Defending the Low Post

WORK EARLY & BEAT TO SPOTS!
- Sprint in transition. If you can beat your opponent down the floor, you've already put yourself in good position.
- Anticipate. Think one step ahead of the play.
- Chuck cutters. No free cuts through the paint. Meet at the midline in a stance with a forearm to the chest.

3/4 DENY - Ball above the FT line
- In the line. Deny elbow, shoulder, and hip should be in the passing lane line.
- No direct passes to the post. Must force a tough lob.
- Strong arm bar (See picture to the left). Too often players want to wrap around and grab the offensive player at his hips.
- Create separation. Contact benefits the offensive player. Do not allow the offense to get into the torso, ribs, hip, and thigh. Much harder to seal offensively.

FULL FRONT - Ball below the FT line
- Knock down elbows. Attack the offensive player's elbow with a quick, swift downward sweep with defender's elbow.
- Step through with the back foot. Get shoulder lower than the offensive player. Shoot hip through.
- Gain ground. Stay low in stance and keep feet driving. Very similar to a running back on a dive play.
- Dominate the lead foot. If the lead foot is high, step over the high foot and walk higher toward the FT line. If the lead foot is low, step over the low foot and walk toward the baseline.
- Hand up with elbows at 90 degree angle. Can make a play on the lob pass. Won't hold this way. Use the triceps as antennas to feel the offensive player trying to get around. Should not ever have to turn head until the offense gives up the strong side block going away from the play.

BALL REVERSAL
- Throw hips forward
- Roll off shoulders. Use the offensive player's momentum against him. More than likely, the offense is going to be pushing to gain position. If the defense rolls, the offense will continue past the block taking him out of position.
- Keep rolling. If the offense tries to seal on ball reversal and the defense does not get all the way around on the first roll, continue to roll off. It is very difficult to seal and catch a continuously moving player.

ON THE CATCH
- Give a 1/2 step. Again, contact benefits the offense. Must create separation. Quick hop straight back.
- Stance and arm bar. Do not give up ground. On the 1/2 step, the arm bar must maintain the offense's distance from the basket.
- Arch up. On the shot or after the offense picks up his dribble. Stay in stance. Gain back the 1/2 step. Lead and make contact with chest. Arms straight up behind ears.


I've had the pleasure of working for two fantastic post play teachers, Ray Giacoletti at Eastern Washington and now an assistant at Gonzaga and Tom Oswald at Texas Lutheran. This is a combination of both men's philosophies on how to defend the low post. I am hoping that in the near future I can post video of exactly how this looks. If you would like to know more, please feel free to contact me.