Is Post Offense Over-rated On this Forum?

[Section301]

But...your data doesn't disprove the idea that "good post offense (is) practically automatic point manufacturing."  It just proves the idea that there aren't many good post players in the league right now.  Your list of players asks the question "how well do big starters produce in the post," not "how well do good post players produce in the post." 

When you look at who in your list is as/more productive in postups than in general, you get:

Nowitzki
Brook Lopez
Chris Bosh
Marc Gasol
Joakim Noah

Interestingly, the players who have a higher PPP in postups than in general are also the players with the highest PPP on the list.  So...good post players produce points more efficiently.

Not everyone who posts up is good.  But those who post up and ARE good produce at a higher PPP than the average PPP.  In short:  good post offense is practically automatic point manufacturing.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Great post.  Personally, I have always thought post offense is generally a bit over-rated.  I'm not saying that it can't be helpful to have players who can score on the block, but the findings in your study confirm my long-held suspicions that pounding the ball into the post is far from the most efficient way for an NBA basketball team to score.

ok, you do not like high % shots from posting up? well then let's get points in the paint other ways like dribble drives, dribble and dishes, cutters. You cannot rely on jump shots alone.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

There's a lot more to post play than whether or not the person posting up scores.

Exactly.  It draws double teams, creates spacing, racks up fouls on bigs, allows better looks at the best three point shot (corner three).  It's a useful tool.

I don't know how you can say this board rates post offense "x" but it's a useful weapon that improves your whole attack.

yep

[LB3533]

Whole purpose is to score more easily. Open shots and open layups and open 3's are just as easy for a skilled player than working post moves against a defender possibly 2 defenders.

[dark_lord]

as in almost everything in life....u need balance.

[LarBrd33]

Usually having an elite big with elite post defense is more important.  It's certainly nice to have a guy who can post up on offense.  Essentially every champion has a quality big man.  Post-defense is usually the key attribute, though.

[pokeKingCurtis]

I'm thinking rim protection and inside scoring instead of post offense and defense.

[nickagneta]

In general, I think with the advent of the three point shot and the amount of time that is spent on practicing it has changed the game away from the interior post offense. But because such emphasis is spent on this in the younger, basketball learning and teaching ages of development, so much less time is spent by kids and teenagers developing the ability to score in the post making those that have the type of interior offense to make a difference rarer to find.

Is there any doubt that a Shaq or Kareem or Moses or Karl Malone wouldn't eat up this league and score as easily as they once did? The emphasis on the teaching levels were once to develop the bigs first and work backwards. Now its develop the PG first and work forward, hence the proliferation of excellent guards and bigs who's skills are not good enough to make a major difference nowadays.

Heck, teams sometimes seem they would prefer their bigs as tough inside defenders but exterior long shooters than to have a player like Shaq or Duncan. BTW, which teams have been the most successful since MJ left the game? Shaq's and Duncan's.

[Rondohara]

Very overrated and not just offense. Sometimes that defines the game and some folks here seem to remember that pretty well, but forgot all or most of the occasions in which it doesn't happen. Having that dominant post player helps you, (as does having a highly dominant player anywhere in the court) but that's not the ONE factor that will decide it all.

[Celtics18]

Great post.  Personally, I have always thought post offense is generally a bit over-rated.  I'm not saying that it can't be helpful to have players who can score on the block, but the findings in your study confirm my long-held suspicions that pounding the ball into the post is far from the most efficient way for an NBA basketball team to score.

ok, you do not like high % shots from posting up? well then let's get points in the paint other ways like dribble drives, dribble and dishes, cutters. You cannot rely on jump shots alone.

I wouldn't disagree with that statement.