Detroit Pistons replay center: Blake Griffin post-ups (part 2)
How Blake Griffin gets to the low post
Pin down
The simplest and probably quickest way to enter the ball into the low post is running a simple pin down. A pin down is a screen where the screener faces the baseline as Griffin does here. Usually, it’s purpose is to get a shooter open but in this setting, it’s used to distract Saric from fighting for position.
Fake DHO
The dribble handoff (DHO) is an action where one player hands the ball to a teammate while simultaneously setting a screen as you can see below. It’s basically a ball screen that starts with the screener having the ball and allows his teammate to move freely before the screen.
Usually, it’ll be a big man handing it off to a shooter on the wing. Griffin, however, will often fake the DHO, bounce the ball between his legs and go straight into a post up.
Unpredictability is a huge component of an efficient offense and with this action, Griffin takes advantage of the fact that the defense is not prepared for what’s about to come. That twist keeps opponents always guessing and confusion leads to easy buckets.
Step up
A step-up screen is a similar action with the roles reversed. Now, the wing is the one who sets the screen, giving Griffin the space needed to get to the low block.
That’s another twist that makes it harder for defenders to assess the situation. I can’t stress that enough. No matter how good you are, the defense will find a way to hold their ground if they know what’s coming.
24
I call this set 24 and I have no idea what Casey calls it. Usually, the shooting guard will set a ram screen for the power forward. A ram screen is a screen for the player that will set the ball screen. The ball screen is usually a side pick-and-roll and most of the time the defenders will have to switch that action. A switch almost always results in Griffin posting up a smaller player and good things happening.
In the same set, the player that sets the ram screen will cut to the opposite corner and receive a hammer screen from the center. In this case, Jackson sees that Robinson’s man, Evan Fournier, in front of him and quickly reveres the ball to the weak side where Drummond sets an off-ball screen for the man in the corner. Great recognition and execution nets an open corner three, a highly efficient shot.
Sometimes, depending on the ball handler, Griffin will slip the second screen and post up right away.
And when Griffin’s defender tries to deny him the screen and front him, Griffin will get a back screen instead and roll to the rim. Jared Dudley fronts, so the ball goes to Drummond in the high post where there’s a better angle for the pass.
High screen switch
When the defense switches any kind of high screen, Griffin will find himself with a miss-match. He’ll get the ball near the free throw line and back his man down. This action works so well because Griffin has a tremendous ability to protect the ball from a pesty defender and the size advantage to bully them and finish close to the rim.
He uses his off-hand to seal the ball and can easily spin around smaller bodies. Watch how his right hand creates all this space, not allowing the defender to get to the ball.
Early duck-in
Griffin has been doing that forever. There just aren’t many people on the planet that can run with him in transition and check him down low. His physical profile allows him to run faster than all the players that can stop him.
Not exactly a post up but it’s the same concept. He uses his physical profile to get the ultimate post position, under the rim.
Spot up into post up
Griffin can post up anyone anywhere on the floor. He can spot up, pump fake and drive to get low post position. He’ll post up basically any time he can’t get to the rim on a drive. He’ll turn his back on his defender to protect the ball and use his size advantage. It’s a semi-post up and it’s a big part of his game.
PNR into semi post up
Post ups lose their meaning when watching Griffin. He can turn everything into a post up because that’s what he’s comfortable doing. Plus, it works.
Just bring the ball up and post up
In the Pistons offense, he even has the freedom to bring the ball up and post up right away when he’s feeling it. There’s not much nuance to this. When smart and talented players like Griffin get going, you just got to let them do their thing.
These are most of the ways Griffin gets to the low block and we’ve covered how he operates when he gets there. But what about when teams send multiple defenders his way. Single coverage is not a thing Griffin enjoys often.