Why did David Robinson not have a strong post up game?

[Kawhitstorm]

It wasn't his lack of base, he just didn't have the requisite footwork ala LeBron.

Garnett had a similar base as Robinson but he had his own version of the "Dream Shake" thus was able to score post against anyone.

[pgardn]

David was also very left handed.

[tonight...you]

He was an outstanding post player. You guys keep misunderstanding when people call him a face up player to mean that he was somehow deficient. He could destroy you in the post, but he commanded double and triple teams when he faced the basket because nobody could stay in front of him. The only reason he gave up his spot down low was because he had one of the best post players of all time join him.

So true. He actually did have some good "old man" moves in the post. He was great at the up n' under, spins and using footwork in the post.
Olajuwon was so freaking elite in the post at the same time, though and then comes in Timmy with his immaculate post game and it made Dave's game look worse than it was.
Especially when he relied on so many elite skills at his disposal for scoring, not just the post game.

[Obstructed_View]

So true. He actually did have some good "old man" moves in the post. He was great at the up n' under, spins and using footwork in the post.
Olajuwon was so freaking elite in the post at the same time, though and then comes in Timmy with his immaculate post game and it made Dave's game look worse than it was.
Especially when he relied on so many elite skills at his disposal for scoring, not just the post game.

It's odd that he's called a bad post player because he's not quite as good in the post as Hakeem or Timmy. He's just not top two.

[tonight...you]

It's odd that he's called a bad post player because he's not quite as good in the post as Hakeem or Timmy. He's just not top two.

Yeah. Outside of Tim, Hakeem and McHale, I can't think of a better player in the post, off the top of my head, than Dave. That guy would fake people out of their shorts and slam it down so effortlessly it looked routine.
God, he was an Adonis. So sad the teams around him weren't up to par until Tim.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

He was an outstanding post player. You guys keep misunderstanding when people call him a face up player to mean that he was somehow deficient. He could destroy you in the post, but he commanded double and triple teams when he faced the basket because nobody could stay in front of him. The only reason he gave up his spot down low was because he had one of the best post players of all time join him.

This. He had an incredible baseline spin, and by mid-career a sweet fadeaway, but he was even more effective facing up. Lightning fast first step for a 7-footer.

[Vic Petro]

He was an outstanding post player. You guys keep misunderstanding when people call him a face up player to mean that he was somehow deficient. He could destroy you in the post, but he commanded double and triple teams when he faced the basket because nobody could stay in front of him. The only reason he gave up his spot down low was because he had one of the best post players of all time join him.

Preach. David was a terrific post player.

[Guajalote]

He was more or less a face up player, and his post game was usually just turning and shooting over smaller, less athletic opponents. Not many could deal with his quickness, so he got to the line a lot, and he finished a lot of alley oops. He could run the floor as well or better than any 7 footer I've seen, but the lack of a great back to the basket game hurt him in the playoffs when defenses were tighter.

Same reason as Shaq never faced up from 12-15 ft. It wasn't his game. David wasn't built for a slug-it-out, pound it out game. He was a small forward in a 7-1 body. Anyone who ever saw him play in-person can tell you just how freakishly fast, nimble, and dominant he actually was. Whenever he played, he drove past players of all sizes on a regular basis, and on defense, there was a 12 foot football-shaped zone where nobody had an easy shot. He had plenty of post moves, but they reflected his speed and athleticism (my favorite was his spin around the defender and catch an alley oop move).

[SPURt]

It's odd that he's called a bad post player because he's not quite as good in the post as Hakeem or Timmy. He's just not top two.

I feel like a lot of people that say that are too young to have seen him play and/or have only seen pictures of David and highlights of the Rockets series.

[lefty]

Magic Johnon was better on the post than Robinson tbh

[Obstructed_View]

Yeah. Outside of Tim, Hakeem and McHale, I can't think of a better player in the post, off the top of my head, than Dave. That guy would fake people out of their shorts and slam it down so effortlessly it looked routine.
God, he was an Adonis. So sad the teams around him weren't up to par until Tim.

I've been trying to think of people who were better than he was in the post, and those are the only names I could come up with for sure. Someone mentioned Kevin Garnett, but the video confirms my memory: It is about one minute of post moves, half of them are facing up, and the rest are KG's only move: Pump fake - complete the up-and-under if they bite, fadeaway if they don't. Mark Jackson was a better post player than KG. Andre Miller is a better post player than KG. Garnett needed his athleticism to face up, while Robinson could have made a living with his back to the basket. , Garnett spent a lot of his career settling for jumpers as it was.

So Kareem and Jordan were effective post players, but to be fair, that's because their one go-to move was so unstoppable. If we're counting guys with one move, then Dirk deserves some love for his stepback jumper. Why nobody has ever relied on the sky-hook since Kareem puzzles me. It's a ridiculously easy shot to master, and I don't think anyone's ever figured out a way to defend it.

Malone was a good post player, but the Jazz were useless if they weren't running a pick and roll. His most famous post ups were turnovers or offensive fouls.

[Obstructed_View]

Magic Johnon was better on the post than Robinson tbh

Who's Magic Johnon?

Nice sig.

Back to the ignore list, you go.

[lefty]

Still a better post up player than Porker tbh

How Porker can't post people up despite all that weight .... wtf

[ducks]

He was more or less a face up player, and his post game was usually just turning and shooting over smaller, less athletic opponents. Not many could deal with his quickness, so he got to the line a lot, and he finished a lot of alley oops. He could run the floor as well or better than any 7 footer I've seen, but the lack of a great back to the basket game hurt him in the playoffs when defenses were tighter.

BECAUSE HIS COACHES SUCKED OTHER THEN POP

[Kawhitstorm]

(my favorite was his spin around the defender and catch an alley oop move).

[tholdren]

Yeah, he was a perennial recipient. He led the league in all-time career PER (retroactively, given the anachronistic basis of when PER was developed), up until 1998 when he injured his lower back. I believe he is still in the top 5 all-time career leaders in that category.

top 3

[DMC]

I've been trying to think of people who were better than he was in the post, and those are the only names I could come up with for sure. Someone mentioned Kevin Garnett, but the video confirms my memory: It is about one minute of post moves, half of them are facing up, and the rest are KG's only move: Pump fake - complete the up-and-under if they bite, fadeaway if they don't. Mark Jackson was a better post player than KG. Andre Miller is a better post player than KG. Garnett needed his athleticism to face up, while Robinson could have made a living with his back to the basket. , Garnett spent a lot of his career settling for jumpers as it was.

So Kareem and Jordan were effective post players, but to be fair, that's because their one go-to move was so unstoppable. If we're counting guys with one move, then Dirk deserves some love for his stepback jumper. Why nobody has ever relied on the sky-hook since Kareem puzzles me. It's a ridiculously easy shot to master, and I don't think anyone's ever figured out a way to defend it.

Malone was a good post player, but the Jazz were useless if they weren't running a pick and roll. His most famous post ups were turnovers or offensive fouls.

Defended from weak side swatting.