How to Play Basketball: Defending the Post

Learn how to defend and feed the post when playing basketball as a part of a team, as well as how to play top side.

Video Transcription

(Music Playing) A couple of other things that we should talk about is, one, how people are going to guard the post. So, we should talk about defending the post and also feeding the post. Most people and coaches will teach, if the ball is above the foul line—give the ball to Shauna—the ball is above the foul line, the defender is going to play, this is called “top side”. He is going to play you in here. What we try to do is have you rest your forearm on the guy’s hip and close your fist, so you do not hold the person’s shirt or shorts. We step out here, our arms in the passing lane, trying to discover, just pass and maybe deflect that pass. That is called “top side”. When they make the pass to the wing or to the corner, we have a two step move. We step here—one, two—it is a two step move and again I close this hand here and I am resting it on him and I am denying the ball into the lane. This is base line side. The other way to do it is if the ball is in the corner to play it to full front. We can play full front in here, whichever way you want to do it, whichever way your coach likes you to play. If you are going to full front the person, when you lose contact and he would stick a step away, the best thing for you to do is to close and get back in the denial stance so you can make contact when he repulse. Why do you not just make—Shauna, why do you not come here and play, guide Rock. Michael, go up top. Play base line side. I want to make the pass. Here you go. When I pass it, you are going to make your two-step move, okay? Go! Go! Good. Rock, you are on a defense. Go! Last one.