make your V-Cut you should go down to the baseline because it allows you the opportunity to come under the basket or flash into the lane. Executed properly it is very difficult to defend one-on-one.

E. In order to seal the defender away from the ball and your cut use a move that is called "Throwing the Forearm". As you approach the defender, get close to him, swing your forearm over his head, and simultaneously swing your hips in front of him. You will seal him high with the upper arm and low with the hips. The first reaction for the defender is generally to duck. It's a most effective way to seal yourself. What's fascinating about this move is that it can be used almost anywhere on the court to get open. For example, the "forearm manuever" can be used against pressure on the wing, against pressure in-bounding the ball as well as cutting to the basket from the perimeter. It's an extremely effective offensive maneuver anywhere on the court but especially so in the post.

F. If you are held by the defender put both arms up in the air. This will expose the hold to the referee; plus, with your arms up in the air it will call attention to you by the referee.

G. There will be times when you must be a stationery post. In such a case, use the "Sleeper" position. Stand and post up, facing into the lane. Bend over and stay as wide as possible. You must then pivot according to how the defensive player plays you. If he plays you on the top side, back pivot with the foot closest to the baseline. If he plays you on the bottom side, back pivot with the foot closest to the high post. If he fronts you, face the baseline and stick your shoulder into the mid section of his back, holding both hands up looking for the lob pass. If he plays behind you, a simple front pivot, either way, will get you open.

H. Does it matter which side you have your post player set up on? Experiment in practice, and learn which side is most effective. Be conscious of this as you prepare your offense. Perhaps this is a bit too technical but it might create the small edge necessary to win. Naturally it would be great if your post develop their scoring skills from both sides of the lane!

I. Set a screen to get open. It can be a cross screen, a cross screen and return, a back screen and a face up, or a down screen and a post up. When you set the screen look for the ball. You often hear of coaches complaining if a player doesn't roll in a "pick-and-roll" situation but far too seldom does anyone complain if a screener doesn't roll after he has set a screen; yet they should, because a tremendous number of open passing opportunities are wasted because the screener failed to shape-up. Be certain your players understand that whenever they screen it's often the guy who sets the screen who is going to be the one who gets open.

If you have a player whose upper body is very strong or has excessively strong forearms simply have him thrust his hand into the midsection of the defender and follow with his arm leading the rest of his body. Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz does this most effectively.

J. Shuffling into position is quicker than stepping into position. For a moment, think about a baseball pitcher when he is trying to hold the man on first base. Pitching from the stretch position he will not kick his foot up very high when making his delivery, but rather slide his foot towards home plate. This holds the runner better and makes his delivery quicker. The same holds true for a post player.

K. If you are playing with two players in the Post area, they should remember that "if one post gets the ball the other post should go to the basket". If the ball is passed from the wing to the high post, the low post man should step to the ball first, then go to the basket. Generally the defender will react to this first move for a moment and "open up the gate" for the offensive player to get position to receive the ball and possibly create a larger area to pass into.

Posting Up

A. I stress that the path between the passer and receiver is like a roadway with an obstacle. The obstacle is the defender and he prevents this roadway from being used. With your movement, create space, make contact, and open up the passing lane. Your big guy is like the bulldozer opening up the road. Use the hip area to drive the defender towards the baseline or up to the foul line or out to the perimeter.

Movement up or down will create better passing angles. The value of the hips is sometimes under estimated. All strength stems from the hips. It's the center of gravity and it's the first area to tire.

B. Ideally you like to post up outside the three second lane, above the block. You will be able to move either way from this position; if you go lower, you take away your baseline move, so avoid posting up too low. Obviously there will be times when you catch it in the lane, avoid three seconds by making a quick but unhurried move.

Recently, we've seen posting occur a step or two off the three second lane. This is because quickness is becoming a major factor with midsize post players and it gives these post players an opportunity to pivot, face up, and use their quickness against a bigger slower opponent.

C. Be in a balanced position, knees bent, butt down, hips squared to the ball, feet facing the ball., This gives you a wider, stronger base. Try to come to a jump-stop so that you can use either foot as your pivot-foot.

This is the ideal position although there are times what the defense might cause you to adjust. When you jump stop, don't hammer your feet down; the harder you put your feet down the slower they come up. Loud feet are slow feet, quiet feet are quick feet.

D. Don't stand and beg for the ball. Demand it and then get out. The longer you stay, the easier it is for the defender to recover and for the help to come. This creates temptation for the passer, and will put more pressure on him to make a pass ... and more often than not an ill-advised pass.

