post-ups
Back-to-basket plays
Post-ups are basketball plays where an offensive player positions themselves with their back to the basket, typically near the low post area, to receive the ball and score against a defender.
The term comes from "posting up"—establishing position in the painted area.
Big men like centers traditionally dominate post-ups, using size and footwork: Shaq's post-ups were nearly unstoppable.
The play has declined in the three-point era but remains fundamental to inside scoring.
Skilled lower-limb movement
- pivotPoint of rotation
- hookshotArcing one-handed basket attempt
- up-and-underFake then finish move
- fadeawayBackward-moving basketball shot
seal · face-up · turnaround · finish · touch · timing · fundamentals · dexterity
footwork
Skilled lower-limb movement
- pivotPoint of rotation
- hookshotArcing one-handed basket attempt
- up-and-underFake then finish move
fadeaway · seal · face-up · turnaround · finish · touch · timing · fundamentals · dexterity · positioning
paint
Colored coating substance
- laneDesignated travel strip
- elbowArm's middle joint
- double-teamTwo-on-one defensive tactic
mismatch · center · Shaq · Hakeem · Ewing · Duncan · bucket · iso · offense
muscle
Contractile body tissue
contact · leverage · force · bruiser · banging · grinding · battling · pushing · bulldoze · imposing