Post Moves in Practical Basketball
Hooks, fades, dropsteps, and spin counters with confirmed G-key inputs for stress-test paint scorers.
Post offense in Practical Basketball rewards patience, footwork, and confirmed G-key inputs more than raw button mashing. During early-access stress tests, interior scorers who can seal, read doubles, and finish with hooks or fades become the matchup small forwards cannot ignore. This guide lists every confirmed post bind from community Trello references, explains when to post up versus face-up, and ties attribute choices on Big Builds to the moves you can realistically land.
Open PC Controls alongside this page. Study How to Defend from the other side so you know how helpers dig on the catch. Finish strong with How to Dunk when a dropstep clears the rim, and template height and strength in How to Create a Build before you invest hours into post badges.
Post up and exit
Hold G to post up on a defender in the paint. Your player backs down and establishes position. Release G to exit the post and return to a face-up stance.
Win the position battle before you ask for the ball. Seal with strength, show hands early, and receive the entry pass from How to Pass — bounce passes (double-tap 1–4) often beat fronting defenders better than chest passes into traffic.
Confirmed post move inputs
These binds reflect PC controls confirmed in stress-test builds and community Trello guides. Practice each move in an empty half-court before park queues.
| Move | PC input | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Post up / exit | Hold G / Release G | Establish position before the entry pass |
| Spin move | Release G + A/D | Directional spin off the post |
| Gather spin | Hold G + A/D + Tap E | Spin into a gather finish |
| Dropstep | Hold G + direction + Double Tap E | Footwork to the baseline or middle |
| Hop step | Hold G + W/A/D + Tap E | Short reposition before finish |
| Hook shot | Hold G + A/D + E | Over-the-shoulder hook toward basket side |
| Fadeaway | Hold G + Shift + A/D/S + E | Step back or sideways away from contest |
| Hook / fade fake | Double tap or tap-then-hold patterns | Sell the shot, finish on second action |
Community guides describe fakes into hook or fade using double-tap or tap-then-hold E patterns while still holding G. Drill the fake slowly — defenders in stress tests bite hard on the first pump if your timing is believable.
When to post versus face-up
Post up when:
- You have a size or strength advantage on the block
- Your team clears the strong-side corner so help cannot stunt for free
- The shot clock (in modes that use one) favors a safe two-point look
Face-up when:
- A quicker defender fronting denies the entry pass
- The defense sends an immediate double on the catch
- Your build has enough handle to attack middle after one dribble — see How to Dribble for escape chains
Smaller defenders will try to three-quarter front you. Call for a weak-side dig from a teammate or skip the entry and reset. How to Defend explains exactly what they are doing — mirror that knowledge on offense.
Move selection by situation
Hooks (Hold G + A/D + E) punish defenders playing behind you on the block. Aim toward the basket side and release E at the peak of the hook animation.
Fades (Hold G + Shift + A/D/S + E) create space when a taller helper commits. Use side fades (A/D) to slide away from the contest; S variants step back toward the baseline or middle depending on angle.
Dropsteps (Hold G + direction + Double Tap E) beat defenders who overplay one shoulder. Drop toward the baseline when the help is middle; drop middle when baseline is open.
Spins (Release G + A/D or gather spin with Hold G + A/D + Tap E) reset the angle when the first hook read is dead. Do not spin into a second helper — read the floor before you commit.
Hop steps (Hold G + W/A/D + Tap E) buy inches for a cleaner finish or a kick-out if the defense collapses late.
Badges, attributes, and anomalies
Post scoring scales with strength, post control, close shot, and standing dunk depending on your finish type. Big Builds walk through height bands and badge order for interior anchors. Takeovers & Badges lists finishing packages that boost post hooks and contact layups during hot streaks.
Anomalies can skew physical stats without linear point costs everywhere — a strength or standing-dunk anomaly might unlock a move earlier than a vanilla build. Re-test your full post package after any creator patch mentioned in Park Modes or stress-test notes.
Matchups and doubles
When help arrives on the first dribble:
- Kick out to the weak-side shooter using passes from How to Pass
- Hook early before the double fully commits
- Dropstep baseline when the helper comes from the middle
If you force through a double every time, turnovers and blocked hooks follow. Post offense is a decision tree, not a single move spam.
Guards and wings with low interior defense cannot body you forever — seal deep and make them foul or help. When you face a true rim protector from Big Builds, favor fades and face-up drives over sitting in the hook pocket.
Practice in the gym
Use Public Gym or private gym slots when available:
- Five minutes Hold G seals on both blocks without a ball
- Ten hook attempts each side — Hold G + A/D + E
- Ten fades — Hold G + Shift + A/D/S + E
- Dropstep both directions — Hold G + direction + Double Tap E
- Live rep: one-on-one post, score twice before switching to kick-out passes
Film one possession where you got stripped or blocked. Usually the issue is late entry, no fake, or spinning into help. Fix one habit per session rather than adding new moves.
Related pages
- PC Controls — full keyboard reference
- How to Pass — entry passes and kick-outs
- How to Dunk — finish through contact after dropsteps
- How to Defend — what post defenders are taught
- Big Builds — interior templates
- How to Create a Build — attribute planning
- Takeovers & Badges — finishing takeovers
- Anomalies — physical quirks in the creator
- Guides Hub — full tutorial index
Post moves are a stress-test differentiator because they cannot be fully automated — they demand reads, timing, and builds that match the paint. Master G, pick the right counter, and let your big become the reason opponents call for double teams.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers players ask before every park session.
How do I post up in Practical Basketball on PC?
Hold G to post up and back down a defender. Release G to exit the post and return to a face-up stance before you drive or pass.
What are the hook and fade inputs in the post?
Hook: Hold G plus A or D plus E toward the basket side. Fade: Hold G plus Shift plus A, D, or S plus E to step away from the contest.
How do dropsteps and hop steps work?
Dropstep: Hold G plus a direction plus double tap E. Hop step: Hold G plus W, A, or D plus tap E for a short reposition before the finish.
When should I face-up instead of posting?
Face-up when a defender fronts the entry pass, a double team arrives on the catch, or your build handles better than it seals. Reset or attack middle with dribble moves.
Which builds should learn post moves first?
Centers and power forwards from Big Builds with strength and post control investments. Re-check badge gates in Takeovers and Badges after each stress-test patch.