E. Teach your post player to put his elbow and upper arms on the shoulder of the defender when possible. This will lock the defender down when he tries to play the top or the bottom side. The offensive post player should remember to hold his spot until the ball is in position to be caught. Don't move too much .... No "Happy Feet" or "Hallelujah Post-Ups". "Happy Feet" is a term I use to describe Post Players who, even when they have good position, continue to move and often as a result of this movement they are not stable enough to hold off an aggressive defender. "Hallelujah Post-Ups" refers to the action taken by a Post Players who flashes into position, throws his hands up in the air above his head then turns and runs out of the post area before the passer has enough time to make a pass or often just as the passer is about to make a pass. If you ever visit a Southern Baptist Church in the United States on a Sunday morning and watch the congregation once the Preacher gets going, you'll know what I mean.

The Pass to the Post

A. When you work on any phase of post play in practice, have a defender on the passer as well as the receiver. There is a tendency too often for perimeter players to stand in practice, throw a chest pass as an entry pass, because there is no defender and you may only be working on a shooting phase of post play or a one on one phase of post play. Give your players every opportunity to perfect their passing in live practice situations as well as drills. Don't try to save time by using managers to pass. The more your players practice passing, the better they get at it.

B. The distance between the passer and the receiver should not be too far or too short. The three-point line has been a great space creator and is generally a very good distance.

C. The passer must be more than a passer. He must be a threat to drive, shoot, and pass. Be a triple threat keeping both your defender and the post defender honest.

Don't ever let the defender get into a position where he knows you are only going to pass.

Make your defender and his defender worry about you. If the post defender worries about you it might open up a pass to the post. A good mental training technique is to observe game / scrimmage situations and watch what happens when perimeter players pick up their dribble. Usually you will be able to see that the defense against the "ball-side" Post-Players intensifies.

D. Ball faking is very effective against the defender of the passer as well as the defender of the receiver. I like to ball fake every day to begin practice. It may "get Old" for the Players, but there are certain skills which must simply be repeated in Practice until they become a part of your game.

Ball fakes should be sharp, violent, but close to the body so that you don't throw yourself off balance. Work on pivoting with any ball faking drill that you do. A ball fake is effective against not only your defender but the receiver's defender.

E. Know where open passes will be even before you catch the ball. Develop this kind of anticipation by constant drilling and by having your perimeter players look through the pass when they receive it. We run a "Hi-Lo" Offense and constantly I drill into my high post players the words "inside / weak side" so that as soon as they catch the ball their first look should be to score, then automatically look "inside", then "weak side".

Because there is congestion in the lane and tight defense on players operating within the lane, defensive recovery time is very short which means that the post man will only be open for split second... so you must be aware of where others are as well as where they "will be".

This is very similar to the almost "blind Coordination" between Quarterbacks and Wide-Receivers in Football. It is commonplace for quarterbacks to make passes to areas where it seems that, at the moment of release, he is throwing the ball to no one. You look up and suddenly there stands the intended receiver.

The same holds true for the pass receiver. He runs down the field and, without looking back, after a certain number of steps he changes direction and speed and ... "Bang"... here comes the Ball, right on target.

Basketball is no different and Post-to-Post / Perimeter-to-Post passing should be done in much the same manner. As coaches we complain about too little movement without the ball. One of the causes for this lack of movement is: The Passers say... "No one is moving, so I didn't make the pass!" ... The Receivers say ... "I didn't think he was going to pass, so I didn't cut!" ...

It's a "Catch-22" situation, which can only be resolved through anticipation and trust. This again is something which should not be applied only in Post-Play, but all over the court.

It is also extremely important to have passers defended when they practice passing to the post. Sometimes only token pressure should be applied, but there should also be sufficient practice under game like conditions. Develop competitive drills so that players learn to concentrate in these situations.

F. If the post man shows no target, he gets no pass. We drill this into both passer and receiver. When you put your hands out you are communicating to the passer; in addition, you are giving him a target much like a catcher gives a pitcher a target.

