Ask about the upcoming Big Man Camp in October 2007.

One-On-One Low-Post Offense

KEEP IT SIMPLE

The greatest scorer in NBA history had one primary move and one countermove. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was famous for his “sky hook” shot. Its effectiveness was due to Kareem’s height, his mobility, his touch, and his quick and high extension. The “sky hook” was Kareem’s primary move. It was a shot that was virtually unstoppable if the defender allowed Kareem to shoot it.

From the left side of the key, his “sky hook” was shot when moving across the key, parallel to the baseline. If allowed to shoot the shot, it was so deadly, he was capable of scoring 50 points. That threat caused defenders to guard him in two ways: First, by pushing him away from the basket while he was moving across the key or second, step in front of him and block his path across the key. Kareem’s quickness made the first defensive strategy almost impossible; his step, just before the release, was so long and quick, he often moved past the defender. The second strategy was met with a countermove. That move was a quick reversal back to the basket for a left-handed lay-up or short left-handed running hook shot. In short, Kareem was unstoppable one-on-one.

From the right side of the key, Kareem’s best shot was the baseline “sky hook” he was most famous for. To set up that shot, he moved across the key, threatening a left-handed hook shot that he was pretty good at. Any movement by the defense to stop that shot was met with an immediate reversal, back to the baseline for the hook. One thing that made him so effective with that baseline “sky hook” was, when he reversed, he moved directly toward the baseline (as opposed to away from the defender to create space), cut the defender off, and shot over him.

There are two things we can learn from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

1. A post player does not need a variety of moves to be effective close to the basket. Offensive players need one primary move and one countermove to have all the arsenal necessary to shoot a high-percentage shot.

2. The primary move must be a deadly threat, so much so, the defender has physically commit to stop it.

DEVELOPING AN UNSTOPPABLE PRIMARY MOVE

For the countermove to be effective, the primary move must be so effective, defenders must make a physical commitment to stop it. In other words, Kareem’s “sky hook” was such a threat, the defenders anticipated it and often moved ahead of him to contend it. Only when that happens is the countermove effective.

The two most effective primary moves going across the key are the running hook (sky hook) and the jump hook. However, the primary move need not be one going across the key. It depends on a players’ talent. For example, because of his quick jumping ability, Bill Walton’s primary move was a turn-around jump shot. Jack Sikma’s move was the same. A player’s most effective primary move can be discovered by watching that player play one-on-one. In fact, at Swen Nater’s “Playing Big” Post Camps, after a generous warm-up section, players play one-on-one while coaches evaluate the players, looking for primary moves. After the evaluation, each player is given his or her primary move.

When teaching post players to play low-post offense, a primary move must be identified and worked on to near-perfection. Like Kareem’s secrets, the player must be quick and mobile to move past the defense, the touch must be developed to automaticity, and the release must be quick with high extension. Quick shooting is key to getting the defender to physically commit to blocking the shot. The player and coach must work endless hours to develop a long step, high extension, repeatable stroke, and quick release.

DEVELOPING A QUICK COUNTERMOVE

Only when the primary move has been established can the countermove be introduced. The direction of the countermove is always in the opposite direction of the primary move. For example, the counter for the jump hook across the key is a reversal toward the baseline and the basket. This tactic is to take advantage of an overly-committed defender and to create instant space to pull off the counter shot.

For Bill Walton’s turn-around jump shot, the counter was directly into the key, usually resulting in a short jump hook. For Sikma, it was the same.

Like the primary move, the countermove must be executed very quickly and the shot release must be quick as well. This requires a low-center of gravity for mobility, a long step, and high extension.

TWO FINAL MOVES

A deadly primary move and one countermove provide an offensive post player with a near-complete repertoire of moves. I say, “near-complete” because there are two more situations that will warrant two more moves for the arsenal to be complete: When the defender is pushing the back of the post player and when the defender is blocking the path into the lane.

Moves Against Physical Pressure
At times, to prevent the offensive player from moving across the key or to the baseline, the defender will lean against the back of the offensive post. The only effective counter for this is a spin move.

To make a quick spin, the player must have a low center of gravity. Equally as important is a vertical back. With the upper back making contact with the defender (only the upper back so the hips are free to move), the player rotates the shoulders completely around, facing the basket, rolls off the defender’s pressure, and literally falls toward the floor while pivoting on the heel of the foot closest to the defender. One dribble is used, with the hand nearest the defender to avoid the “hooking” call, and the feet catch up to the shoulders and come to a jump stop ready for the release of the shot.

