How to Become a Great Post
Defender and Shot Blocker

There is a real art to becoming a great post defender.

It takes physical skill, timing, and a lot of experience to learn how to effectively defend in the paint, and to become a great shot-clocker.

This article has 5 tips that will help you become a much better post defender and shot blocker.

Keep the offensive player away from the basket

One of the key ways to making a name for yourself on the defensive end is to keep the offensive player away from the basket. Most offensive post players want to be as close to the block as possible (it makes sense: the block is the closest spot to the basket). If you keep them further away from the basket, you'll lower their shooting percentage.

Your job as a defender is to not let them post up where they want to post up on the floor. Position yourself on the block so that when the offensive runs down the court and tries to establish this position, you're already there. You can also move the offensive player further away from the block (and the basket) by inching them out, using your legs and hips. Either way, keep them further away from the basket and you'll make things more difficult for them.

Keep the offensive player out of their favorite spot on the floor

This is a very effective defensive tip: keep the offensive player out of their favorite spot on the floor. If they like shooting 10 foot jump shots from the baseline, do what you can to not let them catch the ball in this spot. If they like catching the ball on the left hand side of the court, deny them the ball on this side of the floor, and make them catch it on the right hand side of the court.

Know what your opponent likes to do, and then take that away from them. You'll be amazed at how effective this will be at making you a better defender.

Block out on every shot

Your job as a defender does not stop until your team gets possession of the basketball. So one of your most important jobs as a defender is to block our on every single shot and to not let the player you are guarding get the rebound.

It's not enough just to work hard on guarding your man, denying him good position, or pressuring the shot. You have to block your man out, every time, and make sure you or a teammate gets the defensive rebound.

Don't go for pump fakes

As an inside player, your job is to contest shots. Make sure you do contest shots inside, but also make sure that you don't get in the habit of jumping to block a shot everytime someone comes into the lane and gives a pump fake.

Stay on your feet until you see your opponent leave theirs, then go up and contest the shot. One great way to get into foul trouble is to jump and try to block every shot you see. Don't let this happen to you. Wait until you see you ropponent leave their feet, then get a hand up and contest the shot.

How to become a great shot blocker

Shot blocking is an art. You have to learn the game, have great anticipation and court sense, and then have great timing to make the block. But here are a few secrets to becming a great shot blocker.

- Anticipate: you don't always know when an opponent is going to take a shot, but great shot blockers anticipate when they need to jump, and time it just right so they catch the shot in the air.
- Timing is everything: once you decide to go for the block, time it so you catch the ball after it leaves the shooter's hand. This is the point when it is closest to the ground, and if you catch the shot early, you most likley won't get called for goal tending the shot.
- Block the shot of a player your teammate is guarding: it's one thing to block the shot of the man you are guarding, but many blocks come from help-side defense, where you block the shot of a player one of your teammates is guarding. Anticipating and timing on these types of blocked shots is especially important.
- Block the shot so it stays inbounds: there's nothing like throwing a shot out of bounds or into the stands. But guess what? The other team will get the ball back. Great shot blockers block shots so they stay in-bounds, and so their team has a chance of grabbing the ball and going the other way with it.

Practice and use the tips mentioned above, and your defensive post game should improve. It takes a lot of hard work to become a good defender (in the paint, or anywhere else for that matter). Add in lots of desire, and you can make it happen.

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