G. Pass away from the defender. This is where the target should be.

H. I believe that the best pass to make to the Post is the "bounce-pass".

There are of course other types of passes which when used properly can be equally as effective:

the "lob-pass" is good to use when post players are being fronted or when there is a height advantage;

the "shot-pass" is very similar to the lob. It is softer and requires more accuracy than the lob-pass;

It is usually very effective when your post player has a significant height advantage and is generally thrown directly to the player rather than to an open area;

the "bent-elbow-pass" in which you flick the ball past the shoulder of the defender flicking your wrist while you keep your elbows bent;

and finally the "roll-pass" in which you roll the ball (actually a very low hook-bounce pass) on the baseline side making your receiver bend down and go for it.

I. When throwing a lob-pass, avoid leading a post player into a charge. See the defensive help that might step in. A lob-pass or an air-pass can be easily hit from behind if not shielded by the post player. If you are throwing the lob from the wing, aim for the corner of the backboard.

If you are throwing the lob from the high post aim for the corner of the square.

Remember that these are passes that the receiver should have to jump to catch. They should never be under thrown.

J. The pass on the baseline side is the most difficult to defend because usually there is no immediate help. Nevertheless, the Passer should be aware of possible Weak-Side Help. Ball-fake and "see the defense".

K. Don't make a big guy into a little guy. Pass to the post player at shoulder level or higher.

L. Once you pass the ball keep the defender honest. Don't allow him to cheat. Cut to the basket, fade to an open area or screen away. As soon as you pass, your defender will relax and have a momentary lapse. Both perimeter and post player should take advantage of. this situation. Develop the concept of "reloading" in which the post player will again throw it back out to the perimeter player who should have moved a step or two off his spot. After he throws it out to the perimeter player he backs his man up, spreads his arms wide, and tries to reestablish even better position, closer to the basket with better balance.

When the pass comes back to the perimeter, the perimeter player often has an advantage, especially if his defender has jumped into the post to try and "dig" out the pass after the perimeter threw it to the post.

M. If you throw an "air-pass", try to make the receiver jump to it so that he comes to a jump stop. This will aid the player in the post in catching the ball in a balanced and "down" position.

N. If you have a mismatch, exploit it immediately. Don't fool around with it. Sometimes quick, violent moves are the most effective.

O. The value of the big man has grown immensely because of pressure defense and the three-point shot. Realize however, before throwing the pass to the post "is he open ".

See the Defense!

P. Don't pass to a post man, particularly one who does not have great quickness, until he has stopped. Trying to catch the ball in the post, on the move, is a very difficult task.

Catching the Ball

A. Catch the ball in a down position with knees bent and body balanced. If you're ready to make your move immediately, your balance will give you stronger position. It is quicker to catch down then to catch up and then go down.

B. Your hands should be out when expecting a pass. No target no pass.

C. When catching the ball, hold your position, don't try to catch and make a move, Using a weighted ball is a great teaching tool to implement this philosophy.

D. Your target hand should have the fingers spread and away from the defender. When fronted, use a two hand target, face the baseline, and seal with your hip to prevent a pushing foul. Hold your spot until the ball is over your head and be careful on the catch to avoid a charge.

If your defender plays you on the side, have one hand as an outside target, and one hand as an inside target ready to join the ball. Seal with your hip and forearm.

If you catch the ball with the one hand target, let your off hand join the ball. Hold your position until you are just about to catch the ball so that you can freeze the defender and prevent him from stepping in front of the pass.

A good method for developing the habit of not leaving too early is to use the weighted ball; it's a slower and heavier pass and forces concentration and staying in place until you have possession.

If the defender plays behind you, extend your arms to meet the pass.... don't short arm the ball.

You can also throw your arms out wide, and use your chest as the target and seal the defender from trying to step around or poke through for the ball.

...(what this means for the passer is that if a player has both of his arms extended wide, then you should pass the ball to the middle of his chest),

E. Pull the ball under your chin if your man is behind you and extend your elbows when catching it. Too often players try to catch, turn and dribble at the same time. Doing this sometimes commits you to an offensive move that results in a turnover or bad shot.

F. I use a drill called the "bad-pass drill". We throw a bad pass down to the baseline and make our players shuffle their feet and get their body behind the ball and catch it with two hands. Again, we are trying to teach not reaching for a pass but meeting the ball and insuring possession.

G. Never touch a deflected pass if it's headed out of bounds, and has been touched by an opponent. It is very difficult to catch a deflected pass; this applies to all areas of offensive play. Keep an eye out for the number of times that one of your players tries to catch a pass deflected by a defender. The spin is awkward and difficult to handle and generally you will not come up with the possession condition your players not to catch a deflected passes near boundaries.

