The game's best post players

dfwrox · Mar 10, 2007

Interesting article. Yao is mentioned in 3 out of 4 types of moves he evaluated. Even though he is not rated best in any of those. But I would think that still qualifies Yao as the best overall post player.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=thorpe_david&page=ScoutingPost

Scouting breakdown: The game's best post players

By David Thorpe
Scouts Inc.
Archive

Editor's note: This is Part 1 of a series on post moves and other fundamental techniques.

While we generally think of big men as post players, some of the most effective back-to-the-basket players are wing players, too. That's because the key to the post, besides size, is technique.

Here is my list of the best post players in the game today, with a breakdown of four primary post moves -- the jump hook, the turnaround jump shot, the up-and-under and the MJ move.

JUMP HOOK

The jump hook is a shot taken off two feet, as opposed to jumping off one leg (think Kareem's skyhook). It is used when the offensive player has a defender (or two) between him and the rim and fears his shot will be blocked if he shoots a squared-up jump shot.

Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images
Jefferson opens his shoulders too much on his jump hook, but his timing and touch allow him to score over players like Yao.
A jump hook should be released with one hand stretched high while the body angle is perpendicular to the defender's body angle, thereby creating the space to get off the shot.

Another way to create that space is through timing, by releasing the shot at the moment the opponent can't get to it.

The first style is deemed "mechanical," while the second style is a "feel" shot. Both can be equally effective.

Players like Tim Duncan and Yao Ming tend to be more fundamentally sound on this move and exhibit the proper mechanics, while Al Jefferson and Zach Randolph are more natural scorers. Other players, like Elton Brand and Carlos Boozer, can use both methods.

THE BEST

Tim Duncan
The Big Fundamental has all the basic post moves down pat, including this one. He shoots the basic style of jump hook, and at 6-foot-11, his length and technique allows him to get it off with relative ease.

THE REST

Al Jefferson
Born to get buckets, Al Jeff is the modern master of the sneaky jump hook because he has an amazing sense of timing and feel for when to release the ball. He over-rotates his body on the release, which makes the move vulnerable if his timing is not perfect.

Zach Randolph
The left-handed version of Jefferson, with perhaps longer arms, Randolph is the kind of guy who leaves defenders asking, "How did he make that over me?" He's very effective at getting into his jump hook off the drive.

Elton Brand
With long arms and great touch, Brand can be textbook sharp but can "feel" it in, too. He's not especially tall, but long arms and wide shoulders give him ample space to get the shot off.

Carlos Boozer
Like his fellow Dukie, Boozer can beat you both with feel and mechanics. His massive body provides all the space he needs, and his ambidexterity keeps his defender guessing which way he'll turn.

Yao Ming
Not as robotic as you might think, he's a fluid athlete who uses fundamentals to take advantage of his height. He may telegraph that the hook is coming, but he protects the ball to the side of his body opposite his defender. And he's 7-6.

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COUNTERMOVE: TURNAROUND JUMP SHOT

Countermoves are vital to a back-to-the-basket player. If the defender knows where you plan to turn or what shot you are looking to create, he can "sit" on the move and cut it off. Great post players have at least two counters to every move, but they get to the counter by first trying to execute the original move. When the defender repositions to cut off that move, the countermove is immediately executed. The proper counter is one that takes the best advantage of the defender's new positioning.

Nikki Boertman/NBAE via Getty Images
KG's long arms and quickness make this an unstoppable shot.
The key to the turnaround jump shot, a staple in NBA games, is the leg drive and the follow-through. Since the player's body flow is taking him away from the rim, he must use his legs and get a strong follow-through to ensure the ball reaches the target.

Most players use a high release point to ensure the ball gets over the defender's hands, but Elton Brand relies on bringing the ball slightly behind his head on his release. Players who grew up playing the post while a bit undersized often resort to this style, but they don't make the shot nearly as often as Brand. Smaller guys, like Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant, usually fade away on the release, demanding an even stronger leg drive and follow-through.

THE BEST

Kevin Garnett
KG is so quick that the defenders must react quickly to his moves, setting him up for the easy counter. And his release point is too high for defenders to block his shot.

