One of the most important skills any post player can have is to run the floor. Running the floor is a skill. It takes practice, knowing where to run and reading the defense. My college coach, Don Meyer, told me to help our team I need to be the quickest post player in our the league from rim to rim. So that is what I worked on for one summer.
I was not the fastest, but I was smart enough to know to go from rim to rim would take being alert, being consistent and being quick. And Coach Meyer was right. it helped our team either by getting easy baskets or stopping the other team from scoring.
The skill is being able to quickly read the situation. Once the ball changes hands and a team has to make a transition either offensively or defensively a post player must know exactly where to go. Either running to the rim to protect the basket defensively or run to the rim looking for the ball.
Here are three important techniques for running the floor.
1. The first three steps. React immediately when the ball changes hands. This could be off a turnover, a missed shot or a made basket. As soon as the play happens turn, dig and get into the first three steps. A teammate throws the ball away, your team gets a steal, a shot is missed, or a shot made take off.
Practicing how to react helps build confidence.
2. Run in a straight line
Too many players drift when running down the floor. Wandering off up the sideline. Take off straight to the rim.
3. Run to a target. Know exactly where to run. Offensively A post players first objective needs to get to the rim to get an easy layup by beating their opponent down the floor. On defense get to the rim to protect the hoop, make sure your opponent does not get a layup and then find your opponent. But protecting the rim first is the main objective defensively.
You learn how to make those first three steps, run in a straight line and run to a target you will be scoring more points in the paint sooner than you think.