More Basketball Tips


Be a Good Passer
Great post players can pass off the dribble. By this I mean once they have put the ball on the floor during a post move, they have the skills to immediately pick up the ball, center it and pass it back out to an open perimeter player, teammate cutting freely toward the basket, or with ease back to the person who entered the post pass. I have coached against some excellent post players who could score, but once the ball was on the floor, it was Johnny in a barrel over Niagara Falls with no chance of a return pass. These skilled post players are relatively easy to defend. Just force the dribble, trap the dribble and look for the loose ball.

Everyone is a guard
Young players should always practice "guard skills", even if they are tall for their age. Some people grow early and may be big compared to their peers, but in a few years those peers may pass you up. A 12 year old "big man" may need to be someone´s point guard 4 or 5 years later.

Heads Up
Great post players keep their heads up and have great court vision even as they begin to initiate a post move. Many teams will send a second defender to double team late (such as when the post player puts the ball on the floor with the dribble). A head up will produce an alert pass and score by an open teammate instead of a forced shot against a collapsing or double teaming defense.
Develop an outside shot
Great post players can step outside and knock down the 15-18 foot jumper with ease. The best can even step behind the 3 point line and make defenses pay that try to double team a low post teammate with a second post defender.

Be Active
Great post player stay active to force their defender to respect and defend each position on the court as a possible scoring threat position following each pass whether they are at the strong side low post, weak side, or high post.
Conditioner and Stamina Builder
The purpose of this drill is to build the stamina and improve the coordination of the big men. The player stands on the free throw line facing away from the basket with the ball on the floor in front of him. The player should pick up the ball, pivot, and lay the ball in the basket. Retrieve the ball, dribble back to the free throw line, then return the ball to its original position. The player then pivots toward the basket again, without the ball, jumps and touches the rim, then returns to the free throw line. He repeats this sequence until he has made five consecutive baskets.
Communicate

Great post players keep their hands up when they are moving to a position and "moment of opportunity". The greatest problem for the average post player is their hands are down as they are moving to receive a ball. This occurs in transition, off the secondary break, and in set offense. Hands up as you move is a signal to any teammate "I am ready, willing and able to score." Hands down, says look some other time. What signal do you give?
#1 - Stay in Stance

PLAY WITH YOUR KNEES BENT.
Always stay in stance. It is your point of maximum explosion. Just Like a track sprinter coming out of the blocks. Be ready to move. The lowest person wins.
Chairmen of the Boards
Great post players are extremely active on the offensive backboards. They are relentless, with the scent of a bloodhound for the loose offensive rebound, and an insatiable desire to get points from loose ball situations at the offensive end of the court.

Mikan Drill
This drill was named after the first great big man in the game--George Mikan and may be the most basic of all big men drills. Start under the basket with the ball. Shoot a short hook shot off the glass going to the right. Turn, retrieve the ball from the net, and shoot a short hook going to the left. This will improve your agility and coordination, and help you use either hand when around the basket.