H. Most big men drop and lose passes because they try to do more than just catch and follow the ball into their hands. Get the ball inside first, then make your move, or shoot. Having it inside is a great advantage all by itself.

The Move

A. Locate the defense. The defense will tell you where to go. Look for contact because contact equals control.

B. Don't rush any move. You must be patient. The fact you are being taught to make "quick" moves is not synonymous with "rushing" your moves.

C. Use violent and sharp ball fakes. When you fake, raise the ball, don't raise your body. Keep the ball at shoulder and eye level so you are ready to shoot. Maybe even grunt; this gives the feeling of power.

I like to tell our players to hit the shoulder with the ball when faking with their back to the basket. This concept gives them a sense of precise direction and accountability.

I also stress vertical and not horizontal ball fakes as well as the concept of bending with your knees. This means that instead of standing up straight and catching, drop into a bent-knee position when you catch (here again is where the emphasis on the "jump-stop" is helpful). This is extremely helpful when you begin to execute your move.

D. Keep two hands on the ball. Protect it with your body.

E. If fronted turn to the baseline put your shoulder between your defender's shoulder blades, put two hands up as a target, seal your man with your hip, hold your position until the ball is above your head, perhaps you could even nudge your man out with your hips, catch the ball and be conscious of avoiding a charge.

F. If your defender plays behind you, pivot hard and quickly face the basket turn the shoulders and keep the ball at shoulder level. Make the turn a 180-degree pivot, not halfway. Do it in a down position so you're ready to move or go right into your shot. Your feet should be shoulder width; sometimes they are too close causing the offensive player to be straight up and unbalanced. If they are too far apart it prevents you from moving your feet quickly. Do not put the ball on the floor as you turn; this will allow you to keep more options open as you read the defense and prepare for your move..

You can use the following moves when your defender plays behind you:

The Front Pivot also known as "The Sikma Move" - jump stop, step to the ball, hold the ball in the shooting position, inside pivot (into the defender), and jump shoot.

The McHale Move also known as the Up-and-Under-Move - Pivot in one direction making a strong ball fake as though you are going to go up into a shot ... bring the ball aggressively down across the front of your body ... make a strong dribble to create space between you and the defender ... finish the shot.

Depending on whether your up-fake is towards the baseline or in the direction of the foul-line, you will end up with a jump-shot or a power-move at the basket. The power-move should be in the form of a strong jump-stop, landing on both feet and then aggressively going up for the shot.

Remember that if the defender does not react to the up-fake, you may have the opportunity to continue in the same direction to complete the move.

The Barkely Move - make one or two dribbles towards the paint or towards the baseline , pivot (180 degrees) back in the direction from which you came and shoot. Again, depending on whether your dribble fake is towards the baseline or in the direction of the foul-line, you will end up with a jump-shot or a power-move at the basket. The power-move should be in the form of a "drop-step" followed by aggressively going up for the shot.

Shake-Turn-and-Shoot - Make a strong head-shoulder-and-ball fake in one direction then pivot in the other direction and elevate right into the Jump-Shot ... this move can be combined with the "Up-and-Under Move"

The Jump Hook - the offensive player make a half-turn (not a face-up turn) and while keeping the ball up high takes a one-handed push shot over his shoulder. The shot is usually taken off two feet. The advantage of this shot is that it is taken very quickly and gives the Post Player's defender, as well as any help defenders, very little time to act. It does however require a soft touch because it is usually executed with high arc and without the use of the backboard.

Although the possibility exist that you might be giving your player too many moves, it is important that players be familiar with a variety of scoring options. Work on different moves in practices to teach footwork and pivoting. Your players should concentrate on two or three of the these moves as their own "go-to" options.

It's essential when they pivot, that their feet are not much more than shoulder width apart; that they face up quickly; that they pivot on their toes and that they not make their steps so big that it causes them to be off balance or hinders their ability to recover quickly from a fake and go in the other direction.

G. Executing the Drop-Step when the defender is on the high-side. Locate the defender and drop stop quickly on the baseline side... being aware that there may be weak-side help coming. The key to successfully drop-stepping is getting behind the defender's bottom foot so that he is sealed off.

H. Big men dribbling: this is your call. It depends upon the talent level of the player. I believe that big men, who receive the ball near the basket, should be allowed to have one dribble as long as they do it with conviction.

No "shake-and-bake", no fooling around! If your big men are going to dribble then it should be a quick forceful dribble to get into better position to finish their shots.