THE REST

Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk is like a chess player, inviting you to commit and knowing when you will, then countering under control. As tall as he is, he'll even add a slight fade to his shot, eliminating any chance for the defender to bother his shot and allowing him to focus on making it rather than avoiding the block. Checkmate.

Kobe Bryant
Kobe has a great command of his post game, staying under control and going through his options like a quarterback checks down his receivers. He likes to fade a little too, and his quickness gains him extra space on the release.

Dwyane Wade
D-Wade has a rapidly improving post game, one that he will go to more often as his game advances, just like Michael Jordan did.

Elton Brand
Brand's release point, over his head, enables him to get that turnaround J over anyone. And his excellent jump hook forces the defender to really commit to it, opening up room for the easy counter.

Yao Ming
Though he shoots the shot a little low in relation to his head, his size allows him to be very effective still, and he has a great touch.

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COUNTERMOVE: UP-AND-UNDER

Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images
The up-and-under move often provides a free path to the basket for skilled post players.
Great post players always choose to get an angle to the rim over a contested shot. Layups and dunks are what these guys want most, and they are hungry to get them (average post players too often settle for contested shots). So when they're making their moves and counters, the great post-up guys are always "feeling" their defender for a mistake, which typically comes by way of overcommitting to a move or a fake.

So if the offensive player senses an opponent's mistake, he will fake the shot attempt and take the newly created angle to the basket.

The "McHale move" -- performed to perfection by Kevin McHale -- is one where the offensive player fakes a shot while moving in one direction, then, keeping his pivot foot flat on the ground to avoid traveling, steps in the opposite direction to gain space from his defender while releasing the ball. This often ends up in a dunk or short running hook. Pau Gasol, Eddy Curry and Yao Ming have all become experts in this move.

THE BEST

Pau Gasol
Gasol is such a good shooter and a legit 7-footer, defenders must rise up to contest his shots, which opens up the angle for his up-and-under.

THE REST

Eddy Curry
Curry has become a very good "faker," duping defenders into thinking he's going up when he actually wants a better angle to shoot. They go up, he goes under.

Yao Ming
Classic "McHale move" guy, whose size and touch keep defenders lunging too often.

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COUNTERMOVE: DOUBLE PIVOT

Michael Jordan, for a time the best back-to-the-basket player in the game, used to fake a shot while moving in one direction, then instead of stepping in the opposite direction when his defender bit on the fake, Jordan would pivot again in the same direction as he was moving and finish right at the rim.

Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images
Don't blink or Kobe will double pivot past you in an instant.
Picture this: Wade is on the left block, backing his defender down with a right-hand dribble. He quickly pivots toward the baseline like he is going to launch a turnaround jump shot, keeping his body between the ball and his defender. As he starts moving the ball above his head, he senses his defender "stand up," which means he will not be as able to react quickly (try moving fast with straight legs). Wade then pivots again in the same direction, in a sense spinning off his defender and taking the angle that is now there to step to the rim.

That is the "Jordan move," my nickname for this crafty countermove. Wade, Kobe and Butler are the masters now.

THE BEST

Dwyane Wade
Watching Wade operate on the left block is literally like watching old footage of MJ. His double pivot sells best after he's just knocked down a turnaround fade. Next time down the court, his defender will most likely bite on the first pivot.

THE REST

Kobe Bryant
His turnaround J is so good defenders must respect it, and when they get too close he blows by them.

Caron Butler
Butler has tremendous footwork and quickness in tight spaces. Plus, he has great upper-body size and strength. Defenders just aren't sure what to take away, and Butler pounces on their confusion.

David Thorpe is an NBA analyst for ESPN.com and the executive director of the Pro Training Center in Clearwater, Fla., where he works as a personal coach for Udonis Haslem (Miami Heat), Orien Greene (Indiana Pacers), Alexander Johnson (Memphis Grizzlies) and Kevin Martin (Sacramento Kings). You can e-mail him here.
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cuiyinghost · Mar 10, 2007

fundemental skills make Yao the best centre in the L.

rimrocker · Mar 10, 2007

Michael Jordan, for a time the best back-to-the-basket player in the game

The author must be talking about the 2002-2003 season, which was the only year that Jordan played with Dream out of the league.

CharlieMurphy · Mar 10, 2007

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