What is the proper reaction for a post player in the high post on a drive directly at him?
I’ve seen this question a couple of times now and thought it would be a good time to clarify it completely. By the way, for those of you with the Read & React, you can find the answer to this in the Details section of Layer 5. For those of you who don’t have the Read & React DVDs, now is a great time to pick them up (ok, I figure I’m allowed one plug before getting to the answer).
The answer is fairly simple and should make a lot of sense given the rules of two specific layers: Dribble-At and Post Slides. If you think about it, in Layer 3 you’ve already taught players to cut to the basket when Dribbled-At so this should be no different. Also, in Layer 5, you’ve taught your post players that when the drive comes in the lane above them, that they should slide down to the short corner. That is also true here. See how nicely the two dovetail together?
So, in this situation, the post player should basket cut looking first to receive the pass. If he doesn’t get the pass, the cut should finish in the Short Corner.
There are three reasons for this. First, the main priority is to get out of the penetrator’s way so he can get to the rim. Second, this cut creates a rear cut lay-up opportunity. Third, the post ends up in the Short Corner which is a familiar passing window for the penetrator.
One last thing: a wing driving directly at a player in the High Post might not be the most intelligent drive decision a ball handler can make. With the post drawing his defender that high, there is a lot more space for penetration to the baseline side. You may need to have that conversation with your wings.
The above diagrams were powered by FastDraw
