Rim run vs Post up in Sports - What is The Difference?

Last Updated Feb 2, 2025

Posting up effectively in basketball involves positioning yourself near the basket with your back to the defender to create scoring opportunities. Mastering footwork, body control, and reading your opponent's movements allows you to gain an advantage and execute quick shots or passes. Discover essential techniques and strategies in the rest of the article to elevate your post-up game.

Table of Comparison

Aspect Post Up Rim Run
Definition Offensive move positioning with back to the basket near the paint Driving directly to the basket through the paint area
Primary Goal Create scoring opportunities via close-range shots or passes Score layups or dunks by attacking the rim aggressively
Typical Player Power forwards and centers with strong post skills Guards or forwards with speed and driving ability
Key Skills Footwork, body control, and inside shooting Ball-handling, speed, and finishing at the rim
Defensive Challenge Requires defenders to contest post moves and position Requires quick rotations to prevent penetration
Advantages High-percentage shots, control over offensive tempo Creates foul opportunities, fast scoring chances
Common Uses Half-court sets, isolations near the paint Fast breaks, pick-and-roll drives

Introduction to Post Up and Rim Run

Post up and rim run are fundamental basketball offensive strategies designed to create scoring opportunities near the basket. Post up involves a player receiving the ball with their back to the basket, using body positioning and footwork to establish low-post position, enabling close-range shots or inside passes. Rim run emphasizes quick drives toward the basket by perimeter players, exploiting gaps in the defense for layups or dunks through aggressive cutting and speed penetration.

Definition: What is a Post Up?

A post up is a basketball offensive move where a player positions themselves near the low block or the key, using their body to shield the defender and receive the ball close to the basket. This technique allows the player to leverage size and strength advantage for scoring or creating plays. Post ups are essential for centers and power forwards aiming to dominate in the paint area.

Definition: What is a Rim Run?

A Rim Run is a basketball play where the ball handler drives along the perimeter, closely hugging the boundary line to create scoring opportunities or set up teammates. This strategy emphasizes quick movement around the court's edge, exploiting defenses that neglect the outer lanes. Unlike a Post Up, which centers on positioning near the basket, a Rim Run focuses on dynamic, perimeter-based attacking maneuvers.

Key Differences Between Post Up and Rim Run

Post up involves a player positioning close to the basket with their back to the defender, focusing on strength and footwork to create scoring opportunities through hooks, jump shots, or drop steps. Rim run emphasizes quick movement toward the basket, relying on speed and timing to finish plays with layups, dunks, or alley-oops, often after receiving passes from teammates. The key difference lies in the post up's emphasis on physicality and positioning versus the rim run's focus on agility and fast-paced attacks near the hoop.

Strategic Advantages of Posting Up

Posting up offers a strategic advantage by enabling a player to leverage their size and strength near the basket to create high-percentage scoring opportunities. This method draws defensive attention, often resulting in mismatches and opening passing lanes for teammates. Compared to rim runs, post-ups allow for better control of the offensive tempo and increased chances to exploit defensive weaknesses through varied footwork and positioning.

Strategic Benefits of Rim Running

Rim running enhances offensive versatility by creating high-percentage scoring opportunities near the basket, exploiting defensive gaps through quick drives and strong finishes. It stretches the defense horizontally, opening perimeter shots for shooters and reducing double-teaming risks in the post. This strategy accelerates ball movement and increases transition scoring chances by maintaining floor spacing and momentum.

Player Roles Suited for Post Ups

Post ups are ideal for players with strong physicality and footwork, such as dominant centers and power forwards who excel in close-range scoring and interior defense. Rim runs suit athletic guards and forwards who can capitalize on fast breaks and quick transition plays, emphasizing speed and agility. Players suited for post ups typically possess superior strength, back-to-the-basket skills, and the ability to create scoring opportunities in the paint.

Player Roles Suited for Rim Runs

Players suited for rim runs excel in athleticism, quickness, and finishing ability around the basket, often including guards and forwards with strong slashing skills and vertical leap. These players thrive in fast-paced offenses, initiating quick drives and attacking the paint to create high-percentage shots or draw fouls. Rim runs contrast with post-ups, which favor bigger, more physical players like centers and power forwards who operate primarily in the low post to establish position and score through strength and footwork.

Situational Effectiveness: When to Use Each

Post-ups excel in isolating a big man near the basket, exploiting mismatches in size and strength for high-percentage shots or drawing fouls in the paint. Rim runs maximize speed and spacing, ideal for quick transition plays or aggressive defenses, allowing guards to attack the rim with momentum before the defense sets. Choosing between post-ups and rim runs depends on team personnel, defensive matchups, and game tempo to optimize scoring opportunities.

Impact on Team Offense and Spacing

Post-up plays create high-percentage scoring opportunities by utilizing the player's positioning near the basket, which often draws multiple defenders and opens passing lanes. Rim runs push the ball quickly to the basket in transition, forcing defenses to collapse and creating open perimeter shots for teammates. Both strategies significantly impact team offense by influencing floor spacing: post-ups tend to tighten spacing inside, while rim runs stretch defenses and promote faster scoring opportunities.

Post up Infographic

Rim run vs Post up in Sports - What is The Difference?


About the author. JK Torgesen is a seasoned author renowned for distilling complex and trending concepts into clear, accessible language for readers of all backgrounds. With years of experience as a writer and educator, Torgesen has developed a reputation for making challenging topics understandable and engaging.

Disclaimer.
The information provided in this document is for general informational purposes only and is not guaranteed to be complete. While we strive to ensure the accuracy of the content, we cannot guarantee that the details mentioned are up-to-date or applicable to all scenarios. Topics about Post up are subject to change from time to time.

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