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Find out Where Your Opponent Likes to Play

One of the key elements of being a good defensive post player is to keep your opponent out of their comfort zone.  If you can do this consistently, you'll be a solid, solid defensive player.

So what exactly does this mean, and how can you make this work for you?  Read on.

Generally speaking, you'll want to keep players off the post.  Every foot you can push a player off the block, or up the lane from the block, you're making them catch the ball further from the basket, and giving yourself an advantage.  So one key idea is to keep the offensive player from posting up close to the basket.  Push them out as far as you can off the blocks.

Then, you'll want to pay attention to how your opponent is playing and try to determine what his or her favorite spots on the floor are.  Then do what you can to prevent them from catching the ball in those spots.

Do they usually post up on the left side of the floor?  Are they always flashing across the lane to try to catch the ball in the middle of the paint?  Do they prefer catching the ball at the free throw line (the high post) and taking jump shots?

Once you catch on to what your opponent's favorite spots on the floor are, you'll have to work hard to make they catch the ball in other spots.  If they like to catch the ball at the high post (at the free throw line), deny the pass so they have to step out a foot or two higher on the floor to catch a pass.  Now when they turn and face the basket, instead of being 15-feet out, they're 17 or 18-feet out and they may not take the shot from that distance, and their shooting precentage from that far out is likely lower than from 15-feet.

Or if a player likes to catch the ball on the left side of the floor, deny them the pass and play close defense and force them to the opposite side of the floor to accept a pass.  Now when they catch the ball on the other side of the floor, they aren't so comfortable, and will be less likely to score.

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