The player should spin away from pressure. For example, if more pressure is placed on the baseline side of the back, the spin move is toward the middle and visa versa.

The Baseline Drop Step
Although, because of the physical nature of the US professional game, this move is rarely effective, at lower levels it may be. If, upon reception of the ball, if the defender is blocking the offensive player’s path to the middle, leaving daylight on the baseline side, the post player, with vertical back and low center of gravity, drops the baseline-side leg directly toward the basket, seeks to find contact between the butt and the defender’s thigh to seal that player off, crab dribbles, comes to a jump stop and shoots the lay-up, or pump-face and reverse lay-up.

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF LOW-POST OFFENSE
Quick and proper execution, under control, requires players are drilled in the basic fundamentals, or building blocks, that comprise the maneuver. The basic fundamentals of low-post offensive play are the following: Wide Feet, Low Center of Gravity, Vertical Back, Chin Up, Arm Bar, Receiving the Ball, Chest-Level Ball Handling, Two-Hand Crab Dribble, and One-Handed Dribble.

Wide Feet
Because physical contact increases the closer one gets to the basket, the feet must be spread wider than normal to prepare to counter pushing, bumping, and shoving. Feet should be wider than the outside of the shoulders.

Low Center of Gravity
As a Ferrari is more maneuverable than a truck, the player that moves and pivots with a low center of gravity is quicker when making primary moves and when reacting to the defense with the counter move. The player with a low center of gravity has knees bent to an almost 90 degree position.

Vertical Back
This is the most difficult to develop as, maintaining the head in a position just back of the midpoint between the two feet, required a lot of leg strength and wide feet. Maneuvering close to the basket requires quick pivoting. A vertical back allows the lower body to pivot freely. The upper body of a player that is bent forward will slow down the speed of the pivot. But probably the most important advantage of the vertical back is, when the pivot is made, a sharp change in direction can be made. Players that are bent over will change direction in an arc rather than a straight line.

Chin Up
If the head is leaning forward, the effectiveness of the vertical back is reduced. The neck portion of the spine must remain in line with the rest of the back. This means, the chin must be up. This increases mobility and vision. As the player moves to shoot, the head turns first.

Arm Bar
Before receiving the ball, the players must “play big.” With upper arms parallel to the floor, forearms perpendicular to the floor, and fingers spread to create a delicious target, the player takes up space and is ready to receive the pass.

Receiving the Ball
The “Block and Tuck” method for receiving the ball is most effective and safer than the two-handed catch. As the ball approaches, the ball is blocked by the nearest hand (hand directly behind the ball) and tucked in by the other hand.

Chest-Level Ball Handling
After receiving, the ball should be tucked close to the body, but not against it, with two hands squeezing it. Elbows should be out for protection and for providing maximum pressure to squeeze the ball. Players should be trained to keep the basketball no lower than chest level until a dribble or shot attempt.

Two-Handed Crab Dribble
The Two-Handed Crab Dribble is used when a player drop steps to the baseline or across the key for the jump hook. Keeping a low center of gravity, the player moves by keeping the left and right feet far apart (like a crab) and makes one two-handed dribble between the feet.

One-handed Dribble
Dribbling with one hand is used when attempting to get closer to the basket, preparing for the “sky hook” or jump hook shots. The dribble should come up no higher than the thighs and the ball should remain very close to the area between the feet.

TEACHING POST OFFENSE

In order to create players with dominant primary moves, and players that read the defense quickly to go into the countermove, a careful progression of teaching must be followed.

• First, the move must be practiced without defense until all details are intact and the player executes properly and quickly without conscious thought of physical movements.
   

• Second, soft defense is applied to provide physical pressure, to develop low center of gravity and balance, and to develop visual memory so player recognizes when the move is available based on the position of the defender.
   

• Third, defense moves to cut off the move, training player to “read the defense” and quickly revert to countermove.
   

• Fourth, coach randomly varies allowing primary move or cutting off primary move.
   

• Fifth, one-on-one live against defender
  
   

Ask about the upcoming Big Man Camp in October 2007.

SWEN NATER
3850 Klahanie Drive SE #27-101
Issaquah, WA 98029
snater (at) comcast.net

copyright 2005 - 2007

Swen Nater - Speaker, Writer, Poet and Big Man Coach
Former UCLA, ABA, NBA player.