Now obviously as a coach and reading this, there is a very good chance that you will never get the opportunity to have the same problem, but lets take a look at what to do to get two good post players looks on your team. So instead of Dwight and Pau lets say that you have two post players that are above average. One player is strictly a low post big and unskilled player. The other can score on the block and can also step out a little to the mid post area.
You cant just put both of them on each block and expect them to operate wee together. This sill clog the paint offensively and take away your advantage during the half court situations. The Dwight Howard in your group is the unskilled very big and strong post player. You shouldn’t give him too many post isolation touches on the low block. If he’s not skilled and clumsy like Dwight is it will only lead to turnovers, transition opportunities for your opponent, or offensive fouls.
Running him to the rim in transition is the first way to get him the ball, where looking ahead to him on the pass and enabling him to catch and finish is a great way to get him involved. The next way is having him set on the ball screens and rolling him hard to the rim. If your opponent shows on pick and roll you can roll him to the rim and get him on a pocket pass or force a smaller player to bump him and reverse the ball to get a mismatch. Another way to get him the ball is to have them be experts at setting screens off the ball(pin downs/downscreens). As a screener if they do their job most times will either get the wing open, or force your opponent to switch on the screen making a smaller wing guard your big on the block.
With your Pau of the group that can score on the block, obviously getting them looks on the block in the half court can be a start. Since they have good basketball IQ and are skilled they can handle having the ball on the block. If they can Step out and make a 12 15 foot jumpshot then the next way would be to set screens off the ball and step out to shoot the 12-15 foot jumper. It could be any type of screen just have them make contact and step out.
If your post can put the ball on the floor then not only have them step out, but since their defender is probably going o be slow and clumsy have them bring them out away from the paint and then catch and put the ball on the floor to the basket. Take advantage of the fact that they are skilled, but just don’t plant them in the pain all of the time. This makes them a little easier to guard. Obviously if they cant step out then bring them to the mid post, but dont just have them stuck in the paint all night.
Even if both players are at similar skill levels and either one can step out at all there is always interior passing. I think interior passing is a lost art of the game. In any type of bigman workout that is conducted with multiple post players I always incorporate a good deal of interior passing.
INTERIOR PSSING DRILLS
First drill is easy just have players on each block and flash the weakside post to the middle of the free throw line. On the catch have them IMMEDIATELY bring the ball above their head and look inside. The other post player flashes to the dotted free throw line and makes a big target on the seal and have a high low pass go to them for a hook or turn around.
Same drill but now set a big on big cross screen. Have the screener set their screen clear to the other block for about a 2 count. If you cant get the flasher a touch have the screener flash to the high post and initiate the same pass.
Next drill run a screen roll sprint one post to the ball and have them set a screen roll. The other post is on the weakside block and have them duck in to the middle of the paint once the roll starts. Have the ball handler pass to the duck in post player and right after the duck in player catches have them throw a bounce pass to the roller.
These are just a few drills that you can use every day to work on interior passing with your post players. I think that there is not enough of it taught at all levels, and just working on for 10-15 minutes a day and continue to encourage it in practice as well as games can get your big men more skilled and harder to guard.
Run different sets like “Horns”. If you aren’t familiar with “Horns” it is when both big men are at each elbow area but extended to the top of the key and you have a wing in each corner. Have your best roller with least shooting range set an on the ball screen with point guard and roll to the basket. After the first big rolls the second big pops to the top of the key and the point guard can hit the roll or pass to the top for a jumpshot from the other big or a high low. If the pop big catches and doesn’t have a shot or high low entry they can pass back to the point and set a screen/roll or can reverse to the wing as well.
Be creative on how you use your post players. Obviously not everyone is given the opportunity to play with two high level posts, but this can be incorporated with average post players as well. Don’t be ordinary and just have them roaming around the paint. Use different ways to get them the ball. Even if they are not skilled you can always find ways for them to be successful.
Remember a few things.
All Bigs can make an effort to run in transition
All Bigs can set solid screens off the ball and open up wing players or force defenses to switch
All Bigs can set good on the ball screens and roll to the rim
All Bigs can duck in or flash from the weakside of the floor to become a weapon.
Good luck with your work. Find a way to make it happen.