I. Have your players thinking "attack the basket" aggressively. Get them to visualize making the "3-Point play".

J. If there is no shot, pass the ball out. Don't force the shot; and, remember your big man is most dangerous after a pass to the perimeter because his defender will relax for a second. "Think reload!"

K. When doing drills, consistently practice the moves exactly as you want them done. Get them comfortable with the move first, then put a defender on them and force them to utilize the move.

A common mistake is that players can execute the move great, but when the defender comes into the equation it causes the offensive player to think instead of just instinctively taking action. The more you drill and the more they are comfortable with the move, the more they will be able to act out of habit.

The Shot

A. Balance - get your players to raise their eyes not their heads. Do not let them shoot unless they are balanced.

B. Use the backboard; it's a higher percentage shot; it's a stronger shot, and it's a more aggressive shot. Remember you will be playing against big people who are trying to block shots and there will be considerably more contact and fouling inside. You are looking for a three-point play against taller people who will bang you therefore, you need a more elevation on your shot as well as stronger and more aggressive movement to the basket.

C. Practice shooting both right handed and left handed. Practice dunking right handed and left handed.

Use the Mikan Drill from all angles (facing the baseline, with your back to the baseline, and over the front rim).

D. Get your players accustomed to tapping the ball, especially on missed shots.

E. Practice catching lobs and practice catching rebounds and putting them back in. Think "finish the play!"

F. Use the inside hand on a lay-up because the defense is always vertical whereas the inside-hand shot is generally horizontal.

G. I believe that half of the shots taken in the three-second lane draw fouls late in the game. We should make our players conscious of that. Too often players try to avoid contact so that they can get their shots off. "Take the hit and finish the play!"

H. If a shot is taken in the lane, get your players to keep their arms up because if they miss and their arms are up, they will have a better opportunity to rebound.

D. "Little Things" for Post Play:

1. When catching the ball, let your off hand join the ball.

2. Long arm the ball as it is entered. (That means make sure you are fully extending you arms.)

3. Never touch a deflected pass.

4. Use the backboard as much as possible when shooting inside.

5. Keep you hands and arms up when shooting in the lane.

6. Shoot any shot in the lane if open and facing.

7. Use the blocking dummy to accentuate post power moves.

8. Teach post men the ability to catch, pivot, pass, then follow.

9. Teach tapping, and dunking off the board.

10. If a ball is thrown into a post player, tell the post player he had better catch it. That is his primary goal. Possession rather than position.

11. Think jump-stop whenever receiving passes in the post area.

12. Develop a low center of gravity.

13. If fronted, look for the lob, but hold your position until the ball is on the way. When fronted ..."think Spin-and-Pin". You can also look to reverse the ball and seal your defender away while the ball is going to the other side or to the middle. Finally, you can just work to get inside offensive rebounding position.

14. Work on Post-to-Post passing. If one post gets the ball, the other should go to the basket.

15. If we find ourselves with two low posts, one should flash high.

16. Initiate an entry to the post on ball side by sleeping, flashing from the porch, and opening the gate with the forearm move.

17. Duck in when the ball goes to the high post.

18. Don't look for a lob when both posts are occupied.

19. Face the baseline when looking for the lob.

20. If the ball enters the low post, and you are in the high post, hit the offensive boards.

21. The post man should be stationary and the distance of the pass should not be too far before entering the ball to the post.

22. The post player should catch the ball below the waist or above the shoulders. A bounce pass or air-pass on the baseline side is the best type. A bounce pass is hard to deflect. An air pass gets to the post quicker leaving less time for help.

23. When looking for the lob, be certain to seal your man outside the lane.

24. No target, no pass.

25. If you're open, DEMAND the Ball!

26. No "Happy Feet" or "Hallelujah Post-Ups"... but if it doesn't come ... move on.

27. When feeding the post, deliver the ball where the post can use the glass, look to the post before you dribble, and don't hold the ball over your head because it will take away your dribble threat options and gives defender a chance to belly-up.

28. Throw an air pass to the corner of the backboard.

29. A dribble down will give you a better passing angle if the defender is on the top side. A dribble out will cause the defense to relax and allow you to come back quickly with an entry pass.

30. Establish specific looks for the post man when he catches ball in the post. "Think Inside - Weak-side!"

31. Emphasize the value of the "Sleeper" move and teach it.

32. Post should always be accessible to flash on dribble pick up and/or denial of wing-entry.

Last Update Saturday, February 02, 2008