You can do anything you want with your post players as long as they react correctly to dribble penetration. We’ve said that before and it remains true. But, that leaves a lot of options. I thought it would be helpful to give you three that I would consider using if I had a 3 OUT team (or, if I had a team that occasionally flowed into a 3 OUT).
1. Place one post on the ball-side high post and the other on the weak-side low post. The High Post can be given rules in this situation: screen for cutters and shape up for the ball or set a ball screen every other pass (really, this can be whatever you want). The Low Post simply stays opposite the ball (allowing space for cutters to get to the basket) and whenever the High Post receives a shape up pass, ducks into the lane looking for the Hi-Lo.
2. Keep your better offensive post player on the ball side and keep the other one on the weak side. The weak-side post’s job is to be a permanent Pin Screener, Cross Screener, and Weak-Side Rebounder. He has the following rule on the Pin Screen: once the Skip Pass is thrown over your head, immediately Cross Screen for your partner. This way, you’ll always have your best post player flashing to the ball off a screen. Following that screen, the weak-side post should look for additional opportunities to Pin Screen again to repeat the previous action.
3. Set up with a post on each side of the lane. If the point Dribbles-At (Layer 3) the wing, then ball-side post screens across giving the weak-side post a chance to flash high. This vacates the ball-side post area and allows the wing a chance at the back door lay-up as the first option.
If that’s not open, then the ball handler (now on the wing) can feed the high post and make an intelligent post cut (in this case, a Relocate Cut to the Corner may be the best option). On the post feed the weak-side post can now duck into the lane. At this point, the high post has three options – attack on his own, get some Hi-Lo action with his post partner, or feed the wing who has made one of the four post cuts.
While we’re here, let’s take a moment to dissect those four post cut options.
First, because the ball is in the High Post a Laker Cut High doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. So, that one is out.
A Relocate Cut (1 sliding to the corner) would work. This gives 5 and 4 room to maneuver, pulls 3’s defender away from attacking the passer on the blind side, and gives 5 a moving threat on the perimeter.
A Laker Cut Low would also work. And, I know what you’re thinking; there’s no room to make that cut with 4 ducking in. Well, if 4 ducks in on the post feed and isn’t immediately fed the ball, his option is over and he should quickly go back to the mid post. This once again opens the lane for the cutting 1.
Also, an X-Cut is a viable option. In this case, if 4 doesn’t get the ball (and recognizes that 1 is X-Cutting), he should continue his cut to the ball-side block. This will open up space for 1 to make his attacking cut from the top of the key.
Ok, I know that third option may get a bit complicated for teams just starting out. That’s ok, just use the options that work best for your level, strengths, and abilities. Or, create your own options and let us know about them in the comments section.
Need more ideas on how to use Post Players inside the Read & React, check out these other posts:
Rick, this tweak would make post relocation a bit different, right? If low post is always weakside and a wing to middle drives happen the post movement would be to loop under and go block to block. Is that correct? If so that is really great action and could result in a ton of drop off points for that post.
This is brilliant, I have spent 1 year with read and react and now moving forward wanted to tinker with it to work even beter for our team. Option 3 is great as I have a very PG/ball handler/player and during high intense 4th quarter pressure those options will cut down on passes but still allow great movement and opportunities for him to score from isolation and pick an roll. Thanks Rick!
Interesting article Rick. I liked the photo of the postbox. I bet you didn’t know I work as a postman, and in my line of work I do quite a lot of reading and reacting. I READ the names and address on the front of the envelopes/letters, and REACT by putting them into the correct mailbox. No thinking, just reacting;)
Love idea #2, especially if you have an inside player that is valuable on the boards, defense, etc. but is limited on the offensive end.
His natural size should assist him in setting screens and you are placing him in position to be a vacuum on the weak-side of the boards.