What Is The Post In Basketball [August 2022]?

Like in every game and profession, there are some terminologies. That can only be understandable by such players and professionals. Similarly, basketball has its terms through which coaches and players communicate. “The Post” is a term used by the coaches to refer to a particular point on the court. However, average basketball viewers get confused since there are two post positions on the basketball court—one near the free-throw line and the other near the baseline. This area is also known as the key or paint since it’s painted with vibrant colors.

What Is Post Position In Basketball?

Basketball has changed a lot through the years. Although the five basic positions remained the same, some ancillary positions developed, like the post position. The post position in basketball is one of the most critical, as there are more chances to score and get the majority of fouls from here. The post position is usually played by the centers and power forwards. With time, basketball became a paced game, and one player can now play several roles. You will also see the point guards and shooting guards lining up in post positions. There are two post positions; high post and low post.

What is the Low-Post in Basketball?

From the “four posts” analogy aspect, the first two posts are located near the basket, where two thick square rectangles are painted. This area is usually crowded because it’s where most offense and defense come in contact.

Visualizing the power forwards and centers lining up at the bottom of the key, near the basket, means they are posting up in the low-post position.

It has been seen that the shooting guards and point guards became more comfortable playing in the low post area—especially when the game paced up.

Low post plays an essential role in both offense and defense scenarios. On offense, players always attempt to secure the ball in the low post because it is easy to dunk, layup, or make hook shots from this area.

The low post is equally important for defenders too. The post defenders act as barriers between the ball and the basket. Most of the shots block in the low post by the defenders. Defenders can stay physical legally and avoid losing second-chance points by boxing out.

Low post in basketball is considered a make-or-break area.

What is the High-Post in Basketball?

From the “four posts” analogy aspect, the two posts located farther from the basket, near the free-throw line in the painted area, is the high post. It’s usually known as the elbow (o corners) of the key or foul line.

The coaches emphasize practicing more in the high post in basketball since most mid-range jump shots are played in this area. Usually, power forwards and centers line up in high posts.

Like the low post, the high post is also essential in defense and offense. On offense, the big men set up in the high post before setting the pick. If the player fails to reach the basket, they will return to the high post and wait for the ball.

Like the low post, power forwards and centers post up in the high post to play unbalanced shots and fadeaways.

The defenders utilize the high post to annoy their opponents. They secure the high post and limit the opponent’s game in one dimension.

What is a Post-Up in the Basketball?

The term post up refers to a player moving towards the low post or the high post. A player typically center of power forward posts up to the low post to score through dunk, layup, or hook shot. Similarly, posting up in the high posts allows the big men to score through unbalanced shots or fade away.

Steps to Post Up:

1. Get to the position (high or low post)
2. Wait for the pass from the teammate
3. Utilize the player’s mismatch
4. Make space between the ball and the defender
5. Now shoot the ball

What is a Post Player in Basketball?

The post player is a player who wants to play in the low or high post. The centers or power forwards are usually called post players since they spend most of their time in the painted area.

The post player takes advantage of their big height to score and block the opponent’s shots. On defense, the post player contests the opponent’s post player’s shot.

Similarly, the post player should be able to fool the defense with his series of fakes. Any hooper can become a post player by practicing various techniques and skills.