In my world, I stand around 6 foot on a good day and have been this same height since I was 11.  Naturally, I got my start learning all the typical big man low-post moves: jump-hooks, drop- steps, up and under, boxing out, rebounding, shot blocking, sealing-your-man, quick jumping, etc... 

All I remember about life in the paint, there was a lot of banging, pushing, scratching, elbowing, fighting for position and clawing going-on down in the paint and the spoils usually went to the most physical big man.

After licking my wounds on numerous occasions, I would think to myself, "why does the big man have to work so hard." And the little guards and wing-men (small forwards) rarely feel any pain; I had a case of the BIG MAN BLUES.

Common symptoms of BIG MAN BLUES:

• Silly fouls
• technical fouls
• not passing when doubled
• not boxing out
• attempting to run the fast break (unless given the green light by the coach)

Common solutions for shaking the big man blues

• coaches should constantly preach "reward the big man"
• big man usually shot the highest percentage on the team, therefore the entire team must understand that feeding the big man will give the team highest probability to win
• an active and engaged big man avoids silly fouls especially technical fouls because they are focused on the game and do not want to come out
• big-men usually start the fast break by blocking/changing shots and securing rebounds; acknowledge how important this process is to overall team success
•  boxing-out is like getting free money: leads to second chance shots on offense and limits opponents to one shot on defense, adds to rebounding stats (which translates into domination)  

As far a my height goes...I never did reach my desired height of 6-11 and according to my newest doctor, I only measure 5-10 3/4 (I need to find another doctor....smile).  Eventually I would be phased out of life in the paint in exchange for ball handling and spot-up shooting.

However, I never forgot my BIG MAN BLUES moments and vowed as a player/coach to always,  "REWARD the BIG MAN!!!

Note to guards and wing-men:

Guards/wings who have a dominate big man on their team will benefit greatly by feeding the post often.  By feeding the post often your opportunities for increased playing time, quality uncontested jump shots, cutting lay-ups and fast-break points will grow leaps and bounds.       

Coach Bob

Moor Better Sports Academy

202 747-8211

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