7 Defensive Strategies for the Trailing Post Defender

Whether is watching HS games, college games, or pro games- too often the defender on the trailing offensive post player just relaxes until the offensive player finally gets up the floor. 

All one needs to do is watch Alex Caruso of OKC to realize how disruptive the defender on the inbounder/trailing post can be by doing simple things. I am sharing 7 simple strategies a coach might choose to use. Realize I am NOT saying that the defense should be any means be trying to do all of these or even 3 or 4 of these things. A coach can look at their players, the opponents players, and the opponent’s strategy to decide if any of these 7 things might disrupt the opponent. 

Here are 7 simple strategies for the defender on the trailing post:

1- Jam the Inbound Passer- Get up and guard the inbounders strong hand. Make them pass with or to their weak hand. This may create one turnover during a game and it certainly can slow the inbound pass and break just a tick. 

2- Turn & Face Guard the Point Guard- This may slow up the inbounds pass, cause the point guard to get the ball in a different flow and get it slower. 

3- Get Back and Get in a Tight Gap- On HS level, and it would seem even on a pro level, many defenders who guard the inbound passer think they are on break until the passer finally gets down the floor. Watch a college or pro games and see how often when the point guard crosses half court that the inbound defender is not in a defensive position but is still jogging down the floor. “My man’s back there.” 

This creates what every offense wants to see. The offense can now play 4 on 4 with huge gaps. 

Whereas if the inbound defender sprints back and when the point guard enters the half court their is an extra defender not only in a gap, but in tight gap hedged toward the ball handler- it makes the point guard less aggressive to start. 

This strategy is a strategy every coach should emphasize as a must with their players. Train the inbounder to sprint back into a gap. Now the defense is 5 on 4. 

4- Early Trap on Drag Screens- Train the post defender to be ready to get up and trap or double the point guard. 

5- ICE The Drag Screens- On HS level this is not done often so it could be a very effective strategy. As screen is coming, the post defender needs to scream,”ICE.” So the guard defender jumps up and plays on the side of the point guard to force them away from the middle screen action. The post defender drops to help contain them. 

6- Deny Reverse- So many teams on all levels really run their offense thru the trailing post with a quick pass to them as the come up. A quick defender on the post can get up and take the reversal away. 

7- Jam Strong Hand- If the ball goes to the trailing post, have the defender come up hard and tight on the post’s strong hand. Force them to be a dribbler with their weak hand. Many offensive posts are going to get in trouble being forced to go hard with their weak hand.