Most low-post players will admit, however reluctantly, that their success on the basketball court depends largely on the ability of their point guards to feed them the ball. A good point guard knows the specific conditions in which his post players like to receive the ball, whether it's running ahead of the defense on a fast break, rolling to the basket on a pick-and-roll or posting up with his back to the basket. Still, even if a point guard doesn't effectively distribute the ball, a good post player can still make himself an effective player.
Defending and Rebounding
If a low-post player wants to improve her output on the offensive end of the court, the first and most important thing she can do is turn up the intensity on the defensive end. By guarding an opponent's top post player, defending the lane, blocking shots and grabbing rebounds, a post player helps her team get stops on the defensive end which can lead to fast-break opportunities, instead of the slow-paced game an offense is forced to play after an opponent's basket. Fast-break opportunities allow post players to run free in the open court, instead of being bottled up in a half-court offense where the defense can cut off a point guard from making a pass into the post.
Control the Weak Side
When a point guard insists on running the show himself offensively, a post player can still make himself available for scoring opportunities by posting up on the weak side of the court. By posting up on the weak side -- the side opposite the basketball -- a post player opens space for a guard to drive to the basket, but can easily receive a close-range pass from across the lane when the defense rotates to cut off the ball handler. While NCAA men's basketball head coach John Calipari has benefited from explosive point guards such as Derrick Rose and John Wall, he has also maximized the skills of rugged post players by positioning them on the weak side in his dribble-motion offense.
Offensive Rebounding
Even if a point guard insists on taking shots herself, instead of giving up the ball to an open player in the post, an effective post player can still score by collecting offensive rebounds and converting them into second-chance points. Even the most efficient guards typically shoot 40 percent to 50 percent from the field, meaning at least half their shots will be left up for grabs between rebounders. Basketball Hall of Fame member and NBA champion center Moses Malone used his strength, determination and anticipation to grab six rebounding titles in his years in the ABA and NBA, finishing his career third in pro basketball history in rebounding and sixth in scoring. A master of reading rebounding angles, Malone frequently converted offensive rebounds into free-throw opportunities, finishing second all-time in free throws made.
Call for the Ball
When all else fails and a post player still isn't receiving the ball in scoring position, he can take matters into his own hands and call for the ball. A post player who knows he has a favorable matchup should assert himself without embarrassing his teammates. To preserve this delicate balance, a post player should establish position deep in the post and seal his defender in the lane, putting his back to the basket and using his inside hip and shoulder -- those on the side turned toward the basket -- to keep a defender at bay. The post player can then show his point guard a target with his outside hand, out of the defender's reach, and audibly call for the ball.
References
- "Investor's Business Daily"; Moses Malone Possessed the Championship Stuff; Michael Mink; June 2011
- ESPN; Garnett Wins NBA's Defensive Player of the Year Award; The Associated Press; April 2008
- The Bleacher Report; Michael Beasley and Derrick Williams Should Stay with the Minnesota Timberwolves; Mike Nelson; July 2011
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