[MLKG]

Originally Posted by Sir Patchwork

There are a few important aspects of post play. Low post position is definitely one of them. Another is the ability to handle a double team. You have to read the spacing of the defense, throw them off using pass fakes, and act quickly based on what they give you. Obviously you also have to have footwork and touch around the hoop, and good hands, which all comes with just having good coordination in general really.

I think Duncan and Shaquille have the touch, footwork and hands, but have really mastered the positioning and reading of double teams. Those two aspects are really the final step to becoming a franchise level post player.

Add to that: patience.

Which goes along with handling double teams. Too many guys want to make their move too quickly to try to avoid the doubles coming. Slowing down and waiting for teammates to complete cuts and let things develop seems to be the biggest thing big men have to learn when coming to the NBA.

[fjkdsi]

I agree with recognizing double teams...
thats what separates Howard from Shaq/Duncan thats why he has so many turnovers he often attack in between triples/doubles when its not necessary
shaq and duncan are excellent at scoring against doubles and know when to pass off and when attack the double team cuz its not strong enough

thats just as important as post positioning/sealing your man off...

off the ball screen are underrated but most players are just running the offense so thats where most off the ball screens come.. the coach draws them up on the board its just recognizing which option of the offense you use


my choice though is defensive rotation, players that rotate properly and recognize when to double/trap are not usually recognized
some announcers recognize when a player misses a rotation but since it doesnt come up in the stats no body really knows who misses the most rotation and who rotates properly all the time...
for example Kirilenko has been guarding the whole warriors team the first 2 games

[c_dog]

the midrange shot was pretty underrated for a while. most players would either get to the rim or take 3's. you're starting to see more players utilize the midrange game again.

[Carbo04]

Offensive Rebounding.

[The Mad Viking]

A lot of great answers, great thread.

My answer is very close to fjkdsi's. Off the ball defence. Almost nobody watches, many players are terrible at it, including stars. And it consistently separates winners from losers.

I love hobojoes starting post. Post defence is ALL about positioning. Post offence starts there. Handling the double team is also huge.

And its hard to argue with offensive rebounding. An offensive rebound is a lot like a steal. It is very valuable, and tends to get blurred in with defensive rebounding. Which makes about as much sense as adding interceptions with receptions when analyzing a football team. One is what you are expected to do, and the other is what happens when your opponent fails to do what was expected...

[EHL]

Clearly, it's dribbling.

[DadeMurphy]

Regarding understanding how to establish low post position, I think its an aspect of the game that has been amplified and, to some extent, created by the new defensive techniques being taught and the change in how low post battling is refereed. In the games I've seen from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, establishing low post position wasn't so much an art as it was an issue of strength. Some guys could battle for and hold their position, while others got pushed out. Defenders allowed themselves to battle for position, while the refs allowed the physical competitions to occur. Now, strength has absolutely nothing to do with it. You have to be savy with your legs, utilize quick seals, and generally mask your every physical movement in hopes of not being a victim of a flop and/or offensive foul call.

This is why I will never understand why scouts would look at physical strength at all in analyzing a prospect, or a pundit would spout, "This guy's gonna need to get stronger to play in the NBA!" Plain and simple, strength provides no to very little advantage in today's NBA because the way the game is called is designed to neautralize all advantages in that area.

[xray]

Air travel.

It's a big deal for me to get on a plane - and to have to do it constantly would freak me out.

[bballlife]

Originally Posted by DadeMurphy

Regarding understanding how to establish low post position, I think its an aspect of the game that has been amplified and, to some extent, created by the new defensive techniques being taught and the change in how low post battling is refereed. In the games I've seen from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, establishing low post position wasn't so much an art as it was an issue of strength. Some guys could battle for and hold their position, while others got pushed out. Defenders allowed themselves to battle for position, while the refs allowed the physical competitions to occur. Now, strength has absolutely nothing to do with it. You have to be savy with your legs, utilize quick seals, and generally mask your every physical movement in hopes of not being a victim of a flop and/or offensive foul call.

This is why I will never understand why scouts would look at physical strength at all in analyzing a prospect, or a pundit would spout, "This guy's gonna need to get stronger to play in the NBA!" Plain and simple, strength provides no to very little advantage in today's NBA because the way the game is called is designed to neautralize all advantages in that area.

I disagree. Getting position inside is still mainly related to base, overall strength and then aggressiveness or determination to get good position. The post defender still uses a lot of strength and effort to deny position or push out the offensive player. Don't underestimate the mental drain of having a 250 pound defender bumping or leaning against you, imprinting his forearm in your back, and pushing you over and over again.

I do agree that physical strength is not the same advantage it once was.

[theflyballa]

Personally, I think Kobe Bryant is the most underrated part of basketball.