Post Entry

Post entry refers to the critical offensive technique and strategic maneuver of successfully passing the basketball to a player positioned in the low post or high post area, typically near the basket where they can execute various scoring moves or facilitate offensive actions. This fundamental aspect of basketball offense requires precise timing, proper angles, excellent vision, and the ability to deliver the ball against defensive pressure. The post entry pass is one of the most important skills in team basketball, serving as the foundation for inside-oriented offensive systems and providing teams with high-percentage scoring opportunities close to the basket. The effectiveness of post entry directly impacts a team's ability to exploit size advantages, create defensive rotations, and establish an inside-out offensive rhythm. Players who excel at making post entry passes demonstrate exceptional court awareness, passing accuracy, and the ability to read defensive positioning. The term encompasses not just the physical act of passing the ball into the post, but also the entire sequence of actions including timing the cut, recognizing defensive positioning, choosing the appropriate passing angle, and delivering the ball to a location where the post player can immediately make an offensive move. Post entry passes can be executed from various positions on the court, including from the wing, from the top of the key, or from the opposite block, with each position requiring different techniques and considerations. The most common post entry passes include the bounce pass, which is difficult for defenders to intercept and arrives at a convenient catching height, the direct chest pass for situations with clear passing lanes, and the lob pass for when defenders are fronting the post player. Successful post entry requires the passer to recognize defensive tactics such as fronting, where the defender positions themselves between the passer and the post player, or three-quarter denial, where the defender overplays one passing angle. Against fronting defense, passers often use lob passes over the defender or skip passes from the opposite side of the court. The timing of post entry is crucial, as the pass must arrive when the post player has established position and is ready to receive, but before the defense can fully commit to denying the pass. Post players facilitate entry passes by establishing deep position, using their body to seal defenders, providing clear passing targets with their hands, and timing their movements to create passing windows. The post entry initiates various offensive actions including post isolations where the post player goes one-on-one, post splits where cutters move off the post player, and kick-out opportunities when the defense collapses. Modern basketball has seen evolution in post entry techniques, with teams using more motion and screening action to create entry opportunities rather than relying solely on static post-ups. The screening action before post entry, known as a post entry screen or UCLA screen, helps free the post player from fronting defense and creates clearer passing angles. Post entry passes are particularly vulnerable to defensive tactics including hard digs from help defenders, traps immediately after the catch, and deflections from alert perimeter defenders reading the passer's eyes. To counter these defensive strategies, offensive teams employ various tactics such as using multiple post entry threats to keep defenses honest, incorporating quick ball reversals to find better entry angles, and having post players flash to the ball when entry is denied. The ability to consistently achieve post entry separates experienced point guards and wing players from less skilled passers, as it requires not just passing ability but also patience, timing, and tactical awareness. Post entry effectiveness is measured not just by completion rate but also by the quality of position achieved, with deeper post position typically leading to higher-percentage scoring opportunities. Teams with dominant post players build entire offensive systems around achieving post entry, using the post player as a hub for offensive action and creating scoring opportunities both for the post player and for perimeter players cutting and spacing around the post. The decline in traditional post play in modern basketball has somewhat reduced the emphasis on post entry in many offensive systems, but it remains a valuable skill for exploiting mismatches and providing offensive diversity. Youth basketball coaches emphasize post entry as a fundamental skill because it teaches players about angles, timing, and reading defenses. The mental aspect of post entry includes recognizing when the post is the best option versus when to explore other offensive actions, understanding defensive rotations that will follow successful entry, and maintaining composure against aggressive denial defense. Post entry passing also requires specific techniques including stepping into the pass for power, using pass fakes to freeze defenders, and varying the type and speed of passes to keep defenders off balance. Teams practice post entry through structured drills including two-player post entry drills, three-on-three post entry situations, and five-on-five post entry sequences that simulate game conditions. The ability to make post entry passes under pressure distinguishes elite facilitators from average players, as it demonstrates both technical skill and mental toughness. Post entry remains particularly important in playoff basketball where games slow down, defenses intensify, and the ability to score in the half-court becomes paramount. The strategic value of post entry extends beyond just scoring, as it forces defensive attention inside, creates opportunities for offensive rebounds, and can help teams control game tempo by working the ball inside. Successful post entry contributes to efficient offensive basketball by creating high-percentage shots near the basket, drawing fouls on defenders, and generating defensive rotations that create open perimeter shots. The post entry pass represents a fundamental connection between perimeter and interior players, requiring trust, communication, and shared offensive understanding to execute effectively at the highest levels of basketball competition.