🏀 Inside Game & Finishing: Master the Post Play

The Story of the “Big Tree” 🌳

Imagine you’re a giant, powerful tree planted right near the basket. Your roots dig deep into the ground, making you impossible to move. Your branches reach out to catch the ball. And when defenders try to shake you, you have secret moves that make them look silly!

This is Post Play — the art of playing close to the basket like a giant tree that no one can knock down.

What is Post Play?

Post play is when you catch the ball close to the basket (in an area called “the post”) and use your body and special moves to score.

Think of it like this:

• You’re a chef in your own kitchen 🍳
• The post is YOUR kitchen — you know every corner
• Defenders are guests trying to steal your cookies
• Your moves help you protect your cookies AND eat them too!

🎯 The Four Super Powers of Post Play

graph TD
    A[🏀 Post Play] --> B[📍 Post Positioning]
    A --> C[👟 Drop Step]
    A --> D[🎭 Up and Under]
    A --> E[👀 Face-Up Game]
    B --> B1[Get good spot]
    C --> C1[Quick spin move]
    D --> D1[Fake then score]
    E --> E1[Face basket first]

1. 📍 Post Positioning: Finding Your Spot

What is it?

Post positioning is like finding the best seat at a movie theater. You want to be close to the screen (basket) but not so close that it hurts your neck!

The “Parking Spot” Analogy 🚗

Imagine the area near the basket is a tiny parking lot. You want the best parking spot — close to the store (basket) but with enough room to open your car door (make moves).

The perfect spot is:

• Close to the basket (about 6-10 feet away)
• On the side (called the “block” — painted lines on the court)
• Body facing sideways (so you can see the ball AND the basket)

How to Get Position

1. Be a wall: Put your back or side against the defender
2. Make yourself wide: Spread your feet apart like a sumo wrestler
3. Show a target: Hold one hand up high — this tells your teammate where to throw the ball
4. Stay low: Bend your knees like you’re sitting in an invisible chair

Example in Action 🌟

Marcus wants the ball in the post. He puts his left arm on the defender’s hip to feel where they are. He spreads his legs wide and holds his right hand up high. His teammate sees the target hand and passes the ball. Marcus catches it easily because he has the best “parking spot”!

2. 👟 The Drop Step: The Spin Move

What is it?

The drop step is a quick spin toward the basket. It’s like when someone tries to block a doorway, and you quickly spin around them to get through!

The “Dance Move” Analogy 💃

Think of the drop step like a dance move:

• You have one foot planted (the “anchor”)
• Your other foot drops back toward the basket
• You spin on your planted foot
• Now you’re facing the basket and the defender is behind you!

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Catch the ball with your back to the basket
2. Feel the defender: Which side are they on?
3. Pick your anchor foot: The foot closer to the basket stays planted
4. Drop and spin: Step your other foot toward the basket while spinning
5. Protect the ball: Keep it on your hip away from the defender
6. Finish strong: Go up for the layup!

The Magic Trick 🎩

The secret is speed. The drop step works because you move FAST while the defender is still thinking. It’s like a magic trick — now you see me, now you’re behind me!

graph TD
    A[Catch Ball] --> B[Feel Defender]
    B --> C{Which side?}
    C -->|Left| D[Drop Right Foot]
    C -->|Right| E[Drop Left Foot]
    D --> F[Spin & Score!]
    E --> F

Example in Action 🌟

Sofia catches the ball in the post. She feels the defender pushing on her right shoulder. So she plants her left foot, drops her right foot back toward the basket, and spins. In one quick move, she’s past the defender and scoring an easy layup!

3. 🎭 Up and Under: The Fake-Out Move

What is it?

The up and under is a two-part trick:

1. First, you FAKE like you’re going to shoot
2. When the defender jumps, you go UNDER their arms and score!

The “Fake Throw” Analogy 🎾

Remember playing fetch with a dog? You fake throwing the ball, the dog runs, but the ball is still in your hand. The up and under works the same way:

• You fake a shot (the dog runs)
• The defender jumps (chasing the “ball”)
• You step under them and score (you still have the ball!)

The Two Parts

PART 1 — The “UP” (Fake Shot)

• Look at the basket
• Bring the ball up like you’re going to shoot
• Pump your knees slightly
• Make it look REAL!

PART 2 — The “UNDER” (Score)

• When defender jumps, step around them
• Go under their flying arms
• Take one dribble if needed
• Score on the other side!

Why It Works 🧠

Defenders are scared of getting a shot blocked in their face. So they WANT to jump and block. When you fake, they can’t help but jump. Once they’re in the air, they can’t change direction — but you can!

Example in Action 🌟

Jaylen catches the ball in the post. The defender is tall and scary. Jaylen pumps like he’s shooting — the defender flies into the air! While the defender is stuck in the air, Jaylen calmly steps around him, takes one dribble, and scores on the other side. The defender lands too late to stop anything!

4. 👀 Face-Up Game: Looking at the Basket

What is it?

Face-up is when you catch the ball and turn to face the basket first before making your move. It’s different from other post moves where your back is to the basket.

The “Staring Contest” Analogy 👁️

In a staring contest, you look directly at your opponent. In the face-up game, you stare directly at the basket! This lets you:

• See everything happening
• Choose your best move
• Attack when the defender makes a mistake

The Face-Up Position

1. Catch and turn: Get the ball and pivot to face the basket
2. Triple threat: Ball at your hip, ready to shoot, pass, or dribble
3. Read the defender: Are they close? Far? Leaning one way?
4. Attack or shoot: Make your move based on what you see!

Face-Up Options

The Triple Threat Power ⚡

When you face up, you’re in “triple threat” position. Why is it called that? Because you THREATEN three things:

1. Shoot — they must respect your shot
2. Pass — they must watch for teammates
3. Drive — they must guard your dribble

The defender can’t stop all three!

graph TD
    A[Face-Up Position] --> B{Defender Close?}
    B -->|Yes| C[Drive Past!]
    B -->|No| D[Shoot It!]
    B -->|Medium| E[Shot Fake → Drive]

Example in Action 🌟

Alex catches the ball on the block and quickly pivots to face the basket. The defender backs up, scared Alex might drive. Alex sees the space and calmly shoots a 10-foot jumper. Swish! The face-up gave Alex time to read and react.

🔄 Putting It All Together

Great post players mix ALL these moves together like a chef mixing ingredients:

graph TD
    A[Get Position 📍] --> B[Catch Ball]
    B --> C{How do you feel?}
    C -->|Defender behind| D[Drop Step 👟]
    C -->|Defender tight| E[Up & Under 🎭]
    C -->|Space to turn| F[Face-Up 👀]
    D --> G[Score! 🏀]
    E --> G
    F --> G

The Post Player’s Flow

1. First: Get great position (be the tree!)
2. Catch: Receive the pass with strong hands
3. Feel: Where is the defender?
4. Choose: Pick the right move
5. Execute: Do it with confidence!
6. Score: Finish strong at the rim!

💪 Remember These Keys

🌟 You’re Ready!

You now know the four superpowers of post play:

1. Positioning — Find your spot like the best parking space
2. Drop Step — Spin past defenders like a dance move
3. Up and Under — Fake and go like playing fetch
4. Face-Up — Stare down the basket and attack

Practice these moves, and soon YOU’LL be the giant tree that no one can stop!

Remember: Even the greatest post players started as beginners. Every practice makes you stronger. Now go plant yourself in the post and grow into a scoring machine! 🌳🏀